When a winter storm hits, we brace for power outages, icy roads, and freezing temperatures. But toxicologists know another danger lurks quietly in the cold: chemical and environmental exposures that surge during winter emergencies.

If you’re a clinician, emergency manager, or public health professional, here’s the one clear idea:

 Every winter storm doubles as a toxicology event. Understanding how chemicals behave in cold conditions—indoors and outdoors—can save lives when temperatures drop.

Why Toxicology Belongs in Winter Preparedness

Winter weather doesn’t just freeze the landscape—it alters how toxins are stored, inhaled, and metabolized.
When ventilation decreases and chemical use increases, risk rises. Generators, antifreeze, de-icers, and sealed homes all create perfect conditions for hidden toxic exposures.

Here’s how toxicology shows up when the temperature plummets:

 Carbon Monoxide (CO) Poisoning

Portable heaters, generators, and car exhaust emit CO—a colorless, odorless gas that binds to hemoglobin 200 times more tightly than oxygen, displacing life-sustaining O₂.

Toxicologists monitor blood carboxyhemoglobin levels to diagnose and guide oxygen therapy or hyperbaric treatment.

According to the CDC, CO poisoning spikes during winter storms due to indoor generator use and poor ventilation.

Even mild symptoms—headache, dizziness, nausea—can indicate dangerous exposure when multiple family members are affected simultaneously.

 Antifreeze & De-Icer Exposure

Ethylene glycol (in antifreeze) and methanol (in windshield washer fluid) are among the most common winter chemical poisonings.

Small ingestions can cause metabolic acidosis, renal failure, or neurological damage.

Toxicologists guide antidote therapy using fomepizole or ethanol, which block toxic metabolite formation before irreversible organ injury occurs.

These exposures often mimic intoxication—making toxicology testing essential in emergency rooms during cold months.

 Indoor Chemical Accumulation

In sealed homes, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from heating systems, fuel storage, and cleaning agents can accumulate.

Chronic low-level exposure leads to headaches, confusion, or airway irritation, with higher risks for children, the elderly, and those with asthma or COPD.

Toxicologists evaluate indoor air quality data and recommend ventilation or filtration strategies to minimize inhalation risks.

 Water Contamination After Storms

Snowmelt, burst pipes, and runoff can leach lead, nitrates, and hydrocarbons into drinking water.

Toxicologists define safe exposure limits and guide community testing and remediation following infrastructure failure.

Cold-weather corrosion increases leaching from old pipes—especially in low-alkalinity water systems.

Practical, Tactical Steps for Professionals & Households
For Clinicians

Include CO toxicity in differential diagnosis for “flu-like” cases during winter events—particularly when multiple household members present with identical symptoms.

Order serum carboxyhemoglobin and metabolic panel tests promptly in suspected poisonings.

For Emergency Managers

Deploy CO detectors in community shelters and distribute public alerts about generator safety.

Involve toxicology experts in emergency operations centers (EOCs) to interpret exposure data and inform risk communication.

For Households

Keep generators at least 20 feet from doors, windows, or vents.

Store antifreeze and cleaning chemicals securely, clearly labeled, and away from children or pets.

Ventilate when using kerosene or gas heaters to prevent CO and VOC buildup.

Rooted in Experience

During the Texas winter storm of 2021, hospitals reported over 1,400 cases of carbon monoxide poisoning across the state. Toxicologists collaborated with emergency physicians to analyze exposure data, confirm CO as the culprit, and administer life-saving oxygen therapy.

That event underscored a simple truth: storm preparedness isn’t just about power—it’s about poison prevention.

The Bottom Line

Winter storms test not only our infrastructure but our understanding of chemical risk.

The clear idea:

Every winter emergency plan should include a toxicology lens—because chemical safety is as critical as heat and shelter.

Whether managing a hospital, running a community shelter, or protecting your family, toxicology awareness transforms crisis response into prevention.

References

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention During Winter Storms: https://www.forwardpathway.us/winter-safety-preventing-carbon-monoxide-poisoning

2. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Safety Tips for Food, Water, and Medicine During Power Outages and Storms: https://www.fda.gov/food/buy-store-serve-safe-food/food-and-water-safety-during-power-outages-and-floods

3. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). Toxicological Profile for Carbon Monoxide. 2020: https://wwwn.cdc.gov/TSP/ToxProfiles/ToxProfiles.aspx?id=1145&tid=253

4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Ethylene Glycol and Methanol Poisoning: Clinical Guidance for Healthcare Professionals: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ershdb/emergencyresponsecard_29750031.html

5. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Protecting Drinking Water During Winter Storms: https://www.epa.gov/dwcapacity/drinking-water-system-infrastructure-resilience-and-sustainability