Methanol Related Deaths in Jordan

Abstract

The aim of this study is to examine methanol poisoning cases from the medico-legal point of view. The records of the National Institute of Forensic Medicine (NIFM)-Jordan were reviewed retrospectively for all methanol poisoning from January 2007 to January 2008. It was found that methanol poisoning comprise 0.92% of all forensic autopsies (n: 16), 87.5% of the cases were males, the mean age of victims was 35, range 14-56 years, the largest age group was 30-39 years accounted for (31.25%, 5 cases) followed by the age group 40-49 years (25%, 4 cases). The methanol blood concentrations ranged widely from 56 to 400 mg/dL. There were 12 cases (75%) with the methanol blood concentrations over 100mg/dL. Fifteen cases were found dead and one was admitted to hospital before death. The main cause of death in all cases was due to methanol intoxication as underlining cause of deat