Pub Date : 2024-04-23DOI: 10.1177/19253621241240162
S. Tambuzzi, G. Gentile, M. Boracchi, Salvatore Andreola, R. Zoja
In this study we microscopically investigated, for the first time ever, the colorimetric detectability of barium of gunshot residues (GSR) on cadaveric human skin with gunshot wounds. For this purpose we used two different colorimetric techniques known in the literature, namely 0.2% sodium rhodizonate (Na-R-Ba 0.2%) and sodium rhodizonate in alcoholic environment (Na-R-Ba OH 0.2%). At the same time, we have also coupled it with scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray (SEM/EDX) analysis and the colorimetric study for the detection of lead of GSR. These techniques were applied to 16 victims who died from gunshot injuries, as well as to a control group. SEM/EDX demonstrated the presence of lead in all cases and barium in 11 of the 16 cases. The subsequent colorimetric technique with Na-R-Ba 0.2% did not show the barium of GSR in any case, unlike the Na-R-Ba OH 0.2% technique. This latter, in fact, has demonstrated the presence of this metal in 2 cases (18%). No microscopic case of false positive was recorded. The evidence obtained with Na-R-Ba OH 0.2% makes this method, applied here for the first time ever, worthy of further study. Meanwhile, although this technique can certainly be applied, it cannot be separated from the contextual colorimetric investigation for lead and the use of more sophisticated techniques.
{"title":"Colorimetric Barium Detection of Gunshot Residues on Cadaveric Human Skin: A Pilot Application for Forensic Purposes","authors":"S. Tambuzzi, G. Gentile, M. Boracchi, Salvatore Andreola, R. Zoja","doi":"10.1177/19253621241240162","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/19253621241240162","url":null,"abstract":"In this study we microscopically investigated, for the first time ever, the colorimetric detectability of barium of gunshot residues (GSR) on cadaveric human skin with gunshot wounds. For this purpose we used two different colorimetric techniques known in the literature, namely 0.2% sodium rhodizonate (Na-R-Ba 0.2%) and sodium rhodizonate in alcoholic environment (Na-R-Ba OH 0.2%). At the same time, we have also coupled it with scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray (SEM/EDX) analysis and the colorimetric study for the detection of lead of GSR. These techniques were applied to 16 victims who died from gunshot injuries, as well as to a control group. SEM/EDX demonstrated the presence of lead in all cases and barium in 11 of the 16 cases. The subsequent colorimetric technique with Na-R-Ba 0.2% did not show the barium of GSR in any case, unlike the Na-R-Ba OH 0.2% technique. This latter, in fact, has demonstrated the presence of this metal in 2 cases (18%). No microscopic case of false positive was recorded. The evidence obtained with Na-R-Ba OH 0.2% makes this method, applied here for the first time ever, worthy of further study. Meanwhile, although this technique can certainly be applied, it cannot be separated from the contextual colorimetric investigation for lead and the use of more sophisticated techniques.","PeriodicalId":505223,"journal":{"name":"Academic Forensic Pathology","volume":"59 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-04-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140666794","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-03-04DOI: 10.1177/19253621241227503
Karissa French, Reuven Jhirad, J. Herath
Retrospective review of deaths in Ontario where there was Coroner’s investigation and a postmortem examination between 2018 and 2021 to compare year by year changes before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. To establish the changes in patterns of toxicological deaths over the pandemic. Using the database of the Office of the Chief Coroner for Ontario to determine the numbers of postmortem examinations for the province of Ontario as well as the primary cause and manner of death. Those with a toxicological primary cause of death were isolated from 2003 to the first half of 2022 and divided by year. For those between the years 2018 and 2021 deaths were divided by manner of death. Further all deaths with either a toxicological primary cause of death or unfinalized investigations which were highly suspicious for a toxicological cause based on circumstance with a positive toxicology were isolated. From these the data on demographics and substances detected were compiled by year for comparison. Comparing two years prior to the COVID-19 pandemic to the following two years there was an increase in total case load of 22%. Comparing the year before the pandemic to the first year of the pandemic deaths from natural causes fell from 52% to 47% of total cases, while drug-related cases increased from 24% to 36%. Fentanyl remained as the most prevalent detected substance in toxicological deaths. Combined opioid toxicity with stimulants increased, as well as the detection of nonpharmaceutical benzodiazepines. Deaths in men increased to comprise 3 in 4 drug-related deaths with the 30 to 39 years age-group remaining the most impacted. There was an increase in numbers and relative proportions of cases attributed to drug-related deaths which remained high over the two years of the pandemic.
