title: A fatal case of a paint thinner ingestion: comparison between toxicological and histological findings.
abstract: Toluene and xylene are aromatic hydrocarbons commonly used as an industrial solvent for the manufacturing of pharmaceuticals, paints, and chemicals. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has determined that toluene levels of 2000 parts per million (ppm) are considered dangerous to life and health. Several studies have examined the absorption of toluene and xylene following inhalation and oral ingestion in humans. Volatile organic compounds that are absorbed into the blood are distributed throughout the body; in particular, distribution of absorbed toluene and xylene in humans and rodents is characterized by preferential uptake in well-perfused and lipophil tissues such as the brain, liver, lungs, and body fat and also in central nervous system. The available studies indicate that xylenes are rapidly absorbed independently from the kind of exposition. We illustrate a fatal case of self-poisoning by ingestion of varnishes diluting solvents, reporting the identification and quantification of volatile organic compounds (toluene, o-m-p xylene) from human biologic liquids and viscera samples using the Solid-Phase Microextraction-Headspace-Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry to toxicological analysis, and the histopathological findings evaluated in liver, kidney, and lungs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology and Legal Medicine, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy. antonella.argo@libero.it
authors.forename: Antonina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Argo
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bongiorno
authors.forename: Antonino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bonifacio
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pernice
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Liotta
authors.forename: Serena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Indelicato
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zerbo
authors.forename: Pierangela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fleres
authors.forename: Leopoldo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ceraulo
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Procaccianti
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000473:pathology; D004947:Esophagus / Q000473:pathology; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D053593:Forensic Toxicology; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D005766:Gastrointestinal Contents / Q000737:chemistry; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D008168:Lung / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D011654:Pulmonary Edema / Q000473:pathology; D052617:Solid Phase Microextraction; D012997:Solvents / Q000032:analysis / Q000506:poisoning*; D013405:Suicide; D014050:Toluene / Q000032:analysis / Q000506:poisoning*; D014992:Xylenes / Q000032:analysis / Q000506:poisoning*
chemical_list: D012997:Solvents; D014992:Xylenes; D014050:Toluene