Study of biological samples obtained from victims of MGM Grand Hotel fire.
Eighty blood samples and 17 respiratory-tract tissue samples containing fluid taken from victims of the MGM Grand Hotel fire were studied to assist in the determination of the cause of death. The blood and tissue-fluid samples were analyzed for carboxyhemoglobin, oxyhemoglobin, methemoglobin, and total hemoglobin. Outgassing studies were done on the tissue samples using gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy, and heavy metal analysis on inhaled soot was done by x-ray fluorescence. The carboxyhemoglobin values obtained on the samples were significantly higher than those reported by Clark County. However, the percentage of the victims with a carboxyhemoglobin saturation level of 50% or less is higher than that found in the Maryland fire fatality study, suggesting that other toxic factors may have contributed to the lethal nature of the fire.
D001826:Body Fluids / Q000032:analysis; D002244:Carbon / Q000032:analysis; D002263:Carboxyhemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D005390:Fires; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008706:Methemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D009505:Nevada; D010108:Oxyhemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000032:analysis; D013052:Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission
D006454:Hemoglobins; D010108:Oxyhemoglobins; D002244:Carbon; D008706:Methemoglobin; D002263:Carboxyhemoglobin