Published: Journal of Analytical Toxicology, Volume 21, Number 3, May/June 1997, pp. 223–227.
CASE REPORT: Tissue Distribution of
Trichloroethylene and its Metabolites in a Forensic Case
S. De Baere,
E. Meyer, I. Dirinck, W. Lambert, M. Piette, C. Van Peteghem, and
A. De Leenheer
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.
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