GC-MS identification of MIC trimer: a constituent of tank residue in preserved autopsy blood of Bhopal gas victims.
Based on the external and internal findings of Bhopal gas disaster victims, it was apparent that the gases and particulate matter came out as an aerosol. This was possibly the pyrolysed, reformulated, reconjugated suspension of constituents of the tank E-610 of Union Carbide India Limited, Bhopal, while it was claimed to be methyl isocyanate (MIC) only. It was postulated by the manufacturer of MIC, that the material inhaled by the victims of the Bhopal gas disaster does not cross the lung barrier (UCC press conference on 14th December 1984). It was observed that the more the victims ran, the more aerosol they inhaled and the fatalities were observed in such victims. The tissues, which were preserved in the deep freeze, were randomly selected and analysed by GC coupled with MS (ITD) Finnigan MAT, UK. 14 out of 34 autopsy cases showed MIC trimer peak in extracts of blood. This was one of the constituents of the aerosol and was also located in the tank residue, thereby proving that the trimer had passed the lung barrier.
Chandra
H
H
Medicolegal Institute, Bhopal, India.
Rao
G J
GJ
Saraf
A K
AK
Sharma
V K
VK
Jadhav
R K
RK
Sriramachari
S
S
D000062:Accidents, Occupational; D000986:Antisickling Agents / Q000097:blood*; D001344:Autopsy; D003485:Cyanates / Q000097:blood*; D004190:Disasters; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D017953:Isocyanates; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D000986:Antisickling Agents; D003485:Cyanates; D017953:Isocyanates; C008461:methyl isocyanate