Problems of Forensic Sciences 2018 Vol. 114 (CXIV) 197-202
AN UNUSUAL CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING WITH INTENTIONAL USE OF THE CHEMICAL REACTION BETWEEN FORMIC ACID AND SULPHURIC ACID – FIRST POLISH CASE REPORT
Rafał SKOWRONEK1, Joanna NOWICKA1, Robert NOWAKOWSKI2
1Department of Forensic Medicine and Forensic Toxicology, School of Medicine in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Katowice, Poland
2District Hospital in Chrzanów, Chrzanów, Poland
Streszczenie
Carbon monoxide intoxications are among poisonings regularly encountered in forensic medical and toxicological practice. Most often these are accidental poisonings or due to fire gases, less often – suicidal. The aim of this paper is to describe the first – to the authors’ best knowledge – Polish case of atypical suicidal poisoning with carbon monoxide with the use of the chemical reaction between formic acid and sulphuric (VI) acid. During the summer, the corpse of a 36-year-old man was found in an apartment. According to the prosecutor’s office, he had partially completed chemistry studies. During the forensic inspection of the scene of the event it was determined that the victim’s body was lying on the floor in the bathroom. In the apartment, the windows had been sealed and ventilation openings covered. The corpse was in a state of partial decomposition. Carbon monoxide was being emitted from the mixture of chemical substances in the laboratory beaker – as initially established – of sulphuric and formic acids. In the apartment, written warnings were found about the dangerous concentration of carbon monoxide, as well as a closed bottle of sulphuric acid and lime to neutralize it. 0.4‰ ethyl alcohol was found in decomposition (purge) fluid sampled from the corpse. Additional analyses showed a high content of carboxyhaemoglobin HbCO (84%). Ultimately, it was accepted that acute circulatory and respiratory failure in the course of suicidal carbon monoxide poisoning was the cause of the man’s death.
Słowa kluczowe
Carbon monoxide; Fatal poisoning; Suicide; Forensic chemistry.