Fatal Poisoning Pattern of Ankara Turkey and Nearby Cities From 2007 to June 2011: A Retrospective Study in Forensic Autopsies

• NCJ Number: 246247
• Journal: Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 58 Issue: 6 Dated: November 2013 Pages: 1563-1567
• Author(s): Bekir Karaarslan M.D.; Mustafa Karapirli M.D.; Eyup Kandemir M.D.; Hudaverdi Kucuker M.D.; Mukaddes Gurler M.D.; Cengiz H. Ince M.D.; Omer Akyol Ph.D.
• Date Published: November 2013
• Length: 5 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

We aimed to obtain an outline of the nature and number of fatal poisonings which still appear to affect widely the population in Turkey.

Abstract

We aimed to obtain an outline of the nature and number of fatal poisonings which still appear to affect widely the population in Turkey. A total of 5921 forensic autopsies were performed between 2007 and 2011 in Ankara and nearby cities and 366 of them were fatal poisonings 219 male, 147 female. Most of the cases were between 41 and 60 years old n = 84. Most of the fatalities were reported during winter months 48.1%. Carbon monoxide exposure was the most common reason 66.7% within all the causes followed by medicine and narcotics 13.9%. Postmortem blood alcohol concentrations in ethyl and methyl alcohol poisonings were 385.1 +/- 61.9 and 206.8 +/- 138.9 mg/dL, respectively. The most common location of deaths was home 71.3%. Fatal poisonings have been a growing global problem because of some shortcomings about the socioeconomic conditions and increasing illicit drug abuse. The level of education, socioeconomic conditions, and legal approaches are very important for the prevention fatal poisonings. Abstract published by arrangement with Wiley.