NCJ Number
219909
Journal
Canadian Society of Forensic Science Journal Volume: 40 Issue: 2 Dated: June 2007 Pages: 35-38
Date Published
June 2007
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article reports on two separate cases of death due to formaldehyde poisoning.
Abstract
Toxicology test results indicate that both cases contained high concentrations of formic acid (formate). Formate concentrations were as follows: Case 1- blood 0.37, vitreous humor 0.12, urine 0.08, and Case 2- blood 0.72, vitreous humor 0.57, and urine 0.41. Methanol was also detected in all specimens, attributed to its presence as a stabilizer in commercial formaldehyde solutions. Formaldehyde is widely available and used in embalming fluid, as a sterilizing agent, as a fixative agent for tissue prior to histological preparation, as a fumigant, and as a chemical precursor. Formaldehyde is a gas. It is also the major toxic intermediate metabolite in methanol poisoning. However, despite its wide use, reports of formaldehyde poisoning are rare. Formaldehyde itself has a very short half-life in the body, but is extensively and rapidly metabolized to formic acid (formate), which accumulates to toxic concentrations. This article presents two cases of self-poisoning with formaldehyde solution. In Case 1, an 84-year-old man with a history of heart disease was found dead beside his bed with an old can of fungicide solution found in the kitchen. In Case 2, a 39-year-old man with a history of chronic alcoholism was found dead in bed and a white fluid with an odor of formaldehyde found in a beer glass at the scene. Table, references