Quantitative determination of n-butane metabolites in three cases of butane sniffing death

Detection of butane metabolites as an indicator of butane abuse

“…Analysis of volatile hydrocarbons and the abovementioned metabolites was performed in accordance with previous reports, with slight modification [10]. In brief, a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) model QP-2010 Plus (Shimadzu, Kyoto, Japan) was used.…”

“…Helium was used as the carrier gas (1.78 mL/ min). Identification of each compound was determined by retention times and confirmation ions (2-butanol, 2-butanone, and t-butanol for m/z=45, 43, and 59, respectively [10]).…”

“…The contents of n-butane in blood samples have been shown to decrease by 50% within 3 days when stored at room temperature [6]. Most inhaled n-butane and isobutane are believed to be eliminated unchanged by the pulmonary route, and a small portion of each component is metabolized by the liver [7][8][9][10]. We report here that the detection of n-butane or isobutane metabolites may be a good biomarker for gas abuse.…”

Recreational inhalation of butane and propane in adolescents: Two forensic cases of accidental death

“…The present cases are very representative of how a correct and thorough forensic investigation should be performed in case of poisoning by butane and propane, especially in accidental cases among people who use to inhale substances for some sort of ''trip'' [1][2][3][4][5][6][7]. The assessment of the assumption of these substances (a mixture, in both cases) and their role in causing death is based on a thorough evaluation based on circumstances, crime scene investigation, autopsy, histopathological evidence and toxicological investigations.…”

“…The most common substances consist in glues and adhesives for plastics, lacquers, solvents for dyes, fuel (gasoline, naphtha, kerosene), fuel for lighters, aerosol propellants. The latter were composed until the end of the 70s by chlorofluorocarbons that were later banned because of their potential harmful effect toward ozone and thus replaced with aliphatic hydrocarbons such as propane, n-butane, isobutane, n-pentane: the products containing such hydrocarbons have a widespread use, low costs, its easy availability make them accessible as substances of abuse among young people and adults of all social classes [1][2][3][4][5][6][7]. Although these compounds are considered safe as aerosol propellants, harmful events may occur in an accidental or suicidal manner [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16].…”