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Gasoline and kerosene components in blood--a forensic analysis
1Department of Legal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
Human Toxicology
|July 1, 1988
Summary
Developed reliable methods analyze fuel components in biological samples. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry detects gasoline and kerosene exposure, aiding in human death investigations.
Area of Science:
- Forensic toxicology
- Analytical chemistry
Background:
- Accurate analysis of fuel components in biological matrices is crucial for forensic investigations.
- Existing methods may lack sensitivity or comprehensive detection capabilities for diverse fuel types.
Observation:
- Two simultaneous analytical procedures, head space and solvent extraction, were developed.
- Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) was employed for qualitative and quantitative analysis.
Findings:
- Head space method detected C5-C8 aliphatic hydrocarbons and aromatics (benzene, toluene, xylenes) after gasoline exposure.
- Solvent extraction method identified C9+ aliphatic hydrocarbons and C9 aromatics (cumene, mesitylene, etc.) after kerosene exposure.
- Lower limits of detection were 0.01 µg for gasoline and 50 pg for kerosene components.
Implications:
- These validated methods provide sensitive and specific detection of fuel exposure in biological samples.
- The techniques are applicable for confirming the cause of death in suspected fuel-related fatalities.
- Enhances forensic capabilities in toxicological analysis of hydrocarbon exposure.