Citation

Chaturvedi AK, Smith DR, Canfield DV. Forensic Sci. Int. 2001; 123(2-3): 211-214.

Affiliation

US Department of Transportation, Aeromedical Research Division, Civil Aerospace Medical Institute, Federal Aviation Administration, P.O. Box 25082, Oklahoma City, OK 73125-5066, USA. arvind_chaturvedi@mmacmail.jccbi.gov

Copyright

(Copyright © 2001, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

11728749

Abstract

A 55-year-old male Caucasian truck driver was dead at the scene after breathing hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S) produced by an accidental transfer of sodium hydrogen sulfide (NaHS) from a tanker truck to a tank containing 4% sulfuric acid (H(2)SO(4)) and iron(II) sulfate (FeSO(4)). Autopsy of the decedent's body revealed pulmonary edema and passive congestion in lungs, spleen, kidneys, and adrenal glands. Postmortem biological samples were analyzed for carbon monoxide, cyanide, ethanol, and drugs. Since a potential exposure to H(2)S was involved, blood was also analyzed for sulfide (S(2-)). The analysis entailed isolating S(2-) from blood as H(2)S using 0.5M H(3)PO(4), trapping the gas in 0.1M NaOH, and determining the electromotive force using a sulfide ion specific electrode. Acetaminophen at a concentration of 14.3 microg/ml was found in blood, and metoprolol was detected in the blood, liver, and kidney samples. The blood S(2-) level was determined to be 1.68 microg/ml. It is concluded that the cause of death was H(2)S poisoning associated with a hazardous material accident in an industrial situation.

Language: en