Problems of Forensic Sciences 2004 Vol. 58 (LVIII) 58-69
POISONINGS WITH ISO-PROPANOL AND ACETONE AS THE SUBSTITUTES OF ETHYL ALCOHOL
Ewa DRELA, Magdalena ROSÓŁ, Jakub TRNKA
Chair and Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical Academy, Wrocław
Streszczenie
The blood of deceased persons on whom autopsies have been performed at the Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical University, Wroc?aw, is routinely examined for the presence of ethyl alcohol. During these examinations, the presence of other volatile substances has additionally been detected, namely, iso- propanol, occurring most often with acetone as its decomposition product. Analysis was performed by means of gas chromatography, and then micro-diffusion and colour reactions with salicylic aldehyde were used as the confirmation method for the presence of iso-propanol and acetone. A great range of concentrations of these substances was found and they repeatedly exceeded values put forward in the literature as lethal concentrations. It was also noted that the amounts of these substances determined in the tested samples tended to increase with time and this may be indicative of an escalating phenomenon of imbibing of alcohols that are not intended for consumption.
Słowa kluczowe
Acetone; Iso-propanol; Alcohol-substitutes poisonings.