Percutaneous Absorption and Distribution of Methanol in a Homicide

Abstract

A woman was alleged to have committed suicide by consuming a gasoline additive shortly before jumping from a second floor balcony within her home. She was found dead by police with a multitude of injuries, lying nude in a partially evaporated unknown residue that was later determined to be methanol. Samples collected at autopsy were found to contain methanol in the following concentrations: femoral blood 31.2 mg/dL, pulmonary artery blood 111.0 mg/dL, aortic blood 77.8 mg/dL, vitreous fluid 196.4 mg/dL, brain 22.0 mg/100 g, liver 21.2 mg/100 g, and kidney 25.9 mg/100 g using a headspace gas chromatographic method. Significantly, no methanol was detected in samples recovered from the esophagus, stomach, duodenum, small intestine, bile, or urine. These findings are inconsistent with either recent or delayed oral ingestion of methanol. We concluded that absorption of methanol occurred dermally and through the oral mucosa as she lay dying and saturated in the fuel additive. Based upon the toxicological data and a comprehensive forensic investigation (including documentation and analysis of evidence recovered at the scene and the autopsy), the cause of death was determined to be blunt impact trauma and methanol poisoning.

Two cases of methyl alcohol intoxication by sub-chronic inhalation and dermal exposure during aluminum CNC cutting in a small-sized subcontracted factory

“…Methyl alcohol poisoning has been mainly reported in community as accidents or crimes by oral ingestion [4] or transdermal absorption [5, 6]. Two industrial cases of methyl alcohol intoxication were found in a poorly ventilated laboratory chronically [7] and a methyl alcohol production factory with acute exposure [8].…”

Accidental Transdermal Methanol Poisoning: Diffificulties and Suggestions in Therapy Case Report

“…As regards to these difficulties most of the reported cases include post mortem findings. [4][5][6][7][8] This report has a target on highlighting the importance of diagnosis and management of methanol poisoning in a case that methanol was transdermally ingested and the patient was completely ignorant of its use. Our patient used a high methanol solvent-containing dressing to cure selulitis in her leg and skin penetration seriously affected her.…”

“…3 The lethal dose has been reported to be 1 ml.kg -1 with permanent visual disturbances occurring after exposure to as little as 0.1 ml.kg -1 . 4 We present a case that transdermal methanol intoxication was treated in a lately admitted patient who was unintentionally exposed to methanol.…”

Bilateral total optic atrophy due to transdermal methanol intoxication

“…Methanol poisoning causes neurological sequelae of variable severity including cerebral and intraventricular hemorrhage, cerebellar necrosis, diffuse cerebral edema, bilateral subcortical white matter necrosis, and optic neuropathy 1–4. Ingestion of even small amount of methanol can cause vision loss in a few hours 2.…”