Assessment of carboxyhemoglobin, hydrogen cyanide and methemoglobin in fire victims: A novel approach

To establish the cause of death, carboxyhemoglobin (COHb), total hemoglobin (tHb), methemoglobin (MetHb), and hydrogen cyanide (HCN) were quantified in the blood of fire victims. We analyzed 32 out of 33 blood samples from forensic autopsy cases in a disastrous polyurethane mattress fire, which caus...

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Publicado:	2015
Materias:	Blood samples Carbon monoxide Fire deaths Hydrogen cyanide Methemoglobin Polyurethane combustion alcohol aldehyde derivative carboxyhemoglobin hemoglobin hydrogen cyanide methanol methemoglobin polyurethan foam psychotropic agent volatile agent Argentina Article autopsy bed blood sampling burn cadaver cause of death combustion controlled study depletion diffusion disaster victim drug abuse femoral vein fire flame forensic pathology gas chromatography high temperature human human tissue mass spectrometry microdiffusion mortality oxygen depletion oxygen saturation priority journal prison prisoner United States vein puncture blood gas analysis forensic toxicology oximetry procedures Beds Blood Gas Analysis Carboxyhemoglobin Diffusion Fires Forensic Toxicology Hemoglobins Humans Hydrogen Cyanide Oximetry
Acceso en línea:	https://bibliotecadigital.exactas.uba.ar/collection/paper/document/paper_03790738_v256_n_p46_Ferrari http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_03790738_v256_n_p46_Ferrari
Aporte de:	Biblioteca Digital - Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (UBA) de Universidad de Buenos Aires

