[A case of suicide suspected of poisoning from taking some agricultural chemicals].

Abstract

Forensic toxicological examination was performed on a person who was suspected of poisoning by Azomite emulsion (an acaricide), Roundup (a herbicide) and/or unidentified agricultural chemical and died after 4 days. In Japan, production of Azomite emulsion has been stopped since 1973. The unidentified agricultural chemical was identified as an agricultural chemical containing malathion, an organo phosphorous compound, by analyzing with gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC-MS). When the person's serum was qualitatively analyzed with GC-MS, aramite and azoxybenzene, effective components of Azomite emulsion, were detected but not glyphosate, effective component of Roundup, and malathion. And so, quantitative analysis of aramite and azoxybenzene were performed with mass fragmentography. Aramite and azoxybenzene concentrations in the serum obtained at about 9 hours after he took Azomite emulsion were 5.20 micrograms/ml and 112 micrograms/ml, respectively. Only trace amounts of them were, however, detected in the serum obtained at about 3.5 days after that. Both aramite and azoxybenzene existed significantly in liver of the corpse, and their concentrations were 12.0 micrograms/g and 254 micrograms/g, respectively. Relatively large amounts of them were also deposited in the kidney. Severe liver and kidney disorders shown in this case were considered to be mainly induced by deposits of aramite and azoxybenzene in the liver and kidney. Also in the future, poisoning by agricultural chemicals that productions have been stopped like Azomite emulsion may happen. Therefore, it may be necessary for forensic toxicologists and medical doctors in emergency hospitals to try to be able to cope promptly with such poisoning cases.

• Authors: F Moriya, H Ishizu, K Akamatsu
• Journal: Nihon hoigaku zasshi = The Japanese journal of legal medicine (Nihon Hoigaku Zasshi) Vol. 45 Issue 2 Pg. 158-65 (Apr 1991) ISSN: 0047-1887 [Print] Japan
• PMID: 1920923 (Publication Type: Case Reports, English Abstract, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Agrochemicals
• Azo Compounds
• Insecticides
• Phenyl Ethers
• sulfurous acid, 2-(p-tert-butylphenoxy)-1-methylethyl 2-chloroethyl ester
• fenazox

Topics

• Agrochemicals (poisoning)
• Azo Compounds (analysis)
• Humans
• Insecticides (analysis)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Phenyl Ethers (analysis)
• Suicide