Citation

Mariño-Gaviria DJ, Patiño-Reyes N. Rev. Fac. Med. Univ. Nac. Colomb. 2015; 63(3): 465-469.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Centro Hospitalarios San Juan De Dios)

DOI

10.15446/revfacmed.v63n3.49744

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Background. Aldicarb is a high toxicity carbamate pesticide associated to human fatal acute intoxications. Its mechanism of action consists of the inhibition of the acetylcholinesterase enzyme (AChE), which induces the accumulation of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine in the synaptic cleft. This accumulation induces cholinergic symptoms and, depending on the exposition dose, it can paralyze the respiratory and nervous systems, leading to death.

OBJECTIVE. To determine aldicarb levels in post mortem blood in cases of acute intoxication.

MATERIALS AND METHODS. An experimental research was conducted using liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS) with electrospray ionization. The aldicarb and aldicarb-d3 standards were purchased from Dr. Ehrenstorfer GmbH corporation. This method carries out a protein precipitation of blood and its analysis using LC-ESI-MS/MS, using aldicarb-d3 as internal standard. This method was applied to seven cases of fatal intoxication by presumable action of aldicarb.

RESULTS. Aldicarb was found in six of the studied cases on levels between 0.12 and 1.90 μg/mL. Aldicarb was not detected in blood only in one case. Six of the cases were associated to suicide as a manner of death and in one of them it remained under study.

CONCLUSIONS. The results obtained with the analytical methodology and the use of the LC-ESI-MS/MS technique are satisfactory in terms of the quantitative determination of aldicarb in post mortem total blood. The application of the described methodology in forensic toxicology evidences the use of this pesticide in suicidal practices. © 2015 Universidad Nacional de Colombia. All rights reserved.

Language: es

Keywords

Blood; Acute intoxication; Aldicarb; Chromatography liquid tandem mass spectrometry; Postmortem Forensic toxicology (MeSH)