The investigation of uncertain fatalities requires accurate determination of the cause of death, with assessment of all factors that may have contributed to it.
Gasoline is a complex and highly variable mixture of aliphatic and
aromatic hydrocarbons that can lead to
cardiac arrhythmias due to sensitization of the myocardium to
catecholamines or acts as a simple asphyxiant if the vapors displace sufficient
oxygen from the breathing atmosphere. This work describes a sudden occupational fatality involving
gasoline. The importance of this
petroleum distillate detection and its quantitative toxicological significance is discussed using a validated analytical method. A 51 year-old Caucasian healthy man without significant medical history was supervising the repairs of the telephone lines in a manhole near to a gas station. He died suddenly after inhaling
gasoline vapors from an accidental leak. Extensive blistering and peeling of skin were observed on the skin of the face, neck, anterior chest, upper and lower extremities, and back. The internal examination showed a strong odor of
gasoline, specially detected in the respiratory tract. The toxicological screening and quantitation of
gasoline was performed by means of gas chromatography with flame ionization detector and confirmation was performed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Disposition of
gasoline in different tissues was as follows: heart blood, 35.7 mg/L; urine, not detected; vitreous humor, 1.9 mg/L; liver, 194.7 mg/kg; lung, 147.6 mg/kg; and gastric content, 116,6 mg/L (2.7 mg total). Based upon the toxicological data along with the autopsy findings, the cause of death was determined to be
gasoline poisoning and the manner of death was accidental. We would like to alert on the importance of testing for
gasoline, and in general for volatile
hydrocarbons, in work-related sudden deaths involving inhalation of
hydrocarbon vapors and/or exhaust fumes.