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Determination of paraquat from formalin-fixed tissue
1Department of Legal Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Republic of China.
Forensic Science International
|September 1, 1988
Summary
A new method accurately determines paraquat herbicide in formalin-fixed tissues using sulfuric acid digestion and specialized resins. This technique is valuable for forensic toxicology when only preserved tissue samples are available.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Toxicology
- Analytical Chemistry
Background:
- Paraquat poisoning is a significant concern, and its detection in biological samples is crucial for forensic investigations.
- Formalin-fixed tissues are often the only available samples in suspected poisoning cases, posing analytical challenges.
- Accurate quantification of paraquat in preserved tissues is essential for toxicological assessments.
Observation:
- A novel method was developed involving sulfuric acid digestion for formalin-fixed tissues.
- A purification strategy using cation exchange resin followed by XAD-2 resin was employed.
- Paraquat was detected using spectroscopy after ion-pair formation with sodium dodecyl sulfate and elution.
Findings:
- The developed method allows for the determination of paraquat at submicrogram per gram levels.
- Calibration curves showed linearity from 0.01-5.0 mg/kg with a detection limit of 0.02 mg/kg.
- The method demonstrated good precision (RSD < 5%) and quantitative recovery (78%) in spiked samples.
Implications:
- This method provides a reliable tool for paraquat analysis in formalin-fixed tissues, enhancing forensic toxicology capabilities.
- It is particularly useful in cases where fresh tissue samples are unavailable.
- The technique offers a sensitive and precise approach for identifying paraquat exposure in post-mortem investigations.