ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Page Count: 3

Distribution of Phenol in a Fatal Poisoning Case Determined by Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry
Kasai, K
Assistant professor, instructor, associate professor, and professor, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan,

Tanaka, N
Assistant professor, instructor, associate professor, and professor, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan,

Kita, T
Assistant professor, instructor, associate professor, and professor, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan,

Tanaka, T
Assistant professor, instructor, associate professor, and professor, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan,

(Received 30 September 1997; accepted 2 January 1998)

Abstract

A victim who was presumed to have ingested waste fluid containing phenol of DNA extraction was found dead in his laboratory. The skin was partially chemically burned, with blisters as maps. No mechanical injuries were observed. The pathological findings of the liver and kidney were typical of those of acute substantial poisoning. Phenol concentrations in the blood, urine, stomach contents and organs were determined by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Phenol was distributed throughout the body. The concentration of free phenol in the blood was found to be 60 µg/mL, and in the urine it was 208 µg/mL. The phenol concentrations in the organs were found as follows: 106 µg/g in the brain; 116 µg/g in the lungs; 166 µg/g in the liver, and 874 µg/g in the kidney, respectively. Significantly high concentrations were observed in the kidney, urine, and liver. To the best of our knowledge, such an intoxication through this kind of ingestion has never been reported before. Distributions of phenol in fatal poisonings have been reported, but colorimetry was used as the analytical method and it cannot exclude the interference of other phenolic compounds.

Keywords:
forensic sciences, forensic toxicology, phenol, acute poisoning, gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, death

Paper ID: JFS14364J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS14364J
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