Document Detail


An apple a day does not always keep the doctor away....
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  18752554     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
The authors describe a case of suicide in the workplace. A 45-year-old man employed by a fruit and vegetable packing company was found dead in a room containing a modified atmosphere for the packaging of fruits and vegetables. The rescue team measured the carbon monoxide (CO) concentration of the ambient air with a digital CO tester and found a level higher than 600 particles per million. Analysis of an arterial blood sample taken with an airtight syringe revealed the absence of CO but high levels of carbon dioxide (CO(2)). Autopsy revealed no significant injury and police investigators found a handwritten note of intent, describing a recent personal crisis. The authors concluded that the cause of death was suicide by asphyxiation secondary to CO(2) intoxication and notably oxygen (O(2)) depletion. This manner of suicide is rare and most cases previously described in the literature were accidental intoxications. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of suicide by CO(2) intoxication and O(2) depletion in a room with a modified atmosphere.
Authors:
Fabrice Dedouit; Gilles Tournel; Anne Bécart Robert; Pierre Dutrieux; Valéry Hédouin; Didier Gosset
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Case Reports; Journal Article     Date:  2008-08-25
Journal Detail:
Title:  Journal of forensic sciences     Volume:  53     ISSN:  1556-4029     ISO Abbreviation:  J. Forensic Sci.     Publication Date:  2008 Nov 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2008-11-21     Completed Date:  2009-03-03     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0375370     Medline TA:  J Forensic Sci     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  1434-6     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Service de Médecine Légale, Hôpital de Rangueil, 1 avenue du Professeur Jean Poulhès, TSA 50032, 31059 Toulouse Cedex 9, France. fabded2@hotmail.com
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Anoxia / etiology*
Asphyxia / etiology*
Carbon Dioxide / blood,  poisoning*
Environment, Controlled*
Forensic Medicine
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Suicide*
Workplace
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
124-38-9/Carbon Dioxide

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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