title: A fatal work-related poisoning by hydrogen sulfide: report on a case.
abstract: Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a colorless and potentially deadly gas that may cause rapid loss of consciousness and respiratory depression without warning. Although occupational exposure to H2S and the medical management of H2S-associated toxicity are widely established, it remains a problem in the sour gas industry and in other industrial settings, predominantly in new workers. In this article, the authors report a fatal case of a factory worker who died after breathing in H2S while undertaking a task that he was not trained to perform. Toxicological assessment supported by autopsy findings and circumstantial data was essential to clarify the cause of death, determined as H2S poisoning. This case emphasizes the need to develop work safety initiatives, improve on-the-job training, and introduce more consciousness to put on protective equipment for workers; indeed, correct training and education for workers regarding safety in the workplace may help to reduce worker fatalities.
authors.affiliation: From the *Section of Legal Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia; and †Institute of Legal Medicine, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lancia
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Panata
authors.forename: Verdiana
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tondi
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Carlini
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bacci
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rossi
mesh_terms: D000062:Accidents, Occupational; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000506:poisoning*; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000473:pathology; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D053593:Forensic Toxicology; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006801:Humans; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide / Q000506:poisoning*; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D011654:Pulmonary Edema / Q000473:pathology; D020545:Respiratory Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D013154:Spleen / Q000473:pathology; D013885:Thiosulfates / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D013885:Thiosulfates; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide