[Determination of acid-resistant silicic particles in lung by micro-XRF and its application in diagnosis of drowning].
OBJECTIVE
Using microbeam X-ray fluorescence (Micro-XRF) analyzer for determination of acid-resistant silicic particles in lung, and to explore its potential application in diagnosis of drowning.


METHODS
Thirty two white rabbits were divided randomly into drowning group (n=12), post-mortem immersion group (n=10) and control group (n=10). Lungs and water sample were collected for determination of area concentration of acid-resistant silicic particles using Micro-XRF method.


RESULTS
The area concentration of acid-resistant silicic particles for the drowning water sample was 4.4 mm2/mL. For the lungs of drowning group, the post-mortem immersion group and the control group, the determined average values were (25.30 +/- 10.95) mm2/g, (1.68 +/- 0.63) mm2/g and (1.65 +/- 0.85) mm2/g, respectively, with a statistically significant difference between the drowning group and the other two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The area concentration of acid-resistant silicic particles in lungs may be used as an indicator of drowning. The method is highly sensitive and rapid. It provides a potential application in drowning diagnosis.
Guangzhou Institute of Criminal Science and Technology, Guangzhou 510030, China. sunlin.hu@yahoo.com.cn
Sun-lin
SL
Hu
Jin-feng
JF
Wen
Wen-bin
WB
Lai
Chao
C
Fang
Xiao-ting
XT
Zhang
Song-cai
SC
Wang
Wei-lie
WL
Dai
Chao
C
Liu
D000818:Animals; D004332:Drowning / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D005453:Fluorescence; D049429:Forensic Pathology / Q000379:methods; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000032:analysis*; D008168:Lung / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D011817:Rabbits; D012825:Silicon / Q000032:analysis*; D013052:Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*
D012825:Silicon