Background and purpose: Carbon monoxide (CO) is one of the most common causes of death due to poisoning in Iran. This study is an epidemiological survey of death due to CO poisoning in Golestan province, Iran.

Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on all profiles of referential bodies to Golestan Department of Forensic Medicine who died due to CO poisoning between 2010 and 2015. Data, including information on demography, poisoning and death condition, were analyzed using SPSS V16.

Results: A total of 420 deaths was recorded due to poisoning, of whom 59 (14%) died from CO poisoning which was the third cause of death after opium and rice tablet. The CO poisoning cases included 71.2% (n=42) males. The cases were mainly aged 20–39 years (67.8%, n=40), 64.4% (n=38) were married, and 72.9% (n=43) lived in urban areas. Poisoning occurred mostly in winter (49.2%, n=29). Most CO poisoning incidents happened at home (62.7%, n=37) especially in living room (44.1%, n=26) and bathroom (13.6%, n=8), and gas heaters were the source of poisoning in majority of cases (37.3%, n=22).

Conclusion: CO was the third cause of death due to poisoning in Golestan province that was found to be more common among men and in homes with gas heaters. So, more attention on safety of gas heaters and other sources of CO generation is needed especially in winter and residential places without suitable ventilation.