Recreational inhalation of butane and propane in adolescents: Two forensic cases of accidental death.
The recreational use of inhalants is a fairly widespread habit among adolescents because of the ease of availability and methods of assumption. Their use is however not free of risks, both for direct toxicity on several target organs and for a mechanism of gas replacement with lack of oxygen. The first case concerns a 12-year-old boy who died suddenly after sniffing a mix of butane and propane contained in a can of air freshener. The second case concerns a 14-year-old boy who died by acute poisoning by the same mixture contained in a refill for lighters. High concentrations of the compounds were found in the tissues by analysis with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The compounds found in tissues and biological fluids were perfectly compatible with those contained in the containers used for the inhalation. The mechanisms of death were therefore assessed in a combination of the direct toxicity of the compound and oxygen replacement, thus highlighting the crucial help that toxicological analyses can provide in such cases.
Sezione di Tossicologia Forense, Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Chirurgiche e Odontoiatriche, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Luigi Mangiagalli 37, Milano, Italy.
Luca
L
Sironi
Sezione di Medicina Legale e delle Assicurazioni, Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche per la Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Luigi Mangiagalli 37, Milano, Italy. Electronic address: alberto.amadasi@unimi.it.
Alberto
A
Amadasi
Sezione di Medicina Legale e delle Assicurazioni, Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche per la Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Luigi Mangiagalli 37, Milano, Italy.
Riccardo
R
Zoja
D000059:Accidents; D000293:Adolescent; D002073:Butanes / Q000032:analysis / Q000506:poisoning*; D002648:Child; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D058545:Inhalant Abuse; D008297:Male; D011407:Propane / Q000032:analysis / Q000506:poisoning*
D002073:Butanes; D011407:Propane
Adolescents; Butane; Propane; Sudden death; Volatile substance abuse