Rückgang der suizide durch autoabgase nach einführung der katalysatortechnik

Abstract

Between 1980 and 1987 there were about 8 carbon monoxide suicides by automobile exhaust each year in the area of the Institute of Forensic Medicine of the University of Cologne. In the last five years up to 1999 there was only one case each year. The reason for this decrease is the introduction of three-way catalytic converters which significantly reduce carbon monoxide. Nowadays, in Germany more than 90% of the licensed cars with a combustion engine are equipped with a catalytic converter. Therefore lethal concentrations of carbon monoxide in the cabin of a car with a well-functioning catalytic converter are improbable. On the other hand, it still seems to be possible that hypoxia and carbon dioxide, which increases due to oxidation of CO in the catalytic converter, can have fatal consequences. In such cases, exact criminal investigations at the scene, measurements of the automobile exhaust, professional post-mortem examination, and extensive toxicological investigations are necessary.