Analysis of the Distribution of Total Phosphine and the Characteristics of Phosphine Poisoning in 29 Victims
YAN Hui,
DU Meng,
QIAO Zheng,
XIANG Ping,
SHEN Bao-hua,
SHEN Min,
LIU Wei
Affiliations
YAN Hui
Shanghai Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Forensic Science, Ministry of Justice, Shanghai Forensic Service Platform, Academy of Forensic Science, Shanghai 200063, China
DU Meng
Institute of Criminal Science and Technology, Jiading Branch of Shanghai Public Security Bureau, Shanghai 201800, China
QIAO Zheng
Shanghai Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Forensic Science, Ministry of Justice, Shanghai Forensic Service Platform, Academy of Forensic Science, Shanghai 200063, China
XIANG Ping
Shanghai Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Forensic Science, Ministry of Justice, Shanghai Forensic Service Platform, Academy of Forensic Science, Shanghai 200063, China
SHEN Bao-hua
Shanghai Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Forensic Science, Ministry of Justice, Shanghai Forensic Service Platform, Academy of Forensic Science, Shanghai 200063, China
SHEN Min
Shanghai Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Forensic Science, Ministry of Justice, Shanghai Forensic Service Platform, Academy of Forensic Science, Shanghai 200063, China
LIU Wei
Shanghai Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Forensic Science, Ministry of Justice, Shanghai Forensic Service Platform, Academy of Forensic Science, Shanghai 200063, China
ObjectiveTo study the distribution of total phosphine in phosphine poisoning victims and summarize the characteristics of phosphine poisoning cases.MethodsThe phosphine and its metabolites in the biological samples of 29 victims in 16 phosphine poisoning cases were qualified and quantified by headspace gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.ResultsFive victims among 29 were poisoned by ingestion of aluminium phosphide and 24 by inhalation of phosphine gas. Phosphine metabolites were detected in the biological samples of 23 victims, and the concentrations of total phosphine in blood ranged 0.5-34.0 μg/mL. The total concentration of phosphine in liver tissue was up to 71.0 μg/g. Phosphine was not detected in the blood of the other six survived victims, which may be related to the small amount of phosphine exposure and the delay in blood sampling.ConclusionThe total concentration of phosphine in blood and tissues caused by aluminum phosphine ingestion is higher than that caused by phosphine gas inhalation. The death cases of phosphine inhalation are characterized by long exposure time, repeated exposures and age susceptibility.
