Screening for volatile sulphur compounds in a fatal accident case

Abstract

Acute fatal poisoning due to the inhalation of toxic gas frequently occurs in China. Volatile sulphur compounds (VSCs) are toxic to humans. In fatal poisoning investigations, such as those in industrial settings, a number of VSCs, including methanethiol (MT), dimethyl sulphide (DMS), dimethyl disulphide (DMDS) and dimethyl trisulphide (DMTS), can coexist. To date, there is limited data regarding these compounds in post-mortem cases. In the present study, we report toxicological findings in a fatal accident case with two victims. Headspace gas chromatography/flame ionization detector with two columns of different polarities was utilized to screen MT, DMS, DMDS and DMTS in blood. The limits of detection in both methods were 0.05 mg/mL. No sulphur compounds were detected in the blood samples of the two victims. DMS and DMDS were detected in the lungs at concentrations of 0.5 and 1.3 mg/g and 2.2 and 4.1 mg/g, respectively. DMDS liver concentrations were 2.5 and 6.5 mg/g. In addition to hydrogen sulphide, screening for additional VSCs could help establish the cause of death.

A Filter Supported Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering “Nose” for Point-of-Care Monitoring of Gaseous Metabolites of Bacteria

“…The SERS "nose" could easily collect the characteristic SERS peaks of DMDS at 679 cm −1 (v(CS)), 1417 cm −1 (β(C H)), and 2912 cm −1 (v(CH)) (Figure S7a,b), which occurred in the SERS spectra of P. aeruginosa gaseous metabolites (Figure 4e,f). The SERS "nose" showed good quantitative response to DMDS from 1.0 × 10 −8 to 1.0 × 10 −3 M with a limit of detection of 10 nM (Figure S7c,d), which is comparable to that with mass spectrometry 46 and much lower than previous reports based on gas chromatography 47,48 and electrochemistry. 49 After inoculating 1 × 10 5 c.f.u./mL P. aeruginosa to mimic real meat contamination, the pork sample was cultivated at 37 °C for 5 days (Figure 5a).…”

“…aeruginosa gaseous metabolites (Figure e,f). The SERS “nose” showed good quantitative response to DMDS from 1.0 × 10 –8 to 1.0 × 10 –3 M with a limit of detection of 10 nM (Figure S7c,d), which is comparable to that with mass spectrometry and much lower than previous reports based on gas chromatography , and electrochemistry . After inoculating 1 × 10 5 c.f.u./mL P.…”