ACUTE AUTO EXHAUST GAS INTOXICATION

Abstract

Recently the cases of suicides committed by the auto exhaust gas have increased, estimating more than 1, 500 people for a year 1975 in Japan. The representative case of the suicide was reproduced and mice, rats and rabbits were placed inside the car for the gas exposure. In attempt to see which factors play major role in the development of acute poisoning due to inhalation of auto exhaust gas, we investigated toxic states of rats, mice and rabbits induced by the exposure to auto exhaust gas, carbon monoxide and oxygen deficient air. The effect of these gases varied considerably from each other with regard to time period till the loss of righting reflex and respiratory arrest, respiratory and cardiac rate and blood pressure. Auto exhaust gas appeared far more toxic than carbon monoxide per se. The reduction of oxygen concentration increased the toxicity of both carbon monoxide and auto exhaust gas. Furthermore, the carbon monoxide combined with oxygen deficiency produced effects on the constellation of these parameters markedly similar to those of auto exhaust gas. It is estimated that the combination of high carbon monoxide concentration and oxygen deficiency are largely responsible for acute intoxication by auto exhaust gas.