Tissue distribution of trichloroethylene and its metabolites in a forensic case

J Anal Toxicol. 1997 May-Jun;21(3):223-7. doi: 10.1093/jat/21.3.223.

Abstract

A fatality that was due to the ingestion of the halogenated solvent trichloroethylene is presented. The decedent was a 43-year-old male who was found dead at his home. Screening of the blood and stomach contents with the enzyme multiplied immunoassay technique and radioimmunoassay demonstrated the presence of ethanol, amphetamine-like compounds, caffeine, cotinine, and acetaminophen. These compounds were present in toxicologically irrelevant concentrations as confirmed by thin-layer chromatography, high-performance liquid chromatography, and gas chromatography (GC). The Fujiwara reaction was performed on all available matrices, and it revealed the presence of chlorinated hydrocarbons in high concentrations. A specific GC method with electron capture detection allowed the quantitation of trichloroethylene and its metabolites trichloroethanol and trichloroacetic acid in different matrices. GC with Fourier-transform infrared detection was used for the confirmation of the identity of trichloroethylene.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetaminophen / blood
  • Acetaminophen / metabolism
  • Adult
  • Amphetamines / blood
  • Amphetamines / metabolism
  • Caffeine / blood
  • Caffeine / metabolism
  • Chromatography, Gas
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Chromatography, Thin Layer
  • Cotinine / blood
  • Cotinine / metabolism
  • Enzyme Multiplied Immunoassay Technique
  • Ethanol / blood
  • Ethanol / metabolism
  • Forensic Medicine
  • Gastric Mucosa / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Kidney / metabolism
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Lung / metabolism
  • Male
  • Radioimmunoassay
  • Reference Standards
  • Solvents / metabolism
  • Solvents / poisoning*
  • Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
  • Suicide
  • Tissue Distribution
  • Trichloroethylene / blood
  • Trichloroethylene / metabolism
  • Trichloroethylene / poisoning*

Substances

  • Amphetamines
  • Solvents
  • Trichloroethylene
  • Acetaminophen
  • Caffeine
  • Ethanol
  • Cotinine