A case of a fatal rotenone poisoning in a three-and-a-half-year-old girl is described. The case report and autopsy findings are mentioned. For the extraction of rotenone out of biological samples, a solvent partitioning and silica gel open column chromatographic cleanup procedure has been used. The determination of rotenone was performed by high pressure liquid chromatography.

Stomach, small intestine contents, blood, liver, kidney and urine of a 28-years old man, were analyzed for residues of Endosulfan (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 10-hexachloro-1, 5, 5a, 6, 9, 9a-hexahydro-6, 9-methano-2, 4, 3-benzo(e)dioxathiepin 3-oxide). The analysis results showed the presence of high concentrations of the two endosulfan isomers in all samples. Since also alcohol was present in all the tissues analyzed, it was concluded that the victim died of a combined endosulfan-alcohol poisoning. No other drugs were found.

A thin layer chromatographic procedure for the detection of bipyridylium compounds in post-mortem human tissues is described. To verify the suitability of the method, human biological samples originating from two fatal poisoning cases, are analyzed. In the first case, an amount of Gramoxone® (Paraquat) was taken orally. Death occurred after ± 30 hours without any specific treatment. The second case is concerned with an ingestion of Reglone® (Diquat), followed by death after 5 days of intensive care treatment.

No abstract

A fatal case of paraquat poisoning is described. Postmortem concentration of paraquat in different tissues reveals that treatment in this case could not prevent lethal tissue accumulation. Although accumulation was more pronounced in renal tissue, lung toxicity caused death. The formation of enormous fecaliths and the appearance of hypercalcemia are reported. Both were most likely connected with Füllers earth therapy. In spite of the fact that the exact nature of the equilibrium between plasma levels and tissue accumulation of paraquat (static or dynamic) is not understood, aggressive treatment must be recommended, even after the distribution phase and despite likely "fatal" plasma levels.