Problems of Forensic Sciences 2011 Vol. 84 (LXXXIV) 409-415
A RARE CASE OF FATAL ACETONITRILE POISONING – CASE REPORT
Joanna NOWICKA, Joanna KULIKOWSKA, Teresa GRABOWSKA, Czesław CHOWANIEC, Kornelia DROZDZIOK
Department of Forensic Medicine and Medicolegal Toxicology, The Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
Streszczenie
Acetonitrile (methyl cyanide) is a volatile organic solvent. Its toxicity is mainly dependent on the release of cyanide via metabolism. We report a case of fatal acetonitrile poisoning in a twenty six-year-old man. Post-mortem examinations were performed and samples of blood, liver, kidney and brain were submitted for toxicological analysis. Blood tests for the presence of ethyl alcohol and psychoactive substances were negative. Headspace gas chromatography (HSGC/FID) was used for qualitative and quantitative analysis of organic volatile substances and formic acid. The colorimetric method was used for quantitative analysis of cyanide. Acetonitrile concentrations (mg/ml or mg/g) were blood 45.0, liver 37.1, kidney 36.0 and brain 42.0; cyanide concentrations (mg/ml or mg/g) were blood 20.0, liver 3.0, kidney 1.9 and brain 3.2; formic acid concentrations (mg/ml or mg/g) were blood 42.0, liver 30.1, kidney 20.2 and brain 14.1. The used analytical methods allowed us to identify the unchanged substance – acetonitrile, and its metabolites – cyanide and formic acid over 30 h after intoxication.
Słowa kluczowe
Acetonitrile; Cyanide; Formic acid; Fatal poisoning.