title: Pesticidal suicide: adult fatal rotenone poisoning.
abstract: Rotenone is a pesticide and a piscicide derived from the derris root. The mechanism for the cytotoxicity is at mitochondrial level affecting cellular respiration. A suicide by rotenone poisoning in an adult is described. An innovative laboratory methodology was developed for the principal requirement of the Coroner to determine a positive or negative result to assist in the investigation of the death. The antemortem concentrations detected were 4.05 ng/ml [0.00405 ppm] in the blood and 0.55 ng/ml [0.00055 ppm] in the serum. Toxicity in human is rare and therefore the interpretation of the toxicology results is complicated by the unavailability of a data bank. The cause of death was attributed to rotenone toxicity based on the circumstantial evidence and expert pathological opinion on a balance of probability acceptable under the Coroners Act 1988 and Coroners Rules 1984 in England and Wales. The forensic clinicopathology of rotenone toxicity is discussed.
authors: Greater London Forensic Medical Practice, Dennis Geffen Health Annexe, St Pancras Gardens, Camley Street, Kings Cross, London NW1 0PP, UK. glfmp@btinternet.com
authors: Freddy
authors: F
authors: Patel
mesh_terms: D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005260:Female; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D053593:Forensic Toxicology; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007306:Insecticides / Q000097:blood / Q000506:poisoning*; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009102:Multiple Organ Failure / Q000139:chemically induced; D009336:Necrosis; D011654:Pulmonary Edema / Q000473:pathology; D012402:Rotenone / Q000097:blood / Q000506:poisoning*; D013405:Suicide; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry
chemical_list: D007306:Insecticides; D012402:Rotenone