Suicide by hydrogen sulfide inhalation.
The authors report a case of suicide by hydrogen sulfide in Australia. A young woman was located in a car wearing protective eyewear. A tub of foamy yellow substance and a quantity of hydrochloric acid and lime sulfur were also located in the rear of the vehicle. Morphological findings at autopsy were nonspecific. Toxicologic analysis of a specimen of leg blood detected elevated levels of methemoglobin. If Australia follows a similar trend to Japan and the United States, it is possible that incidences of such cases will rise, probably because of Internet dissemination. From a public health perspective, emergency service providers and forensic case workers should be aware of the potential hazards to themselves and others when dealing with such cases.
Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine, 57-83 Kavanagh St, Southbank, Victoria 3006, Australia. bott.eleanor@gmail.com
Eleanor
E
Bott
Malcolm
M
Dodd
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000506:poisoning*; D001336:Automobiles; D002057:Burns, Chemical / Q000473:pathology; D017610:Calcium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D002424:Caustics / Q000737:chemistry; D020378:Confined Spaces; D005260:Female; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D053593:Forensic Toxicology; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D006851:Hydrochloric Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide / Q000506:poisoning*; D008706:Methemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D013405:Suicide; D013440:Sulfides / Q000737:chemistry; D055815:Young Adult
D000393:Air Pollutants; D017610:Calcium Compounds; D002424:Caustics; D013440:Sulfides; C033907:calcium sulfide; D008706:Methemoglobin; D006851:Hydrochloric Acid; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide