RESUMO
Para-phenylenediamine [PPD] is used alone or in combination with Henna as hair dye or skin decoration. The present study was conducted on 84 fatal cases[27 males and 57 females] who used hair dye using biological samples [urine and blood] referred to Assiut Forensic Chemistry Laboratory of Medico-legal Department, Assiut, from January 2007 to December 2012 to confirm PPD intoxication and to understand the magnitude and pattern of accidental suicidal and homicidal poisoning by PPD among males and females in Upper Egypt. During this period, the cases were reported. The suicidal homicidal and accidental cases were 77[91.7%], 6[7.1%] and I [1.2%], respectively. The suicidal poisoning of females was higher 55 cases [71.4%] than of males 22 [28.6%]. Most of the PPD deaths were between the third and fourth decades of life. PPD was detected by High Performance Liquid Chromatography - Photo Diode Array detector Agilent technologies 1200 Series [USA] [HPLC-DAD] in blood and urine samples. The present study concluded an the advice of "public education and strict control over the sale and distribution of PPD should be done to reduce poisoning by this agent