Homicide Due to Intravenous Metallic Mercury Injection Followed by Sodium Cyanide Injection

Yan, Ping; Huang, Guangzhao; Li, Daoquan; Li, Ling

doi:10.1097/paf.0b013e318221b693

Cited by 11 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…Autopsy performed 10 months after intravenous injection of metallic mercury found widespread metallic mercury globules in the pulmonary blood vessels. [ 7 ] After injection, the considerable amount of mercury enters the pulmonary circulation along the affected vein and passes through the pulmonary capillary bed, and finally distributes throughout the body. Since the metallic mercury is highly lipophilic, it can enter into the bronchial alveolar cavity, and when the injection amount is enough, the toxicity test of the alveolar lavage fluid can be positive as in our case 1.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Elemental mercury poisoning for a homicide attempt is rare and can easily be misdiagnosed because of atypical symptoms and non-specific pathogenesis. [ 7 , 8 ] The signs and symptoms of intravenous mercury poisoning are nonspecific and difficult to classify. Despite the positive imaging findings, the subject in the first case was able to confirm the diagnosis until his girlfriend told the truth.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…[ 6 ] Metallic mercury poisoning through intravenous administration is quite rare, especially for homicide. [ 7 , 8 ]…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Mercury poisoning through intravenous administration

Liu

Chen

2017

Medicine

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Rationale:Metallic mercury poisoning through intravenous injection is rare, especially for a homicide attempt. Diagnosis and treatment of the disease are challenging.Patient concerns:A 34-year-old male presented with pyrexia, chill, fatigue, body aches, and pain of the dorsal aspect of right foot. Another case is that of a 29-year-old male who committed suicide by injecting himself metallic mercury 15 g intravenously and presented with dizzy, dyspnea, fatigue, sweatiness, and waist soreness.Diagnosis:The patient's condition in case 1 was deteriorated after initial treatment. Imaging studies revealed multiple high-density spots throughout the body especially in the lungs. On further questioning, the patient's girlfriend acknowledged that she injected him about 40 g mercury intravenously 11 days ago. The diagnosis was then confirmed with a urinary mercury concentration of 4828 mg/L.Interventions:Surgical excision, continuous blood purification, plasma exchange, alveolar lavage, and chelation were performed successively in case 1. Blood irrigation and chelation therapy were performed in case 2.Outcomes:The laboratory test results and organ function of the patient in case 1 gradually returned to normal. However, in case 2, the patient's dyspnea was getting worse and he finally died due to toxic encephalopathy and respiratory failure.Lessons:Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are critical for intravenous mercury poisoning. It should be concerned about the combined use of chelation agents and other treatments, such as surgical excision, hemodialysis and plasma exchange in clinical settings.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Mercury poisoning through intravenous administration

Liu

Chen

2017

Medicine

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“…Hitosugi encountered on fascinating case of criminal mercury vapor poisoning by using grains of mercury in cigarettes which were inserted into a battery holder where the victim inhaled the vapor produced when the battery was heated 17 . Intoxication with mercury compounds is rare, conversely, there have been several reports of homicidal, suicidal, and accidental intoxication of mercury across the world [18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25] . Indian married women in use salt of mercury as a daily cosmetic (vermilion) due to its brilliant hue where this colour property of the cosmetic was used as trace evidence in another forensic case; however, its use with criminal intentions is limited 26 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Forensic approach towards criminal use of mercury in domestic violence

Sinha¹,

Rao

Rawat

2023

Sri Lanka J Forensic Med, Sci & Law

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The prevalence of criminal cases against women is not first-hand with statistical data from the National Crime Records Bureau in India proclaiming an even rise in cases of domestic violence. Despite numerous laws to protect women against various crimes including rape, sexual harassment, dowry death, etc., there is less respite from violence toward women in India. Indian society needs to stand up and address the existence of many socio-cultural reasons for crime against women apart from literacy to lower these crime statistics. Forensic experts play a pivotal role in the scientific examination of evidence to support the criminal justice system which in the end affects the lives of millions of female victims. A case of attempted domestic homicide is presented wherein a 21-year-old married female was poisoned with some unknown substance laced in her milk by her in-laws. This case is of interest to the scientific community as well as to persons working within the medical and judiciary fraternity.Case history: A married woman aged 21 years alleged her in-laws including her husband of attempt to murder her by giving her milk laced with some unknown substance. She had severe vomiting after drinking milk where she noticed some shining materials in the vomitus. The vomitus and the gastric lavage were analyzed subsequently.Methodology: Physical and Chemical Examinations including visual analysis and solubility, odour, etc were initially conducted on the exhibits (Gastric Lavage and Vomitus samples) and results were further confirmed by Atomic Absorption Spectrometry.Results: An abnormally high level of mercury i.e. 9.88 ppm and 332.15 ppm were detected in Gastric lavage and vomitus respectively.Conclusion: The various scientific investigations determined that the female had been poisoned by using mercury justifying the essential role of forensics in linking shreds of evidence scientifically.

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“…Worldwide, recent fatal and non-fatal cases of cyanide poisoning have been reported [4][5][6][7][8][9][10]. In Seoul (Korea), 255 deaths from cyanide poisoning were described between 2005 and 2010; of these, 97.3% were suicides.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diagnosis of lethal cyanide poisoning. Analysis by Anion‐Exchange Chromatography with Pulsed Amperometric Detection

Zuccarello

Carnazza

Raffino

et al. 2022

Journal of Forensic Sciences

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Cyanide is a poison widely used in cases of suicide or homicide. Although various methods to identify and quantify this substance are reported in the literature, they are mainly validated on biological fluids (e.g., blood and urine). In the present study, the Anion-Exchange Liquid Chromatography with Pulsed Amperometric Detection (IC-PAD) method was validated on blood and, for the first time, on gastric content, and organs (brain, lung, and liver).

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Homicide Due to Intravenous Metallic Mercury Injection Followed by Sodium Cyanide Injection

Cited by 11 publications

References 16 publications

Mercury poisoning through intravenous administration

Mercury poisoning through intravenous administration

Forensic approach towards criminal use of mercury in domestic violence

Diagnosis of lethal cyanide poisoning. Analysis by Anion‐Exchange Chromatography with Pulsed Amperometric Detection

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