title: A case of death associated with ingestion of liquid windshield-washer detergent.
abstract: We report an autopsy case of a death associated with ingestion of liquid windshield-washer detergent. The deceased was a 49-year-old man who was found dead on a road near his truck. A bottle of liquid windshield-washer detergent containing an anionic surfactant and methanol was found under the passenger seat of the truck. At autopsy, slight abrasions and bruises were observed on his body. The small intestine contained dark greenish-brown mucoid matter with abundant froth. The mucous membranes of the esophagus, stomach and superior small intestine showed extensive necrosis, erosion, hemorrhage, edema and congestion. Using the methylene blue method to examine the contents of the small intestine, the presence of an anionic surfactant was indicated. We conclude that the cause of death was ingestion of liquid windshield-washer detergent.
authors.affiliation: Department of Legal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-8520, Japan.
authors.forename: Mihoko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ago
authors.forename: Kazutoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ago
authors.forename: Yoshiyuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Orihara
authors.forename: Mamoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ogata
mesh_terms: D003902:Detergents / Q000032:analysis / Q000506:poisoning*; D004947:Esophagus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D000431:Ethanol / Q000032:analysis / Q000506:poisoning*; D006801:Humans; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D000432:Methanol / Q000032:analysis / Q000506:poisoning*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D013270:Stomach / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D003902:Detergents; D000431:Ethanol; D000432:Methanol