[Skin damage caused by fatal benzene fume inhalation]

Two young men tried to stop a leaking patrol pipe of a private car in a workshop pit. One of them died from petrol-vapour-poisoning. Toxicological analyses by means of headspace gas chromatography permitted the identification of gasoline vapour. The other victim lost consciousness for a few hours and survived. By investigation of both victims alterations of skin were observed and interpreted as combustions with burns and blisters. Therefore the law-enforcement agency supposed an explosion or deflagration of gasoline vapour. In reality the experts on burnings could not gain any indication of an explosion and we proved the skin alterations to be a dermatotoxic effect of petrol.