• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.25-39
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• 1978

Carbon monoxide poisoning is one of the most serious health problems in Korea. In this review, the author made a intensive reference review on the causes of carbon monoxide poisoning, the patterns of carbon monoxide poisoning and the prospects of CO poisoning. Following findings were induced through the review. 1. Carbon monoxide poisoning is influenced by variable social factors than any other diseases or accidents and is more closely related with the economical and cultural parameters of the community. 2. The increase of risk in the populatlon is expected by National Energy Policy and the hazards of CO poisoning will rather be increasing as long as no radical control measure will be taken. 3. More practical control measure, including extensive public relation service, should be established to eradicate this serious health hazard in Korea.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.27-32
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• 2005

Purpose: The frequency of carbon monoxide poisoning has been decreased in the interior of the Korea. But occasionally it is occurred and the risk of exposure is high in working place so far. Because of the characteristics of gas, the detection of exposure and poisoning could be delayed and fatality is high. We should apprehend of carbon monoxide poisoning. So we would report analysis of patients with carbon monoxide poisoning. Methods: A retrospective review of CO poisoned patients visited emergency department from January 2000 to December 2004 was conducted. Results: 24 patients were enrolled. Their average of age was $37.6\pm20.9$ years old and COHb was $19.4\pm13.32\%$. The blood level of initial COHb and mental status on arrival were not correlated each other. The blood level of initial COHb and loss of consciousness were not correlated, too. Initial electrocardiography (EKG) was not correlated with cardiac enzymes such as CK-MB and troponin I. But base excess was correlated with mental status on arrival and complication such as rhabdomyolysis. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy was correlated with base excess and mental status on arrival. Conclusion: The clinical features of carbon monoxide poisoning are nonspecific. For proper diagnosis, it is important that we should consider patient's environment and take patient's history carefully. The blood level of initial COHb does not reflect severity of poisoning accurately. So We should determine the treatment of choice depending on patient's status.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Emergency Medicine
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.509-518
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• 2018

Objective: The evidence that hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy is more effective for improving the acute neuropsychological status (ANS) of carbon monoxide poisoning than normobaric oxygen (NBO) therapy is not convincing. This is because the levels of carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) do not correlate with the clinical severity of carbon monoxide poisoning and there is no universally accepted severity scale of carbon monoxide poisoning. This paper suggests a new scale for the clinical and neurological severity of carbon monoxide poisoning, called the ANS, and assesses the effect of HBO therapy for each level of ANS compared to NBO therapy. Methods: A total of 217 patients who had been hospitalized because of carbon monoxide poisoning from January 2009 to July 2013 were studied. ANS was suggested as a new severity scale of carbon monoxide poisoning considered in the Glasgow Coma Scale, acute neuro-psychologic signs and symptoms, or cardiac ischemia on the initial medical contact. HBO therapy is indicated in those who have a loss of consciousness, seizure, coma, abnormal findings on a neurological examination, pregnancy, persistent cardiac ischemia, level of COHb >25%, or severe metabolic acidosis (pH <7.2). The end point is the day of discharge, and recovery is defined as a normal neuro-psychological status without any sequelae. Results: The levels of troponin T and creatinine increased significantly with increasing ANS score. In the moderate to severe group (ANS 2 and 3), the recovery rate was significantly higher when treated with HBO therapy than with NBO therapy (P=0.030). On the other hand, the development of delayed neuro-psychological sequelae (DNS) did not correlate with any level of ANS, type of oxygen therapy, or recovery on discharge. Conclusion: In the moderate to severe poisoned group, HBO therapy is more effective for improving the ANS from carbon monoxide poisoning than NBO therapy. On the other hand, the development of DNS of HBO therapy is no more preventable than with NBO therapy. Although the level of ANS is low, the patient needs to be provided with sufficient information and a follow-up visit is recommended for any abnormal symptoms because the ANS does not correlate with the development and degree of DNS.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2008.11b
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• pp.2868-2873
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• 2008

Carbon Monoxide(CO) poisoning accident is higher than any other gas accident in the rate of deaths/incidents. In the last five years, 36 people died and 104 were wounded because of carbon monoxide poisoning accident. Most of these CO poisoning accidents were caused by defective exhaust tube in the old gas boiler and multi-use facility. In this study, the spread of incomplete combustion gas(CO) released from leakage hole of exhaust tube was analyzed by computational flow modeling and concentration measuring test. CO gas leaked form exhaust tube in a building was highest concentrated near the ceiling and formed the circular currents along the walls. Through these experiments and simulation, the reasonable installation location of carbon monoxide alarm was made certain and suggested.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.10-18
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• 2009

