Suicide by inhalation of carbon monoxide of car exhausts fumes

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2019

Authors

Valente Aguiar, MS (Author) Other; Teresa Magalhães (Author) FMUP; Ricardo Jorge Dinis Oliveira (Author) FMUP

Journal

The Journal is awaiting validation by the Administrative Services.

Title: Current Drug Research Reviews

Vol. 11

Pages: 145-147

ISSN: 2589-9775

Publisher: Bentham Science

Indexing

Scopus - 9 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00R-EJR

DOI: 10.2174/2589977511666190716165121

Abstract (EN): Background: Carbon monoxide (CO) is a major and ubiquitous component of fire at-mospheres produced when organic matter is burned in an inadequate supply of oxygen. Accidental poisoning by CO is common in cold climates where fireplaces, a gas, electric or kerosene heaters or grills are used inside ill-ventilated buildings. In the Brazilian Amazon, with its hot and humid cli-mate, there is no need for the use of heaters and accidents may occur in cases of residential fires or burning of the forests for land use in agriculture. Objective: We present a case of CO suicide of twenty-six-year-old men. Method: A forensic autopsy was performed to evaluate the circumstances, cause and medio-legal death etiology. Results: Autopsy evidenced the typical but also not commonly published cherry-red color of the hy-postasis, lungs and other organs, and the very fluid cherry-red blood. The cause of death was due to a massive CO inhalation. Conclusion: While these poisonings are well recognized, and a vast number of publications on CO toxicity exist, both in an environmental and industrial context, suicide is infrequently encountered in forensic practice and the typical signs are rarely seen in the literature. © 2019 Bentham Science Publishers.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific