Problems of Forensic Sciences 2002 Vol. 49 (XLIX) 128-139
A CASE OF FATAL POISONING BY WOOD IMPREGNATION LIQUID CONTAINING COMPOUNDS OF CHROMIUM, COPPER AND BORON
Józefa Krystyna SADLIK
Institute of Forensic Research, Cracow
Streszczenie
Arare case of an erroneous and fatal oral poisoning by wood impregnation liquid containing chromium trioxide CrO3, cupric oxide CuO and boric acid H3BO3 was described. The material submitted for analysis, obtained during the autopsy, was analysed for chromium, copper and boron content using atomic absorption spectrometry (copper, chromium) and spectrophotometry with carminic acid (boron). The content of chromium amounted to: 17.3 μg/g in the stomach; 14.4 μg/g in the intestines; 40.4 μg/g in the liver; 29.8 μg/g in the kidneys; 27.9 μg/g in the spleen, and 6.8 μg/g in the blood. This content exceeded normal values by a dozen times, reaching values characteristic for fatal poisonings by chromium compounds (dichromates). The content of copper amounted to: 3.8 μg/ml in the stomach; 8.7 μg/ml in the intestines; 31.6 μg/ml in the liver; 5.9 μg/ml in the spleen, and 3.4 μg/ml in the blood. These values exceeded the highest normal levels found for copper: in the blood and stomach – 2 times, in the kidneys – 3 times, and in the liver – almost 5 times. The content of boron was: 3.3 μg/ml in the stomach; 1.9 μg/ml in the intestines; 2.4 μg/ml in the liver, and 3.8 μg/ml in the blood. No boron was detected in the kidneys or spleen; in the liver, the content of boron was within normal levels; the concentration in the blood was 3 times that of normal levels. The results of the analysis clearly indicate a fatal poisoning by wood impregnation liquid containing chromium, copper and boron compounds.
Słowa kluczowe
Poisoning by wood impregnation liquid; Chromium poisoning; Copper poisoning; Boron poisoning; Contents in post mortem material.