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Home / Health / Articles / Is carbon monoxide still a problem in the US?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), hundreds of people die each year from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning in the US, and thousands more are hospitalized. Between 2016 and 2020, Alaska, Nebraska, and West Virginia had the highest death rates from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning.

How many people die from carbon monoxide poisoning each year?

In 2022, 1,244 people in the US died from carbon monoxide poisoning, according to provisional CDC data. Of those deaths, 624 were accidental and 579 were suicides.[1] There were also 511 deaths where carbon monoxide was involved, but wasn't the actual cause of death; most of those were fire-related.

Are more people dying from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning?

More people died from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning in 2022 than any year since at least 1999. The number of deaths increased 85.7% from 2012 to 2022.

With the frequency of natural disasters increasing, the Federal Emergency Management Agency notes that many Americans now use portable generators due to power outages — despite “serious health and safety concerns,” including carbon monoxide poisoning. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) concludes that portable generators are associated with 40% of carbon monoxide deaths related to consumer products since 2009.

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How many carbon monoxide deaths are linked to consumer products?

The CPSC estimates that 250 carbon monoxide deaths in 2019 were related to consumer products under its jurisdiction, including portable generators and heating products.[2] Accidental carbon monoxide poisoning deaths from consumer products increased by 69% from 2009 to 2019.

The 2019 death toll of 250 was the highest in a decade, up from 148 in 2009. A majority of these deaths (84%) happened between September and April, which CPSC attributes to increased use of furnaces and portable heaters during winter and in transition months.

The CPSC also notes that some Americans die due to poisoning from non-consumer products, such as cars left running in attached garages.

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Which states have the most carbon monoxide deaths?

From 2016 to 2020, Alaska had the highest death rate from accidental, non-fire-related carbon monoxide poisoning, at 0.8 deaths per 100,000 people. California had the highest total number of deaths, at 170.

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How many people seek medical treatment for carbon monoxide poisoning?

According to the CDC, more than 100,000 people visit an emergency room for accidental carbon monoxide poisoning every year, with more than 14,000 hospitalized.

How does air pollution affect carbon monoxide levels?

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) data shows that the amount of carbon monoxide in the atmosphere declined 88% from 1980 to 2022 as air quality improved overall in the US. National air quality has improved over the past several decades due to federal and state regulations on vehicles and factories.

Outdoors, carbon monoxide is unlikely to reach the high levels of concentration that lead to poisoning. Still, the EPA warns that elevated levels of carbon monoxide outdoors can pose a danger to people with certain kinds of heart disease.

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Which regions have the most carbon monoxide in the air?

In 2022, the Ohio Valley region had the highest concentrations of carbon monoxide in the air, averaging 2.5 parts per million. States in this federally defined climate region include Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri. The rest of the US averaged between 0.9 and 1.35 parts per million.

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Provisional Mortality Statistics
Non-Fire Carbon Monoxide Deaths Associated with the Use of Consumer Products
Last updated
March 2023
[1]

The remaining 41 deaths come from other non-accidental causes of death with some other intent than suicide.

[2]

The report notes that data for 2018 and 2019 is preliminary, as data collection was not yet complete at the time of publication.