title: Maybe a new killer in illicit cocaine.
abstract: This is the study of the author that refers about a case of a 46 years old man found dead inside his house, the death was related to cocaine intake. The police found the corpse laying in his bed with a sheet of newspaper rolled up and a few plastic coverings containing trace of cocaine on the desk. Toxicological analysis was performed and drug levels measured by means of gas chromatography/mass spectrometry technology. Based on the autopsy findings and toxicological results the cause of death was related to an acute intoxication due to cocaine "overdose". In addition to the presence of cocaine and smaller alkaloids, in the sheet made of newspaper rolled up and eluted of the nasal mucosas has been highlighted the presence of 2,6-disopropylnaphtalene (2,6-DIPN), a fungicidal pesticide very health hazard for human. A very easy, simple and selective gas chromatography mass spectrometry method was employed for the detection of 2,6-DIPN in the cocaine powder.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Legal Medicine, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy. nadiafucci@rm.unicatt.it
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fucci
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D003042:Cocaine / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000506:poisoning; D062787:Drug Overdose; D053593:Forensic Toxicology; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009281:Naphthalenes / Q000032:analysis*; D009294:Narcotics / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000506:poisoning; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000737:chemistry*; D009524:Newspapers as Topic; D010575:Pesticides / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D013287:Illicit Drugs; D009281:Naphthalenes; D009294:Narcotics; D010575:Pesticides; C018520:2,6-diisopropylnaphthalene; D003042:Cocaine