title: Haematic silicon in drowning.
abstract: The aim of this paper was to evaluate silicon (Si) concentration in human whole ventricular blood as a further potential chemical marker in the diagnosis of drowning. We employed an acidic digestion for the extraction of soluble Si, and an alkaline digestion for the determination of total Si, including particulate matter, both arising from drowning medium. 29 suspected drowning situations, 24 in fresh water (Fw) and 5 in seawater (Sw), were examined. The difference in Si concentration between the left and right ventricular blood (Si ΔL-R) was measured and alkaline Si ΔL-R seems, indeed, a potentially significant complementary tool in the diagnosis of Fw drowning, because insoluble silicon fraction does not undergo hemo-dilution or hemo-concentration, and the ΔL-R is not affected by exogenous factors. In spite of the limited number of cases investigated, a good correlation was observed between the analytical results and the macro-microscopic autoptic findings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, University of Pavia, Via Forlanini 12, 27100 Pavia, Italy. Electronic address: giovanni.pierucci@unipv.it.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pierucci
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, University of Pavia, Via Forlanini 12, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Merlano
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, University of Pavia, Via Forlanini 12, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Yao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Pavia, Via Taramelli 12, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sturini
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Pavia, Via Taramelli 12, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Maraschi
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Pavia, Via Taramelli 12, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Profumo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004332:Drowning / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D005618:Fresh Water; D006352:Heart Ventricles; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012623:Seawater; D012825:Silicon / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D012825:Silicon
keywords: Drowning; Plankton; Silicon; Ventricular blood