Tetrachloroethylene and trichloroethylene fatality: case report and simple headspace SPME-capillary gas chromatographic determination in tissues.
We describe a simple, precise, and sensitive assay of tetrachloroethylene and trichloroethylene in tissues, suitable both for emergency cases and forensic medicine. The method employs headspace solid phase microextraction-capillary gas chromatography and electron capture detection. The case is relative to a 45-year-old woman discovered unconscious in a laundry area. The concentrations of the solvents in tissues were determined and compared to other previously published fatalities.
Dehon
B
B
Unité Fonctionnelle de Toxicologie, Laboratoire de Biochimie et de Biologie Moléculaire, Lille, France. mlhermitte@chrul-lille.fr
Humbert
L
L
Devisme
L
L
Stievenart
M
M
Mathieu
D
D
Houdret
N
N
Lhermitte
M
M
D002849:Chromatography, Gas / Q000379:methods*; D019075:Electrophoresis, Capillary; D005023:Ethylene Chlorohydrin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013750:Tetrachloroethylene / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood / Q000506:poisoning* / Q000652:urine; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014238:Trichloroacetic Acid / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D014241:Trichloroethylene / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood / Q000506:poisoning* / Q000652:urine
D014241:Trichloroethylene; D014238:Trichloroacetic Acid; D005023:Ethylene Chlorohydrin; C005849:2,2,2-trichloroethanol; D013750:Tetrachloroethylene