Purpose: Carbon Monoxide Poisoning is an important medical emergency in Korea, but the factors leading to its serious manifestation are not well studied. Methods: We conducted a 5-year retrospective study of 98 carbon monoxide poisoned patients who visited the emergency departments of the Medical Center between December 2004 and March 2009. We categorized the patients into those exhibiting only local symptoms (group 1) and those showing systemic symptoms and complications (group 2). We compared the general characteristics as well as the clinical and laboratory findings between both groups. Results: The male to female ratio was 1.18. The most common systemic symptom was a mental change (43.9%), while the most common complication was rhabdomyolysis (31.6%). Poisoned area closed private room in group 2 were 23 (41.8%) cases and burning region in group 2 were 16(29.1%) cases (p=0.956). Individuals who were accidentally poisoned comprised of 43 (78.2%) cases while those that attempted suicidal poisoning comprised 12 (21.8%) cases (p=0.016). The most common symptom at arrival was mental change 33 (60.0%) cases in group 2. The mean time exposed to carbon monoxide was 43$\pm$3.97 hours in group 1 and 55$\pm$10.11 in group 2 (p=0.012). The patient's age, context of poisoning, symptom at arrival, and time exposed to the poison were found to be significant risk factors for complications by logistic regression analysis. Conclusion: Carbon monoxide poisoning is an emergency medical condition and the risk factors involved in the development of serious complications must be evaluated.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.425-431
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• 1989

This study was undertaken to investigate the changes of enzyme activities resulted from low concentrated carbon monoxide poisoning on the caudate nucleus in rat. The activities of cytochrome oxidase, succinate dehydrogenase and lactate dehydragenase were observed histochemically, after the experimental animals were poisoned to 100ppm carbon monoxide for 8 hours every day from one day to 16 days. The materials were sliced from coronal section at the level of the optic chiasm and immediately frozen sections of $10{\mu}m$ thickness were cut on the cryostat at $-15^{\circ}C$ and incubated in the medium containing substrate for histochemical detection of cytochrome oxidase, succinate dehydrogenase and lactate dehydrogenase. The sections were mounted in glycerol gelatin and observed under light microscope. It was obtained that cytochrome oxidase activity decreased moderately and succinate dehydrogenase activity showed marked or moderate activity during entire poisoning period and lactate dehydrogenase activity showed marked or moderate activity from one to 8 days but recovered to normal condition at 16th day.

• Carbon letters
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.198-202
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• 2015

Carbon-supported Pt catalyst systems containing defect adsorption sites on the anode of direct methanol fuel cells were investigated, to elucidate the mechanisms of H₂ dissociation and carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. Density functional theory calculations were carried out to determine the effect of defect sites located neighboring to or distant from the Pt catalyst on H₂ and CO adsorption properties, based on electronic properties such as adsorption energy and electronic band gap. Interestingly, the presence of neighboring defect sites led to a reduction of H₂ dissociation and CO poisoning due to atomic Pt filling the defect sites. At distant sites, H₂ dissociation was active on Pt, but CO filled the defect sites to form carbon π-π bonds, thus enhancing the oxidation of the carbon surface. It should be noted that defect sites can cause CO poisoning, thereby deactivating the anode gradually.

• 한국전산유체공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2008.03b
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• pp.172-175
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• 2008

In the last five years, 45 people died and 104 were wounded because of carbon monoxide poisoning accident. CO poisoning accident is higher than any other gas accident in the rate of deaths/incidents. Most of these CO poisoning accidents were caused by defective exhaust tube in the old gas boiler and multi-use facility. In this study, the spread of CO gas released from leakage hole of exhaust tube was analyzed by computational flow modeling and concentration measuring test. CO gas leaked form exhaust tube in a building was highest concentrated near the ceiling and formed the circular currents along the walls. Through these experiments and simulation, the reasonable installation location of CO alarm was made certain and suggested.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.46-49
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• 2015

Carbon monoxide (CO) intoxication is a leading cause of severe neuropsychological impairments. Peripheral nerve injury has rarely been reported. Following are brief statements describing the motor peripheral neuropathy involved bilateral lower extremities of a patient who recovered following acute carbon monoxide poisoning. After inhalation of smoke from a fire, a 60-year-old woman experienced bilateral leg weakness without edema or injury. Neurological examination showed diplegia and deep tendon areflexia in lower limbs. There was no sensory deficit in lower extremities, and no cognitive disturbances were detected. Creatine kinase was normal. Electroneuromyogram patterns were compatible with the diagnosis of bilateral axonal injury. Clinical course after normobaric oxygen and rehabilitation therapy was marked by complete recovery of neurological disorders. Peripheral neuropathy is an unusual complication of CO intoxication. Motor peripheral neuropathy involvement of bilateral lower extremities is exceptional. Various mechanisms have been implicated, including nerve compression secondary to rhabdomyolysis, nerve ischemia due to hypoxia, and direct nerve toxicity of carbon monoxide. Prognosis is commonly excellent without sequelae. Emergency physicians should understand the possible-neurologic presentations of CO intoxication and make a proper decision regarding treatment.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.26-30
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• 2011

Instantaneous water heater being not properly installed and not adequately maintained may produce fatal accidents due to carbon monoxide poisoning and suffocation. Insufficient supply of air into the gas appliance for complete burning of the fuel or blocking the outlet of the combustion gas could be a cause to increase carbon monoxide concentration in the exhaust gas of the gas appliance. In this work, the experiments are done with a collected instantaneous water heater using in domestic and the concentration of oxygen near the gas appliance and carbon monoxide in exhaust gas are observed to investigate the risk of instantaneous water heater. The concentration of oxygen near the gas appliance is reduced until 17.7% for the ratio of the ventilation area and floor area being 3.5%. If the outlet of combustion gas is blocked, the carbon monoxide concentration is steeply increasing more than 4,000ppm. Therefore, periodic checking the outlet of combustion gas is more important than vent area to reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.