title: Analytical Challenge in Postmortem Toxicology Applied to a Human Body Found into a Lake after Three Years Immersion.
abstract: The body of a 30-year-old woman was found in Como lake at a depth of about 120 meters in her own car after 3 years of immersion. The aim of this study was to evaluate psychoactive drugs as well as alcohol biomarkers in biological matrices. The following analyses were initially performed: GC-MS systematic toxicological analysis on biological fluids and tissues; GC-MS analysis of drugs of abuse on pubic hair; direct ethanol metabolite determination in pubic hair by LC-MS/MS. After 7 years, the samples, that had been stored at -20°C, were re-analyzed and submitted to an LC-MS/MS targeted screening method, using multiple reaction monitoring mode. These analyses detected citalopram (150-3000 ng/mL), desmethylcitalopram (50-2300 ng/mL), clotiapine (20-65 ng/mL), and ethyl glucuronide (97 pg/mg). The methods showed an acceptable reproducibility, and the concentrations of citalopram and desmethylcitalopram calculated through the two analytical techniques did not significantly differ in biological fluids.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Forensic and Experimental Medicine, University of Pavia, Via Forlanini 12, 27100, Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Morini
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Forensic and Experimental Medicine, University of Pavia, Via Forlanini 12, 27100, Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vignali
authors.affiliation: Anatomopathological Unit, Hospital of Lecco, via dell'Eremo 9/11, 23900, Lecco, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tricomi
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Forensic and Experimental Medicine, University of Pavia, Via Forlanini 12, 27100, Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Groppi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000032:analysis; D001646:Bile / Q000737:chemistry; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D015283:Citalopram / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000032:analysis; D003987:Dibenzothiazepines / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D053593:Forensic Toxicology; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D005766:Gastrointestinal Contents / Q000737:chemistry; D005965:Glucuronates / Q000032:analysis; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007101:Immersion; D007668:Kidney / Q000737:chemistry; D060106:Lakes; D008168:Lung / Q000737:chemistry; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000737:chemistry; D011180:Postmortem Changes; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D003987:Dibenzothiazepines; D005965:Glucuronates; D015283:Citalopram; C093924:ethyl glucuronide; C046304:desmethylcitalopram; C084602:clothiapine
keywords: LC-MS/MS; death by drowning; ethyl glucuronide; forensic science; postmortem toxicology; psychoactive drugs