Publication Date

2021

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Ashley, Walker S.

Degree Name

M.S. (Master of Science)

Legacy Department

Department of Earth, Atmosphere and Environment

Abstract

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless gas that can cause injury or death if inhaled. CO is a frequent secondary hazard induced by the aftereffects of natural hazards as individuals, families, and communities will often seek alternative power sources for heating, cooking, lighting, and cleanup during the emergency and recovery phases of a disaster. These alternative power sources – such as generators, petrol heaters, and vehicles, exhaust CO – can ultimately build to toxic levels in enclosed areas. Ever-increasing environmental and societal changes combined with an aging infrastructure are increasing the odds of power failures during hazardous weather events, which, in turn, are increasing the likelihood of CO exposure, illness, and death. To date, research on CO poisoning during and after weather hazard events has generally been ad hoc and limited to major events. These case specific studies illustrate that tropical storms and winter events, such as ice storms, are the perils causing the most CO poisoning. This study analyzed weather-related CO fatalities from 2000 to 2019 in the U.S. using death certificate data, which provides the first long-term assessment of this mortality. Data primarily provided by the Consumer Product and Safety Commission (CPSC), the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) Storm Data, and the National Vital Statistics System (NVSS) were used to conduct the most thorough spatiotemporal and demographic analysis of weather peril-related CO poisoning in the U.S. to date. Over 8,300 of all CO fatalities occurred in the U.S. from 2000 to 2019, with 17% of those CO deaths affiliated with weather perils. Cool-season perils such as ice storms, snowstorms, and extreme cold were the leading hazards that led to situations causing CO fatalities. The African American demographic was most vulnerable; other demographic groups with increased vulnerability were males and those who were middle-aged. States in the Southeast and Northeast had the highest CO fatality rates, with winter having the greatest seasonal mortality. In general, these preventable CO poisoning influxes are related to lack of knowledge on generator safety and the absence of working detectors and alarms in the enclosed locations where poisoning occur. Education and prevention programs that target the most vulnerable populations will help prevent future weather-related CO fatalities.

Extent

49 pages

Language

eng

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

Text

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