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Published:
Journal of Analytical Toxicology,
ISSN 0146-4760,
Volume 30, Issue 4, May 2006,
pp.278-280
CASE REPORT: Distribution of Orally Ingested Hydrochloric
Acid in the Thoracoabdominal Cavity After Death
Kei Yoshitome[1], Satoru Miyaishi[1], Takaki Ishikawa[2],
Yuji Yamamoto[1], and Hideo Ishizu[1]
[1]Department of Legal Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine,
Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan and
[2]Department of Legal Medicine, Osaka City University Medical School, Osaka,
Japan
The authors encountered a case of hydrochloric acid (HCl) poisoning,
thought to be caused by oral ingestion of concentrated HCl. Coagulation of the
surface of the tongue and the mucosa of the pharynx, esophagus, and stomach
were observed at forensic autopsy. An overabundance of Cl– was found in
the gastric contents, corresponding to 8.19 mL of concentrated HCl. This was
suggested to be a lethal oral dose of concentrated HCl, and the cause of death
was determined to be HCl poisoning. Measuring the pH and concentrations of various
ions in body fluids and contents of the alimentary tract enabled postmortem
diffusion of HCl to be determined.
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