Title :

Pitfalls of toxicological investigations in hair, bones, and nails in extensively decomposed bodies: illustration with two cases

Author(s) :

Wiart, Jean-Francois [Auteur]
Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire [CHU Lille] [CHRU Lille]
Hakim, Florian [Auteur]
Impact de l'environnement chimique sur la santé humaine - ULR 4483 [IMPECS]
Andry, Aude [Auteur]
Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire [CHU Lille] [CHRU Lille]
Eiden, Celine [Auteur]
Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire [CHU Lille] [CHRU Lille]
Drevin, Guillaume [Auteur]
Département de Pharmacologie-Toxicologie [CHU Angers]
Lelievre, Benedicte [Auteur]
Département de Pharmacologie-Toxicologie [CHU Angers]
Rouge-Maillart, Clotilde [Auteur]
Centre Hospitalier Universitaire d'Angers [CHU Angers]
Decourcelle, Marie [Auteur]
CHU Amiens-Picardie
Lemaire-Hurtel, Anne-Sophie [Auteur]
CHU Amiens-Picardie
Allorge, Delphine [Auteur]
IMPact de l'Environnement Chimique sur la Santé humaine (IMPECS) - ULR 4483
Gaulier, Jean-Michel [Auteur]
IMPact de l'Environnement Chimique sur la Santé humaine (IMPECS) - ULR 4483
hakim fl [Auteur]

Journal title :

International journal of legal medicine

Abbreviated title :

Int. J. Legal Med.

Volume number :

134

Pages :

1339-1344

Publisher :

Springer Link

Publication date :

2020-03-06

ISSN :

1437-1596

Keyword(s) :

Bone
Hair
Toxicology
Putrefaction
Nails
Forensic

HAL domain(s) :

Sciences du Vivant [q-bio]

English abstract : [en]

It is difficult to carry out toxicological investigations in biological samples collected from extensively decomposed bodies and to interpret obtained results as several pitfalls should be considered: redistribution ...
Show more >It is difficult to carry out toxicological investigations in biological samples collected from extensively decomposed bodies and to interpret obtained results as several pitfalls should be considered: redistribution phenomena, degradation of xenobiotics during the postmortem period, contamination by putrefaction fluids, and external contamination. This work aims to present two cases in order to illustrate and discuss these difficulties in this tricky situation. Case#1: the body of a 30-year-old woman was found in a wooded area (1 month after she has been reported missing by her family): hair and a femur section were sampled. Case#2: the decomposed corpse of a 52-year-old man was found in a ditch: hair and nails were sampled. After decontamination steps, toxicological investigations were performed using liquid chromatography with high-resolution mass spectrometry and tandem mass spectrometry detection methods. In case#1, the same drugs or metabolites (benzodiazepines, propranolol, tramadol, acetaminophen, paroxetine, and oxetorone) were detected in hair and in bone specimens. This result combination strongly suggests intakes close to the time of death for three of them (oxazepam, lormetazepam, and propranolol). In case#2, results of toxicological investigations in hair and nails [(hair/nail concentration in ng/mg) nordiazepam (1.12/1.06), oxazepam (0.113/0.042), zolpidem (0.211/< 0.01), hydroxyzine (0.362/< 0.01), and cetirizine (0.872/1.110)] were both consistent with several drug intakes but were not contributory to cause of death determination. In case of positive toxicological results in biological samples collected from extensively decomposed bodies (such as hair, bones, or nails), it is challenging to determine the time, and even more, the level of the dose of exposure(s).Show less >

Language :

Anglais

Audience :

Internationale

Popular science :

Non

Administrative institution(s) :

CHU Lille
Institut Pasteur de Lille
Université de Lille

Collections :

• IMPact de l'Environnement Chimique sur la Santé humaine (IMPECS) - ULR 4483

Submission date :

2022-02-02T10:24:27Z
2022-10-05T07:00:36Z