Vehicular carbon monoxide screening: identification in a cross-cultural setting of a substantial public health risk factor.

A community program of screening and education for prevention of vehicular carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning among a high-risk population in a cross-cultural setting is presented. The program was developed after two infant deaths in separate incidents of vehicular CO poisoning. The results of the screening show 18.6 per cent of vehicles exceeding the Environmental Protection Agency eight-hour standard for CO exposure, and 2.6 per cent exceeding the one-hour standard. Extension of such programs to other high-risk populations is recommended.