Citation

Kang M, Moon S, Kim B, Kim SH, Kim J, Park H, Choi H, Kim S, Park M. J. Anal. Toxicol. 2023; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2023, Preston Publications)

DOI

10.1093/jat/bkad075

PMID

37756625

Abstract

Thiocyanate is an inorganic compound used in industrial applications. Here, we report a case of suicidal death due to acute thiocyanate overdose. A 44-year-old man who consumed an unknown amount of thiocyanate solution was transferred to the emergency room and died two hours after admission. An autopsy was performed two days after death. General toxicological analysis of blood using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry found no drug or alcohol. Quantification using GC-MS post-derivatization with pentafluorobenzyl bromide revealed 2,290 and 1,920 mg/L of thiocyanate in the heart and femoral blood samples, respectively. Thus, the cause of death was attributed to thiocyanate overdose. This study provides useful information for the interpretation of thiocyanate-related fatalities.

Language: en

Keywords

postmortem; fatal case; GC-MS; pentafluorobenzyl bromide derivatization; potassium thiocyanate (KSCN)