NCJ Number
141754
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 38 Issue: 2 Dated: (March 1993) Pages: 477-483
Date Published
1993
Length
6 pages
Annotation
A 22-year-old white man with a history of abusing freon died after ingesting an azeotropic mixture of chlorodifluoromethane and chloropentafluoroethane, a combination that had not previously been described in the forensic literature.
Abstract
The results of an analysis using mass selective detection employing capillary gas chromatography columns currently used in many toxicology laboratories are described. The postmortem toxicology report revealed blood concentrations of chlorodifluoromethane and chloropentafluoroethane of 71 mg/L and 0.30 mg/l, respectively. The concentrations of chlorodifluoromethane in the brain, liver, and lung were 2.8 mg/kg, 4.4 mg/kg, and 1.6 mg/kg, respectively. Concentrations of chloropentafluoroethane in the brain, liver, and lung were 0.8 mg/kg, 0.8 mg/kg, and 0.11 mg/kg, respectively. Evidence of caffeine and lidocaine, used in resuscitation attempts, was also found in the victim's blood. Chlorofluorocarbons are toxic to cardiac tissue, causing negative inotropic effects, disruptions of sinoatrial rhythm, atrioventricular conduction, and ventricular arrhythmias. The cause of death was defined as acute respiratory failure due to freon inhalation. 2 tables, 3 figures, and 14 references