Problems of Forensic Sciences 2007 Vol. 70 (LXX) 198-205
FATAL POISONING BY GASOLINE
Artur TEŻYK, Roman WACHOWIAK, Rudolf DURYS
Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical University, Poznań, Poland
Streszczenie
Lead-free gasoline is a complex mixture of aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons, alcohols, ethers and other oxygen-containing aromatic heterocyclic hydrocarbons. The toxic effect of the set of compounds contained in petrol products is multidirectional and includes irritation of the skin, mucous membranes, dysfunction of vitally important systems, including respiratory, nervous (depressive action) and circulatory systems (arrythmogenic action). This study aimed to analyse causes and effects in the course of lethal poisoning of a 53-year-old man, whose corpse was found dressed in gasoline-soaked clothes in the service pit a of a garage. In the course of autopsy, several traces of IIo chemical burns were identified and blood plus urine, gastric content, tissues of liver, brain and abdominal walls were taken for chemical analysis. The autopsy material was subjected to extraction with ethyl ether, while estimation of reference components of gasoline was performed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry using a DB-1 column. Quantitative analysis of gasoline in blood and tissues was based on suggestions by M. A. Martinez, making use of calibration (1 to 100 μg/ml) of reference gasoline components (m,p-xylene) and an internal standard (n-octanobenzene). The presence of hydrocarbons was disclosed in blood and tissues, but not in urine. This points to a significant input of inhalatory exposure and of transdermal resorption in the poisoning. Gasoline poisoning was indicated as the cause of death with possible contribution of ethyl alcohol. The content of the latter (blood: 1.7‰, urine: 1.94‰) was confirmed in supplementary studies.
Słowa kluczowe
Gasoline poisoning; Toxicological analysis; Interpretation of fatalities.