Journal of Forensic Medicine ›› 2022, Vol. 38 ›› Issue (2): 254-257.DOI: 10.12116/j.issn.1004-5619.2020.300901

• Cases Study • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Analysis of the Distribution of Total Phosphine and the Characteristics of Phosphine Poisoning in 29 Victims

Hui YAN1(), Meng DU2, Zheng QIAO1, Ping XIANG1, Bao-hua SHEN1, Min SHEN1, Wei LIU1()   

  1. 1.Shanghai Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Forensic Science, Ministry of Justice, Shanghai Forensic Service Platform, Academy of Forensic Science, Shanghai 200063, China
    2.Institute of Criminal Science and Technology, Jiading Branch of Shanghai Public Security Bureau, Shanghai 201800, China
  • Received:2020-09-21 Online:2022-04-25 Published:2022-04-28
  • Contact: Wei LIU

Abstract: Objective

To study the distribution of total phosphine in phosphine poisoning victims and summarize the characteristics of phosphine poisoning cases.

Methods

The phosphine and its metabolites in the biological samples of 29 victims in 16 phosphine poisoning cases were qualified and quantified by headspace gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Results

Five victims among 29 were poisoned by ingestion of aluminium phosphide and 24 by inhalation of phosphine gas. Phosphine metabolites were detected in the biological samples of 23 victims, and the concentrations of total phosphine in blood ranged 0.5-34.0 μg/mL. The total concentration of phosphine in liver tissue was up to 71.0 μg/g. Phosphine was not detected in the blood of the other six survived victims, which may be related to the small amount of phosphine exposure and the delay in blood sampling.

Conclusion

The total concentration of phosphine in blood and tissues caused by aluminum phosphine ingestion is higher than that caused by phosphine gas inhalation. The death cases of phosphine inhalation are characterized by long exposure time, repeated exposures and age susceptibility.

Key words: forensic toxicology, poisoning, phosphines, aluminium phosphide, metabolite, tissue distribution, cases analysis

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