Journal Published Online: 01 November 1987
Volume 32, Issue 6

Concentrations of Mustard Gas [Bis(2-Chloroethyl)Sulfide] in the Tissues of a Victim of a Vesicant Exposure

CODEN: JFSCAS

Abstract

An Iranian soldier died at a toxicological intensive care unit at Munich seven days after a vesicant exposure. At the autopsy the typical symptoms of mustard gas intoxication were found. The vesicant was detected qualitatively by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) in the abdominal fat and quantified in the tissues and in the body fluids by the following method: (1) extraction by dichloromethane, (2) cleanup of the extracts by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) on silica plates, (3) extractive derivatization with gold-chloride, and (4) quantitative determination by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ET-AAS). The equal extracts, after heating, served for blanks. The following concentrations were found (milligrams of mustard gas/kilograms of tissue wet weight): brain 10.7, cerebrospinal fluid 1.9, liver 2.4, kidney 5.6; spleen 1.5, lung 0.8, muscle 3.9, fat 15.1, skin 8.4, skin with subcutaneous fatty tissue 11.8, liquid from a skin blister: below detection limit, blood 1.1, and urine: below detection limit.

Author Information

Drasch, G
Institut für Rechtsmedizin, München 2, Federal Republic of Germany
Kretschmer, E
Institut für Rechtsmedizin, München 2, Federal Republic of Germany
Kauert, G
Institut für Rechtsmedizin, München 2, Federal Republic of Germany
von Meyer, L
Institut für Rechtsmedizin, München 2, Federal Republic of Germany
Pages: 6
Price: $25.00
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Stock #: JFS11235J
ISSN: 0022-1198
DOI: 10.1520/JFS11235J