연탄가스 중독의 발생실태에 관한 연구

Abstract

Since the wide-spread usage of the anthracite coal briquette as a main domestic fuel for cooking and under-floor heating. a tremendous number of carbon monoxide poisoning has been reported, especially in the winter time. As long as we keep on the usage of this dangerous fuel , even though it is very beneficial to us in economic point of view. it is our urgent ne~ds to prevent and overcome this hazard to the public. Many studies of the prevention orieated approaches mostly failed to propose practical and effective preventive measure. So many socia-economic and environrnental parameters are intermingled in the tragic scene of carbon monoxide poisoning Carbon monoxide poisoning is non-reportable disease (accident) in Korea. That is one of the reason why we don t have a reliable incidence data. Even though the official statistics prepared by the National Police and the hospital statistics published are available, they have very much limited significance in terms of actual patterns of incidence. Authors designed this survey to estimate annual incidence rate in Seoul area. Thirty-three middle schools were selected as target institutions and around 50,OOO survey forms were distributed to 1st. and 2nd. year middle school students. In selecting schools, stratified random sampling technique was employed with consideration of population distribution of each administrative sector (Gu). Total numbers of population in habiting with students are 528,033 in 111,450 households. The incidence of carbon monoxide poiso ning was investigated during 1 year period. from Jan. 1977 to Dec. 1977. Also we reviewed all official and hospital statistics reported by many authors as a reference data. The effectiveness of hyperbaric oxygen therapy was also briefly reviewed The general findings we obtained are follows: 1. The incidence rate of carbon monoxide poisoning in Seoul area is 306 per 10,000 population: the mild is 260, the grave (comatous) is 45, and the expired '5 2. The incidence was the highest in December and the lowest in August. 3. Among the patient, only 4.1% had hospital treatment and merely one fourth of the comatous patient received hospital care 4. The official statics compiled by National Police were found to be very much under-estimated one. because the police data relies on the report of the death of unknown causes. So it is very difficult to refer this data as the incidence rate.