[Accidental fatal formaldehyde poisoning]

A previously healthy man accidentally swallowed 20 to 50 ml of Formalin (25%). Relevant clinical findings after the accident were: severe metabolic acidosis, severe disseminated intravascular coagulation and renal failure. He died 7 hours after formaldehyde ingestion-presumably from toxic pulmonary oedema. Relevant post-mortem findings were: massive pulmonary damage (toxic oedema), leather-like thickening of the gastric wall and multiple subendocardial haemorrhages. The treatment of formaldehyde poisoning is briefly discussed.