TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2023//
TI  - Suicide of an adolescent girl with sodium nitrite ordered on the internet
JO  - Journal of forensic sciences
A1  - Loiseau, Mélanie
A1  - Matheux, Alice
A1  - Sabini, Sandrine
A1  - Cavard, Stéphanie
A1  - Advenier, Anne-Sophie
A1  - Pasquet, Agathe
A1  - François-Purssell, Irène
A1  - Guerard, Pascal
SP  - ePub
EP  - ePub
VL  - ePub
IS  - ePub
N2  - Nitrites are commonly used in the chemical, pharmaceutical, and food industries. Recently, they have been identified in cases of voluntary intoxication. We report the case of a 13-year-old girl who was found lifeless on her bed next to a glass containing a white powder and a bottle containing a white powder with a moistened appearance. External examination and autopsy revealed a nonspecific asphyxia syndrome, which was confirmed by the pathological analysis.     Analysis of the samples revealed metoclopramide in the peripheral blood at a concentration of 0.402 mg/L (LC-HRMS). An analysis of the gastric contents was carried out after sodium nitrite was detected in the powders found near the body (Raman spectrometry). Nitrites were found in the gastric fluid at a concentration of 30.9 mg/L.     Death occurred secondary to anoxia, following ingestion of nitrites; suicide kits are available on the web and nitrites are relatively easy to source and inexpensive. Nitrites are delivered in powder form to be dissolved in liquid, which may then be consumed with metoclopramide (or an alternative anti-emetic drug) to maximize absorption and reduce emesis. The toxic effect of nitrites lies in their oxidizing power, causing the transformation of hemoglobin into methemoglobin, which, when it accumulates, induces tissue anoxia resulting in death.     There has been an alarming increase in the number of cases linked to suicide using nitrites or a nitrite suicide kit. The fact that nitrites are readily available online underscores the importance of establishing effective preventive measures such as limiting the access and use of this chemical.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0022-1198
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.15350
ID  - ref1
ER  -