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Death by paint thinner
Ines Collison1, Wayne Moorehead
1Orange County Sheriff-Coroner Department, Forensic Science Services, Santa Ana, California 92703, USA. IBC@FSS.co.orange.ca.us
Journal of Analytical Toxicology
|November 9, 2002
Summary
A deceased individual found in a ravine had ingested petroleum distillate, likely from paint thinner. Toxicological analysis confirmed its presence in multiple organs, indicating a potential cause of death.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Toxicology
- Analytical Chemistry
- Pathology
Background:
- A case involving a 38-year-old male found deceased after a fall.
- Investigation into potential toxicological causes of death.
- Examination of substances found in the decedent's vehicle.
Observation:
- Decedent found deceased in a ravine with paint thinner cans in his vehicle.
- Autopsy revealed abnormalities in the heart, lungs, and gastrointestinal tract.
- Stomach contents and bowel contents showed oily liquid with a petroleum distillate odor.
Findings:
- Toxicology was negative for common drugs and ethanol.
- Therapeutic and subtherapeutic levels of prescribed medications were detected.
- Medium petroleum distillate identified in stomach contents, organs, and paint thinner samples.
- Petroleum distillate confirmed in all tested samples except blood and vitreous humor.
Implications:
- Suggests intentional ingestion of paint thinner as a contributing factor to death.
- Highlights the importance of comprehensive toxicological analysis in post-mortem investigations.
- Demonstrates the utility of static adsorption-elution in identifying volatile compounds in biological samples.