A fatality due to ingestion of hydrofluoric acid. 2004

S C Cordero, and W W Goodhue, and E M Splichal, and V F Kalasinsky
Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Division of Environmental Toxicology, Washington, DC 20306-6000, USA.

We report a fatal case of hydrofluoric acid (HF) ingestion with suicidal intent. Quantitation using an ion-selective electrode for fluoride in fresh bile, gastric contents, kidney, liver, skeletal muscle, urine, and vitreous humor yielded 6.5, 39.0, 10.0, 6.0, 4.5, 5.0, and 4.5 ppm, respectively. In addition to the unfixed specimens, fluoride ion was measured in the following fixed tissue: brain, heart, kidney, liver, pancreas, stomach, and heart. Tissues were measured directly and/or by using the technique of standard addition. Fluoride concentrations using either method were found to be comparable. Fluoride concentration in fresh tissue was consistent with toxicity, although the urine fluoride concentration was in the range observed for asymptomatic workers exposed to fluoride in air. Fixed tissue preparations revealed fluoride concentrations consistent with nonexposure, whereas examination of the formalin fixative revealed fluoride concentrations only slightly higher than negative control formalin. We conclude that fixed tissues are inappropriate for fluoride determination. This is the first case we are aware of that provides fluoride concentrations in skeletal muscle in a fatality involving HF ingestion.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007668 Kidney Body organ that filters blood for the secretion of URINE and that regulates ion concentrations. Kidneys
D008099 Liver A large lobed glandular organ in the abdomen of vertebrates that is responsible for detoxification, metabolism, synthesis and storage of various substances. Livers
D008297 Male Males
D011041 Poisoning A condition or physical state produced by the ingestion, injection, inhalation of or exposure to a deleterious agent. Poisonings
D004573 Electrolytes Substances that dissociate into two or more ions, to some extent, in water. Solutions of electrolytes thus conduct an electric current and can be decomposed by it (ELECTROLYSIS). (Grant & Hackh's Chemical Dictionary, 5th ed) Electrolyte
D005404 Fixatives Agents employed in the preparation of histologic or pathologic specimens for the purpose of maintaining the existing form and structure of all of the constituent elements. Great numbers of different agents are used; some are also decalcifying and hardening agents. They must quickly kill and coagulate living tissue. Fixative,Pickling Agents,Agents, Pickling
D005459 Fluorides Inorganic salts of hydrofluoric acid, HF, in which the fluorine atom is in the -1 oxidation state. (McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 4th ed) Sodium and stannous salts are commonly used in dentifrices. Fluoride
D005557 Formaldehyde A highly reactive aldehyde gas formed by oxidation or incomplete combustion of hydrocarbons. In solution, it has a wide range of uses: in the manufacture of resins and textiles, as a disinfectant, and as a laboratory fixative or preservative. Formaldehyde solution (formalin) is considered a hazardous compound, and its vapor toxic. (From Reynolds, Martindale The Extra Pharmacopoeia, 30th ed, p717) Formalin,Formol,Methanal,Oxomethane
D005766 Gastrointestinal Contents The contents included in all or any segment of the GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT. Digestive Tract Contents,Intestinal Contents,Stomach Contents,GI Contents,Digestive Tract Content,GI Content,Gastrointestinal Content,Intestinal Content,Stomach Content
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man

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