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Characterization of Carbon Monoxide Exposure During Hurricane Sandy and Subsequent Nor’easter

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 April 2017

Amy Schnall ,
Royal Law ,
Amy Heinzerling ,
Kanta Sircar ,
Scott Damon ,
Fuyuen Yip ,
Josh Schier ,
Tesfaye Bayleyegn  and
Amy Wolkin
Amy Schnall*
Affiliation:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Environmental Health, Atlanta, Georgia
Royal Law
Affiliation:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Environmental Health, Atlanta, Georgia
Amy Heinzerling
Affiliation:
University of California San Francisco, Department of Internal Medicine, San Francisco, California
Kanta Sircar
Affiliation:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Environmental Health, Atlanta, Georgia
Scott Damon
Affiliation:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Environmental Health, Atlanta, Georgia
Fuyuen Yip
Affiliation:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Environmental Health, Atlanta, Georgia
Josh Schier
Affiliation:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Environmental Health, Atlanta, Georgia
Tesfaye Bayleyegn
Affiliation:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Environmental Health, Atlanta, Georgia
Amy Wolkin
Affiliation:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Environmental Health, Atlanta, Georgia
*
Correspondence and reprint requests to Amy Schnall, MPH, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Environmental Health, 4770 Buford Highway, MS F60, Atlanta, GA 30305 (e-mail: GHU5@cdc.gov).
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Abstract

Objective

Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless gas produced by fossil fuel combustion. On October 29, 2012, Hurricane Sandy moved ashore near Atlantic City, New Jersey, causing widespread morbidity and mortality, $30 to $50 billion in economic damage, and 8.5 million households to be without power. The combination of power outages and unusually low temperatures led people to use alternate power sources, placing many at risk for CO exposure.

Methods

We examined Hurricane Sandy–related CO exposures from multiple perspectives to help identify risk factors and develop strategies to prevent future exposures. This report combined data from 3 separate sources (health departments, poison centers via the National Poison Data System, and state and local public information officers).

Results

Results indicated that the number of CO exposures in the wake of Hurricane Sandy was significantly greater than in previous years. The persons affected were mostly females and those in younger age categories and, despite messaging, most CO exposures occurred from improper generator use.

Conclusions

Our findings emphasize the continued importance of CO-related communication and ongoing surveillance of CO exposures to support public health response and prevention during and after disasters. Additionally, regional poison centers can be a critical resource for potential on-site management, public health promotion, and disaster-related CO exposure surveillance. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2017;11:562–567)

Keywords

disastercarbon monoxidehurricane
Type
Original Research
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 11 , Issue 5 , October 2017 , pp. 562 - 567
Copyright
Copyright © Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc. 2017 

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