The mechanisms that cause these phenomena are complex and often intricate. Certain organs, which concentrate the molecules before death, may release them very early in the vascular sector. The gastrointestinal tract, liver, lungs and myocardium are mainly concerned. Cell autolysis also plays a part in drug release. Furthermore, micro-organisms (mainly bacteria and yeasts) which colonize the organism during putrefaction may cause neoformation and/or the degradation of certain molecules. Lastly, it appears that the physicochemical and pharmacokinetic profile of xenobiotics, notably their lipophilic nature, their ionization state and their volume of distribution may be factors likely to influence redistribution phenomena. Some recommendations concerning anatomic sampling sites, sampling methods and sample storage make it possible to limit these phenomena.

Hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S) poisonings are classically reported in occupational settings. We describe an unusual domestic case of fatal acute poisoning by H(2)S inhalation. A mother and her infant daughter were found dead in the kitchen of their home. The emergency medical team described a strong smell of rotten eggs, suggesting acute H(2)S poisoning. Autopsies revealed only multiorgan congestion. H(2) S was measured in blood and lung tissue samples by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Body fluids were negative, but H(2) S was found in the lungs of both the mother and the child at concentrations of 1.46 and 1.92 mg/kg, respectively, concentrations described in the literature as potentially lethal. Expert surveys of the premises suggested a complex mechanism involving both defective maintenance of the pipes and drains of the building and faulty assembly of the sink siphon, which led to stagnation of waste water and formation of a pocket of H(2)S.

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