1/3. Quantitative assessment of carbon tetrachloride levels in human blood by head-space gas chromatography: application in a case of suicidal carbon tetrachloride intoxication.A head-space gas chromatographic method for the determination of carbon tetrachloride in human blood is described. Standard samples with 0.5 ml whole blood containing different concentrations of CCl4 were analyzed at column temperatures ranging from 50 degrees to 90 degrees C. Advantages of this method include high sensitivity, simplicity in handling, rapid achievement of reliable results, accuracy and low costs. The practicability of this analytical method was studied in a patient following suicidal oral ingestion of a lethal dose of carbon tetrachloride.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = gas (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/3. Fatal accidental ingestion of carbon tetrachloride: a postmortem distribution study.This paper reports a fatality involving a 75-year-old white male, who ingested an unknown quantity of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)--a toxic agent able to induce central nervous system depression and severe renal and hepatic damage--and who died after two days of intensive care. The analytical assessment of CCl4 concentration was performed on several biological fluids and tissues employing gas chromatography-flame ionization detection (GC-FID) head space method. Both urine (328.5 mg/L) and bile (169.8 mg/L) had high concentrations of CCl4, proving that the chemical undergoes extensive urinary and biliary excretion. In accordance with the high clearance power of lungs, systemic venous blood, (143.4 mg/L) had a concentration of CCl4 almost two and half times greater than in arterial blood (57.5 mg/L), representing the best specimen to correlate CCl4 blood concentration with the deep of narcosis. Vitreous humor, (170.5 mg/L) concentration of CCl4 proves the capability of the chemical to enter eyes and its relatively slow release into the systemic blood. pancreas (657.9 mg/kg), brain (243 mg/kg) and testis (237.3 mg/kg) have great affinity for CCl4. The concentrations of the chemical in brain are cortex: 243.2 mg/kg, basal ganglia: 216.1 mg/kg, medulla oblongata: 243.3 mg/kg and cerebellum: 175.3 mg/kg. As the depth of narcosis is correlated with CCl4 concentration, brain represents the most suitable tissue for toxicologic analysis. Lower concentrations of the chemical are found in lungs (127.3 mg/kg), kidneys (150.5 mg/kg), muscle (71.1 mg/kg), myocardium (78.5 mg/kg) and spleen (68.3 mg/kg). liver (58.6 mg/Kg), a frequently analyzed tissue in forensic toxicology, shows the lowest concentration.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.2keywords = gas (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/3. carbon tetrachloride toxicity potentiated by isopropyl alcohol. Investigation of an industrial outbreak.Fourteen workers in an isopropyl alcohol packaging plant became ill after accidental exposure to carbon tetrachloride. In four, renal failure or hepatitis developed. Isopropyl alcohol potentiation of carbon tetrachloride toxicity has been shown previously only in rats. acetone, a product of isopropyl alcohol metabolism, is a major potentiator of carbon tetrachloride toxicity. Workers had elevated levels of acetone in samples of expired alveolar gas and thus were metabolically predisposed to carbon tetrachloride injury. Stricter limits for industrial carbon tetrachloride exposure should be established where concomitant isopropyl alcohol use occurs.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.2keywords = gas (Clic here for more details about this article) |