Citation

Bottoni E, Fiore PA, Cappelletti S, Petrasso PEY, Straccamore M. Clin. Ter. 2018; 169(5): e231-e234.

Affiliation

Section of Legal Medicine, SAIMLAL Department, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Societa Editrice Universo)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

30393810

Abstract

Volatile substance abuse in order to "get high" is a widespread problem especially among adolescents and young-adults, with significant rates of morbidity and mortality. Despite the studies conducted on this topic, collection and preservation of volatile substances in forensic context is still a matter of debate: there are several scientific papers describing materials and procedures for volatile substance sampling while performing post mortem examinations and how they influence the development of the forensic case. Most of the proposed techniques involve the use of specific, and sometimes expensive, gas tight materials that are not always available. The aim of this paper is to share a simple method for rapid and effective volatile substance sampling that can be used in both evident and suspected VSA-related deaths. The strength of this procedure is to be applicable even in cases when specific gas tight instruments for sampling, collection and preservation of volatile substances are not available.

Language: en

Keywords

Aliphatic hydrocarbons; Butane-propane poisoning; Death in custody; Forensic pathology; Forensic science; Forensic toxicology; Sudden sniffing death syndrome; Volatile substance abuse