[Toxicology in legal medicine]

The purpose of toxicology in legal medicine is to determine the presence of chemicals effecting the human body in biological samples and to interpret the concentrations of chemicals. Analytical methods and medico-legal interpretations of the results of poisoning cases were discussed. 1. "Yusho," PCB poisoning "Yusho" was determined to be PCB poisoning by the detection of PCB in Rice-oil used by a "Yusho" family. My toxicological works were based on the study of "Yusho," which taught me the importance of the collaboration between faculties, the moral of the co-worker, and the PCB contamination in the laboratory. 2. Drugs In order to interpret the concentration of bromvalerylurea in blood, a very sensitive method was developed using a Florisil mini-column for cleaning up, and ECD-GC for analysis. GC/MS is used to determine the concentrations of other drugs in biological samples as well. 3. Pesticides In the first case of fatal ethyl parathion poisoning, only ethyl parathion in the stomach contents was analyzed by ECD-GC, and the cause of death was determined to be ethyl parathion poisoning. In the second case, parathion in the blood, brain, and stomach contents was analyzed. Both cases, however, were not reported in detail in the journal. Joint study on pesticides with the Division of Emergency Medicine is carrying on now. 4. Thinner Male rats were exposed to toluene vapor in pure oxygen, air, and 10%-O2 air. Anesthetic death from thinner vapor was confirmed. It seems that inhalation of toluene in a hypoxic atmosphere, such as from a plastic bag, is very dangerous.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)