title: Rotenone Analysis by Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry with Information-Dependent Acquisition in a Fatal Case of Rotenone Poisoning with a Commercial Organic Insecticide Being Sold in Korea.
abstract: Rotenone is a neurotoxin derived from Derris roots or yam bean of genus Derris or Lonchocarpus It is known to cause Parkinson-like symptoms and is a potent electron transport inhibitor. Rotenone was detected in postmortem specimens in a fatal case of rotenone poisoning with an organic pesticide by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry with an information-dependent acquisition and MS-MS library search. The forensic specimens were prepared by solid-phase extraction with a Bond Elut(®) Certify cartridge. The mobile phase comprised 5 mM ammonium formate in 10% methanol and 5 mM ammonium formate in 90% methanol. The assay was linear over the range from 0.01 to 1.0 mg/L (r(2) = 0.995). The limit of detection and quantitation in the blood were 0.001 mg/L (signal-to-noise, S/N = 3) and 0.003 mg/L (S/N = 10), respectively. The intraday accuracy and precision for rotenone that were determined by five replicates at 0.02, 0.10 and 1.0 mg/L in blood were <15.0% of bias and <9.0% of CV, respectively. The interday accuracy and precision for rotenone that were determined by seven replicates at 0.02, 0.10 and 1.0 mg/L in blood were <18.0% of bias and <17.0% of CV, respectively. Relative recovery with 0.02, 0.1 and 1.0 mg/L in blood was 104.2, 103.3 and 81.6% (n = 6), respectively. The described method was applied for the determination of rotenone in a fatal case of intoxication of a 33-year-old man who was found dead on a bed in a temporary house. In this case study, the concentrations of rotenone in heart blood (HB), peripheral blood (PB), gastric contents and vitreous humor were 0.77 mg/L, 0.02 mg/L, 126.4 mg/kg and 0.003 mg/L, respectively. The rotenone concentration ratio of the HB/PB was 38.8 and that of gastric contents/PB was 6412.3, suggesting a massive ingestion of rotenone with postmortem redistribution. This study is the report of rotenone detection in a fatal case with the ingestion of the organic insecticide containing rotenone.
authors.affiliation: Forensic Toxicology Division, Seoul Institute, National Forensic Service, 139 Jiyang-ro, Yangcheon-gu, Seoul 08036, Republic of Korea rheejs@korea.kr rheejs3@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jongsook
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rhee
authors.affiliation: Forensic Toxicology Division, Seoul Institute, National Forensic Service, 139 Jiyang-ro, Yangcheon-gu, Seoul 08036, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hyesun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yum
authors.affiliation: Forensic Toxicology Division, Seoul Institute, National Forensic Service, 139 Jiyang-ro, Yangcheon-gu, Seoul 08036, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sungmin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.affiliation: Forensic Toxicology Division, National Forensic Service, Gangwon-do 26460, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sanwhan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: In
authors.affiliation: Forensic Toxicology Division, Seoul Institute, National Forensic Service, 139 Jiyang-ro, Yangcheon-gu, Seoul 08036, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sangki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Forensic Toxicology Division, National Forensic Service, Gangwon-do 26460, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Joongseok
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Seo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D053593:Forensic Toxicology; D006801:Humans; D007306:Insecticides / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000506:poisoning; D008297:Male; D012402:Rotenone / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000506:poisoning
chemical_list: D007306:Insecticides; D012402:Rotenone