OBJECTIVE: To analyze the case characteristics of poisoning by exhaust gas of the imperfect combustion of natural gas and provide references for forensic identification and prevention of such accidents. METHODS: Twenty-two cases of poisoning by exhaust gas of the imperfect combustion of natural gas in Minhang District during 2004 to 2013 were collected. Some aspects such as general conditions of deaths, incidence time, weather, field investigation, and autopsy were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: In the 22 cases, there were 15 males and 16 females. The age range was between 2 and 82 years old. The major occurring time was in January or February (8 cases in each) and the cases almost occurred in small area room (21 cases). There was wide crack next to the exhaust port when the gas water heater was been used in all cases. CONCLUSION There are more prone to occurrence of exhaust gas poisoning of imperfect combustion of natural gas in small area room with a ventilation window near the exhaust port of gas water heated. It shows that the scene of combustion exhaust gas poisoning should be more concerned in the cold season.
Accident Prevention ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Autopsy ; Carbon Monoxide Poisoning/prevention & control* ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Death ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Natural Gas/poisoning* ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

Accidents, Occupational ; Asphyxia ; Gas Poisoning ; Humans

Skin is the first organ exposed to sulfur mustard (SM). The mechanism of SM-induced cutaneous injury has not been fully clarified so far, which is a major obstacle to the development of effective treatments for SM-induced injury. So far, there is no satisfactory therapy for acute symptoms and long-term complications. This review summarized recent researches on the mechanisms of SM-induced cutaneous injuries and the therapies for acute symptoms and long-term complications.
Humans ; Mustard Gas ; poisoning ; Skin ; drug effects ; injuries

Adult ; Female ; Gas Poisoning ; complications ; Humans ; Male ; Pulmonary Aspergillosis ; complications

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of hemoperfusion on tetramine poisoned patients.

METHODSThree tretramine poisoned cases treated with hemoperfusion were selected. The samples during and after hemoperfusion were collected and analyzed by gas chromatography.

RESULTSTetramine concentration at the inlet of the artificial kidney kept the same level during hemoperfusion. After hemoperfusion, the tetramine concentration in patient plasma changed little in 72 hours. 1.03-1.55 mg of tetramine was adsorbed by the instrument of hemoperfusion after two hours' hemoperfusion.

CONCLUSIONAlthough hemoperfusion was not so effective to reduce blood tetramine concentration in patients, it could clear about 1 mg tetramine for one time.

Trichloromethane and dichloromethane have toxic effects on the liver, and incidents of toxic liver disease caused by them have been reported from time to time. In November 2021, an occupational chemical poisoning incident occurred in a shoe factory in Huidong County, Guangdong Province. After testing the air at the scene and analyzing the clinical data of the poisoning patients, it was preliminarily determined that the poisoning was caused by a mixed gas poisoning incident dominated by trichoromethane. At admission, the liver function of 7 patients was tested for different degrees of impairment (alanine aminotransferase 145-2501 IU/L, aspartate aminotransferase 66-1286 IU/L). The volatile organic components of on-site raw and auxiliary materials were analyzed. The percentages of trichloromethane and dichloromethane detected in 103A powder glue used in the poisoning workshop site accounted for 21.11% and 6.77% respectively.
Humans ; Alanine Transaminase ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Gas Poisoning ; Liver Diseases

OBJECTIVETo compare the extent of genetic damages in somatic and germ cells from patients of benzene poisoning, silicosis and gas poisoning, which may provide clues for protection and reproductive healthcare.

METHODS174 patients with three types of occupational disease (including 48 with benzene poisoning, 71 with silicosis and 55 with gas poisoning) and 80 healthy controls had their aberrant chromosome and micronuclei rates measured with routine methods. Male patients also had their sperm samples measured for sperm abnormities and de novo mutations.

RESULTSThe aberrant chromosome rate, micro-nuclei rate and sperm abnormity were as followed: benzene poisoning 0.4%, 1.52 per thousand, (62 +/- 14%), silicosis 0.51%, 2.31 per thousand, (41 +/- 7%), harmful gas poisoning 0.42%, 1.55 per thousand, (48 +/- 8%), all being significantly higher than those of the controls [0.20%, 0.34 per thousand, (27 +/- 5)%]. The aberrant chromosome and micro-nuclei rates of silicosis group were higher than other two groups, but without statistical significance. Sperm abnormity of benzene poisoning group was significantly higher than that of other groups. In addition, de novo mutations in sperm of benzene poisoning group were detected.

CONCLUSIONPatients with the studied occupational diseases not only have genetic damage in their somatic cells, but also acquire de novo mutations in germ cells.

Hydrogen sulphide poisoning is an acute poisoning event that occurs frequently in summer. A case of acute hydrogen sulphide poisoning in a confined space in August 2018 was investigated and clinical data were analyzed. This is a typical case of acute hydrogen sulfide gas poisoning in a confined space. The main cause of the accident is the lack of occupational protection and illegal rescue. Among the 5 patients, 3 died, 1 patient had long-term sequelae of nervous system damage such as cortical blindness, and 1 patient was cured.
Accidents ; Accidents, Occupational ; Confined Spaces ; Gas Poisoning ; Humans ; Hydrogen Sulfide ; Poisoning

The popularity of SCUBA diving as aquatic sports is increasing in trend and therefore the risk of diving-related accidents or death is also increased. In underwater environment, with its rapidly changing ambient pressures, human body is subjected to pathophysiologic challenges. The common forms of medical problem with diving are barotrauma, decompression sickness and nitrogen narcosis, and the most common cause of diving-related death is drowning. However, the determination of the cause of death associated with diving should not be derived from the autopsy alone but must result from interpretation of data including a detailed history of the events prior to death, information about accident locus, diving suits, breathing apparatus and their accessories, and complete autopsy including toxicology and histological examination. And to explain the mechanism of death, the forensic pathologists should understand the diving physiology, law of gas physics and other diving hazards, and also be approached by the team effort involved by professional diver. Through the review of cases of SCUBA diving-related death and the literature, the author discuss the investigative approach to diving accidents and complete autopsy procedure with toxicological screen.
Autopsy ; Barotrauma ; Cause of Death ; Decompression Sickness ; Diving ; Drowning ; Human Body ; Inert Gas Narcosis ; Jurisprudence ; Physiology ; Respiration ; Sports ; Toxicology

To develop a simple, validated method for identifying and quantifying 1,3-butadiene (BD) in human blood by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and head-space gas chromatography (HS-GC). BD was identified by GC-MS and HS-GC, and quantified by HS-GC. The method showed that BD had a good linearity from 50 to 500 microg/mL (r > 0.99). The limits of detection and quantification were 10 microg/mL and 50 microg/mL, respectively. Both the intra-day precision and inter-day precision were < 6.08%, and the accuracy was 96.98%-103.81%. The method was applied to an actual case, and the concentration of BD in the case was 242 microg/mL in human blood. This simple method is found to be useful for the routine forensic analysis of acute exposure to BD.
Adult ; Butadienes/poisoning* ; Forensic Toxicology/methods* ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry/methods* ; Gas Poisoning ; Humans ; Male ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Solvents/chemistry* ; Temperature