{"title":"The Shift to Toxicological-Related Deaths Over Natural During the COVID-19 Pandemic—An Ontario, Canada, Experience","authors":"Karissa French, Reuven Jhirad, J. Herath","doi":"10.1177/19253621241227503","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/19253621241227503","url":null,"abstract":"Retrospective review of deaths in Ontario where there was Coroner’s investigation and a postmortem examination between 2018 and 2021 to compare year by year changes before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. To establish the changes in patterns of toxicological deaths over the pandemic. Using the database of the Office of the Chief Coroner for Ontario to determine the numbers of postmortem examinations for the province of Ontario as well as the primary cause and manner of death. Those with a toxicological primary cause of death were isolated from 2003 to the first half of 2022 and divided by year. For those between the years 2018 and 2021 deaths were divided by manner of death. Further all deaths with either a toxicological primary cause of death or unfinalized investigations which were highly suspicious for a toxicological cause based on circumstance with a positive toxicology were isolated. From these the data on demographics and substances detected were compiled by year for comparison. Comparing two years prior to the COVID-19 pandemic to the following two years there was an increase in total case load of 22%. Comparing the year before the pandemic to the first year of the pandemic deaths from natural causes fell from 52% to 47% of total cases, while drug-related cases increased from 24% to 36%. Fentanyl remained as the most prevalent detected substance in toxicological deaths. Combined opioid toxicity with stimulants increased, as well as the detection of nonpharmaceutical benzodiazepines. Deaths in men increased to comprise 3 in 4 drug-related deaths with the 30 to 39 years age-group remaining the most impacted. There was an increase in numbers and relative proportions of cases attributed to drug-related deaths which remained high over the two years of the pandemic.","PeriodicalId":505223,"journal":{"name":"Academic Forensic Pathology","volume":"61 11","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-03-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140266842","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Paraquat (N, N-dimethyl-4,4-bipyridinium dichloride) is a nonselective, fast-acting, and contact chemical herbicide used extensively for weed control. It has high acute oral toxicity, the ability to accumulate in the lungs, and a high potential for pulmonary fibrosis after its intoxication. The present systematic review focuses on evaluating diagnostic aspects of paraquat (PQ) in forensic toxicology. Evaluation of the literature according to the following criteria: only human studies published from February 1971 to March 2022 which are in English on the following databases: 1) Medline/PubMed/MeSH search words: ((Methyl viologen [Title/Abstract]) OR (paraquat [MeSH Terms])) AND (forensic [Title/Abstract]); 2) Scopus Keywords related to the study aim included forensic toxicology, paraquat, Methyl viologen; 3) Web of Science. Keywords related to the study aim included forensic toxicology, paraquat, and Methyl viologen. Thirty full-text articles were included. The results of our review indicate plasma and urine are more used for identifying PQ, and liver, lung, and gastric fluid are important in postmortem cases. Preparation methods, including liquid-liquid extraction (LLE), solid-phase extraction, and acetonitrile-precipitated protein, are often required for removing interfering substances. Chromatographic methods, among other analytical techniques, are more sensitive, specific, and applicable. Our review suggests that plasma, urine, and lungs should be prioritized in sampling. Solid-phase extraction has better recovery than LLE in many samples. Colorimetric methods are not used much today, and radioimmunoassay (RIA) has limited application despite its high sensitivity. Gas and liquid chromatography methods appear to offer the best approach for the analysis of PQ.
{"title":"Diagnostic Aspects of Paraquat in the Forensic Toxicology: A Systematic Review","authors":"Amin Reihani, Farangis Marboutian, Saeed Aghebat–bekheir, Arezoo Reyhani, Maryam Akhgari","doi":"10.1177/19253621231214008","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/19253621231214008","url":null,"abstract":"Paraquat (N, N-dimethyl-4,4-bipyridinium dichloride) is a nonselective, fast-acting, and contact chemical herbicide used extensively for weed control. It has high acute oral toxicity, the ability to accumulate in the lungs, and a high potential for pulmonary fibrosis after its intoxication. The present systematic review focuses on evaluating diagnostic aspects of paraquat (PQ) in forensic toxicology. Evaluation of the literature according to the following criteria: only human studies published from February 1971 to March 2022 which are in English on the following databases: 1) Medline/PubMed/MeSH search words: ((Methyl viologen [Title/Abstract]) OR (paraquat [MeSH Terms])) AND (forensic [Title/Abstract]); 2) Scopus Keywords related to the study aim included forensic toxicology, paraquat, Methyl viologen; 3) Web of Science. Keywords related to the study aim included forensic toxicology, paraquat, and Methyl viologen. Thirty full-text articles were included. The results of our review indicate plasma and urine are more used for identifying PQ, and liver, lung, and gastric fluid are important in postmortem cases. Preparation methods, including liquid-liquid extraction (LLE), solid-phase extraction, and acetonitrile-precipitated protein, are often required for removing interfering substances. Chromatographic methods, among other analytical techniques, are more sensitive, specific, and applicable. Our review suggests that plasma, urine, and lungs should be prioritized in sampling. Solid-phase extraction has better recovery than LLE in many samples. Colorimetric methods are not used much today, and radioimmunoassay (RIA) has limited application despite its high sensitivity. Gas and liquid chromatography methods appear to offer the best approach for the analysis of PQ.","PeriodicalId":505223,"journal":{"name":"Academic Forensic Pathology","volume":"28 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-03-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140265919","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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