ABSTRACT
Based on medical examiner reports and state vital records, 1978-84, nonvehicular carbon monoxide (CO) caused 62 unintended deaths, representing 42 percent of all unintended fatal CO poisonings in West Virginia. Sources were almost always heating or cooking appliances associated with incomplete combustion of fuels (methane, butane, or propane) not commonly recognized for their potential to produce CO. Hazards included failure to provide recommended venting, neglected maintenance, or use in small areas without natural ventilation.
Subject(s)
Accidents/statistics & numerical data , Carbon Monoxide Poisoning/mortality , Accidents, Home/statistics & numerical data , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Carbon Monoxide/blood , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , West Virginia/epidemiologyABSTRACT
We investigated the circumstances of unintended carbon monoxide deaths from motor vehicle exhaust. Of 64 episodes involving 82 deaths investigated by the West Virginia Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, 1978-84, 50 occurred outdoors in older vehicles with defective exhaust systems and 14 occurred in enclosed or semi-enclosed home garages. Blood alcohol was detected in 50 (68 per cent) of 74 victims tested; 34 had blood alcohol concentrations greater than or equal to 0.10 g/dl. We suggest increasing public awareness of the hazards of motor vehicle exhaust and enforcing vehicle inspection regulations.
Subject(s)
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning/mortality , Vehicle Emissions/toxicity , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Automobiles/standards , Carbon Monoxide Poisoning/blood , Ethanol/blood , Humans , Middle Aged , West VirginiaABSTRACT
A suicidal death is described involving zomepirac sodium. The postmortem blood concentration of zomepirac was 152 mg/L. An antemortem specimen obtained nine hours prior to death had a zomepirac concentration of 286 mg/L. An ultraviolet spectrophotometer was utilized for quantitation of the drug. Confirmation of the zomepirac was made by gas chromatography.
Subject(s)
Analgesics/poisoning , Pyrroles/poisoning , Suicide , Tolmetin/poisoning , Adult , Female , Humans , Tolmetin/analogs & derivatives , Tolmetin/bloodSubject(s)
Burns/pathology , Fires , Forensic Medicine , Autopsy/methods , Burns/etiology , Dermatoglyphics , HumansABSTRACT
Fluid-tissue/blood alcohol ratios were calculated for a number of cases. The use of such factors to determine the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) becomes important when a blood specimen is not available or is contaminated. It was shown that estimates of blood alcohol concentrations derived from other physiological fluids or tissues can only be expressed as lying within a wide concentration range. Estimations of the BAC can be improved by using the stomach alcohol concentrations to determine if the decreased was in an absorption or postabsorption phase at the time of death.
Subject(s)
Body Fluids/analysis , Cadaver , Ethanol/analysis , Brain Chemistry , Chromatography, Gas , Ethanol/blood , Humans , Tissue DistributionABSTRACT
Two cases of sudden, unexpected death resulting from coronary artery dissection have been reported. Since sudden and unexpected death falls within medical examiners' jurisdiction, the systematic autopsy examination of such cases offers an opportunity to evaluate this entity as well as other rare causes of natural death. A review of the literature concerning the subject has been presented.
