Testing for alpha-chloralose by headspace-GC/MS. A case report.
A case is presented involving an acute fatality resulting from self-administered alpha-chloralose, a rodenticide. A 18-year-old man was found dead at home, with several stains of vomit on the carpet. An empty box of three bags of 5 g 100% alpha-chloralose (Corbeaux nuisibles, Rhône Poulenc) was found near the body. The compound was identified and quantified by headspace gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Alpha-chloralose was converted by concentrated sulphuric acid into chloral, a volatile compound, that was, after chromatography on a HP5-MS capillary column, identified by the following ions, m/z 82, 111 and 148. Peripheral blood concentration was 175.7 mg/l. Alpha-chloralose was quantified in several tissues, indicating kidney sequestration. No other drugs, including ethanol, were detected.
Kintz
P
P
Institut de Médecine Légale, Strasbourg, France. pascal.kintz@wanadoo.fr
Doray
S
S
Cirimele
V
V
Ludes
B
B
D000293:Adolescent; D002698:Chloralose / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000506:poisoning*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005554:Forensic Medicine; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012378:Rodenticides / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000506:poisoning*; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D012378:Rodenticides; D002698:Chloralose