id	paper:paper_03790738_v256_n_p46_Ferrari
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spelling	paper:paper_03790738_v256_n_p46_Ferrari2023-06-08T15:40:35Z Assessment of carboxyhemoglobin, hydrogen cyanide and methemoglobin in fire victims: A novel approach Blood samples Carbon monoxide Fire deaths Hydrogen cyanide Methemoglobin Polyurethane combustion alcohol aldehyde derivative carboxyhemoglobin hemoglobin hydrogen cyanide methanol methemoglobin polyurethan foam psychotropic agent volatile agent carboxyhemoglobin hemoglobin hydrogen cyanide methemoglobin Argentina Article autopsy bed blood sampling burn cadaver cause of death combustion controlled study depletion diffusion disaster victim drug abuse femoral vein fire flame forensic pathology gas chromatography high temperature human human tissue mass spectrometry microdiffusion mortality oxygen depletion oxygen saturation priority journal prison prisoner United States vein puncture blood gas analysis forensic toxicology oximetry procedures Beds Blood Gas Analysis Carboxyhemoglobin Diffusion Fires Forensic Toxicology Hemoglobins Humans Hydrogen Cyanide Methemoglobin Oximetry To establish the cause of death, carboxyhemoglobin (COHb), total hemoglobin (tHb), methemoglobin (MetHb), and hydrogen cyanide (HCN) were quantified in the blood of fire victims. We analyzed 32 out of 33 blood samples from forensic autopsy cases in a disastrous polyurethane mattress fire, which caused the deaths of 33 inmates at a prison in Argentina in 2006. The cadaveric blood samples were collected by femoral vein puncture. These samples were analyzed using the IL80 CO-oximeter system for tHb, MetHb, and COHb levels and by microdiffusion for HCN and COHb levels. Blood alcohol (ethanol) and drugs were examined by headspace gas chromatography-flame ionization detection (HS-GC-FID) and GC-mass spectrometry (MS), respectively. Polyurethane mattress samples were analyzed according to the California 117 protocol. The saturation of COHb ranged from 10% to 43%, tHb from 2% to 19.7%, MetHb from 0.10% to 35.7%, and HCN from 0.24 to 15mg/L. These HCN values are higher than the lethal levels reported in the literature. Other toxic components routinely measured (ethanol, methanol, aldehydes, and other volatile compounds) gave negative results in the 32 cases. Neither drugs of abuse nor psychotropic drugs were detected. The results indicate that death in the 32 fire victims was probably caused in part by HCN, generated during the extensive polyurethane decomposition stimulated by a rapid increase in temperature. We also considered the influence of oxygen depletion and the formation of other volatile compounds such as NOx in this disaster, as well as pathological evidence demonstrating that heat was not the cause of death in all victims. Furthermore, statistical analysis showed that the percentage values of COHb and MetHb in the blood were not independent variables, with χ2=11.12 (theoretical χ2=4.09, degrees of freedom=12, and α=0.05). However, no correlation was found between HCN and MetHb in the blood of the victims. This is the first report to assess the relationship between COHb and MetHb in forensic blood samples. We further discuss other factors that could lead to a lethal atmosphere generated by the fire and compare the data from this disaster with that of other published fire episodes. © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. 2015 https://bibliotecadigital.exactas.uba.ar/collection/paper/document/paper_03790738_v256_n_p46_Ferrari http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_03790738_v256_n_p46_Ferrari
institution	Universidad de Buenos Aires
institution_str	I-28
repository_str	R-134
collection	Biblioteca Digital - Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (UBA)
topic	Blood samples Carbon monoxide Fire deaths Hydrogen cyanide Methemoglobin Polyurethane combustion alcohol aldehyde derivative carboxyhemoglobin hemoglobin hydrogen cyanide methanol methemoglobin polyurethan foam psychotropic agent volatile agent carboxyhemoglobin hemoglobin hydrogen cyanide methemoglobin Argentina Article autopsy bed blood sampling burn cadaver cause of death combustion controlled study depletion diffusion disaster victim drug abuse femoral vein fire flame forensic pathology gas chromatography high temperature human human tissue mass spectrometry microdiffusion mortality oxygen depletion oxygen saturation priority journal prison prisoner United States vein puncture blood gas analysis forensic toxicology oximetry procedures Beds Blood Gas Analysis Carboxyhemoglobin Diffusion Fires Forensic Toxicology Hemoglobins Humans Hydrogen Cyanide Methemoglobin Oximetry
spellingShingle	Blood samples Carbon monoxide Fire deaths Hydrogen cyanide Methemoglobin Polyurethane combustion alcohol aldehyde derivative carboxyhemoglobin hemoglobin hydrogen cyanide methanol methemoglobin polyurethan foam psychotropic agent volatile agent carboxyhemoglobin hemoglobin hydrogen cyanide methemoglobin Argentina Article autopsy bed blood sampling burn cadaver cause of death combustion controlled study depletion diffusion disaster victim drug abuse femoral vein fire flame forensic pathology gas chromatography high temperature human human tissue mass spectrometry microdiffusion mortality oxygen depletion oxygen saturation priority journal prison prisoner United States vein puncture blood gas analysis forensic toxicology oximetry procedures Beds Blood Gas Analysis Carboxyhemoglobin Diffusion Fires Forensic Toxicology Hemoglobins Humans Hydrogen Cyanide Methemoglobin Oximetry Assessment of carboxyhemoglobin, hydrogen cyanide and methemoglobin in fire victims: A novel approach
topic_facet	Blood samples Carbon monoxide Fire deaths Hydrogen cyanide Methemoglobin Polyurethane combustion alcohol aldehyde derivative carboxyhemoglobin hemoglobin hydrogen cyanide methanol methemoglobin polyurethan foam psychotropic agent volatile agent carboxyhemoglobin hemoglobin hydrogen cyanide methemoglobin Argentina Article autopsy bed blood sampling burn cadaver cause of death combustion controlled study depletion diffusion disaster victim drug abuse femoral vein fire flame forensic pathology gas chromatography high temperature human human tissue mass spectrometry microdiffusion mortality oxygen depletion oxygen saturation priority journal prison prisoner United States vein puncture blood gas analysis forensic toxicology oximetry procedures Beds Blood Gas Analysis Carboxyhemoglobin Diffusion Fires Forensic Toxicology Hemoglobins Humans Hydrogen Cyanide Methemoglobin Oximetry
description	To establish the cause of death, carboxyhemoglobin (COHb), total hemoglobin (tHb), methemoglobin (MetHb), and hydrogen cyanide (HCN) were quantified in the blood of fire victims. We analyzed 32 out of 33 blood samples from forensic autopsy cases in a disastrous polyurethane mattress fire, which caused the deaths of 33 inmates at a prison in Argentina in 2006. The cadaveric blood samples were collected by femoral vein puncture. These samples were analyzed using the IL80 CO-oximeter system for tHb, MetHb, and COHb levels and by microdiffusion for HCN and COHb levels. Blood alcohol (ethanol) and drugs were examined by headspace gas chromatography-flame ionization detection (HS-GC-FID) and GC-mass spectrometry (MS), respectively. Polyurethane mattress samples were analyzed according to the California 117 protocol. The saturation of COHb ranged from 10% to 43%, tHb from 2% to 19.7%, MetHb from 0.10% to 35.7%, and HCN from 0.24 to 15mg/L. These HCN values are higher than the lethal levels reported in the literature. Other toxic components routinely measured (ethanol, methanol, aldehydes, and other volatile compounds) gave negative results in the 32 cases. Neither drugs of abuse nor psychotropic drugs were detected. The results indicate that death in the 32 fire victims was probably caused in part by HCN, generated during the extensive polyurethane decomposition stimulated by a rapid increase in temperature. We also considered the influence of oxygen depletion and the formation of other volatile compounds such as NOx in this disaster, as well as pathological evidence demonstrating that heat was not the cause of death in all victims. Furthermore, statistical analysis showed that the percentage values of COHb and MetHb in the blood were not independent variables, with χ2=11.12 (theoretical χ2=4.09, degrees of freedom=12, and α=0.05). However, no correlation was found between HCN and MetHb in the blood of the victims. This is the first report to assess the relationship between COHb and MetHb in forensic blood samples. We further discuss other factors that could lead to a lethal atmosphere generated by the fire and compare the data from this disaster with that of other published fire episodes. © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd.
title	Assessment of carboxyhemoglobin, hydrogen cyanide and methemoglobin in fire victims: A novel approach
title_short	Assessment of carboxyhemoglobin, hydrogen cyanide and methemoglobin in fire victims: A novel approach
title_full	Assessment of carboxyhemoglobin, hydrogen cyanide and methemoglobin in fire victims: A novel approach
title_fullStr	Assessment of carboxyhemoglobin, hydrogen cyanide and methemoglobin in fire victims: A novel approach
title_full_unstemmed	Assessment of carboxyhemoglobin, hydrogen cyanide and methemoglobin in fire victims: A novel approach
title_sort	assessment of carboxyhemoglobin, hydrogen cyanide and methemoglobin in fire victims: a novel approach
publishDate	2015
url	https://bibliotecadigital.exactas.uba.ar/collection/paper/document/paper_03790738_v256_n_p46_Ferrari http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_03790738_v256_n_p46_Ferrari
_version_	1768542222779678720

Assessment of carboxyhemoglobin, hydrogen cyanide and methemoglobin in fire victims: A novel approach

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