Forced double suicide by fire revealed by autopsy and toxicological examination: a case report

We report here a forced double suicide by fire. Two burned bodies discovered in the debris of a house fire were identified as a father and his son by odontological findings. In the father, the concentration of carboxyhemoglobin (CO-Hb) in the left ventricle was over 90% and endrin, an organochlorine pesticide, was also detected in the stomach contents. However, 30.5% of CO-Hb in left ventricular blood and gasoline traces from an intratracheal puncture were detected in the son who had been undergoing treatment at a neuropsychiatric clinic. From these results, we determined this case to be a double suicide forced by the father in which the father set a fire with gasoline, thus burning his son to death, and then died in the fire himself after ingestion of Endrin. This case suggests the importance of integration of the results from the detailed forensic pathological and toxicological examinations and the scene investigation.

Seizures after eating a snack food contaminated with the pesticide endrin. The tale of the toxic taquitos

In September 1988 we investigated reports of seizures in persons who had eaten taquitos, a commercially prepared snack food. We identified and interviewed 5 persons with new-onset seizures within 12 hours of eating taquitos, all purchased during a 1-week period from a single store. Leftover taquitos were found to contain endrin, a highly toxic chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticide. Although tissue confirmation of exposure to endrin was not possible and the level of contamination in the tested taquitos was below that previously thought to be capable of inducing seizures, the pattern of symptoms and the common time and place of purchase strongly suggested that the seizures were due to endrin-contaminated taquitos. The source of endrin contamination could not be determined. This episode is the first report of illness associated with endrin-contaminated food products in the United States.

A high endrin concentration in a fatal case

Gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry was employed to quantify endrin in biological fluids in a death attributed to endrin overdose. The blood concentration of endrin was 544.9 mg/l. Results are discussed in the light of the existing literature.

[Endrin poisoning]

We present the case of a fifteen months female patient, who accidentally ingested "Endrin Helios" (cyclodiene organochlorinated pesticide) surviving this event. Clinical manifestations were generalized seizures without neither neurologic or hepatic damage. A review is made about the mechanism of intoxication with the toxic and also about the publications dealing with endrin.

A surprising case of endrin poisoning in dogs

A case of possible malicious poisoning of dogs by endrin was investigated. A variety of tissues were analysed. The stomach contents of one dog contained 5 g/kg endrin. The results are compared with recorded data from feeding studies pursued elsewhere to aid the diagnosis of dieldrin and endrin intoxication. A number of organochlorine compounds closely related chemically to endrin were tentatively identified.

Convulsions caused by endrin poisoning in Pakistan

From July through September 1984, acute convulsions caused by endrin poisoning occurred in the subdistrict of Talagang, Attock District, Punjab province, Pakistan. Eighteen of the 21 affected villages were surveyed; 70% of the cases for which ages were known (106 of 152) were in children 1 to 9 years of age; 9.8% of all affected persons (19 of 194) died. The outbreak occurred in villages on the main roads of the subdistrict and peaked in early September. Endrin was detected in the blood of 12 of 18 patients with a history of convulsions but was not found in the blood of four hospitalized control patients. One composite sugar sample taken from the homes of three persons had an endrin level of 0.04 ppm. Because of the high toxicity, repeated association with large-scale outbreaks of neurologic illness, and the difficulties of monitoring distribution, endrin should not be used for agricultural purposes.

Field studies on health effects from the application of two organophosphorus insecticide formulations by hand-held ULV to cotton

Two field studies to assess the health implications for farmers applying two different formulations containing organophosphorus (OP) pesticides to cotton by hand-held ULV are described. The first study, carried out in the Ivory Coast, involved the application of an endrin/DDT/methylparathion (MEP) formulation in an aromatic hydrocarbon solvent. The second study took place in Indonesia with a 20% monocrotophos formulation in a mixture of a glycol and a glycol ether. Both studies were carried out under actual field conditions. The purpose of the studies was to get a good assessment of the health hazards of the particular formulation, used under the specific circumstances and agronomic requirements of the area of application and taking into account all local, climatic and cultural conditions that could be of possible influence. The results showed that in both studies skin exposures took place during application and especially during handling, filling and cleaning, and that inhalation of spray mist was negligible. Absorption was confirmed by the presence in urine of metabolites of endrin and methylparathion in the Ivory Coast study, and of dimethyl phosphate in the Indonesia study. No clinical signs or symptoms of intoxication were discovered in either study, nor were inhibitions of cholinesterase (ChE) activity of health significance established under the conditions of the studies. In addition, various practical aspects such as choice of apparatus, of formulation, the application procedures etc. are discussed.

The laboratory's role in environmental health emergency investigations

An emergency environmental health investigation of a mass poisoning of unknown origin is a multidiscipline effort that requires the cooperation and close communication of epidemiologists, toxicologists, and chemists. The laboratory's role in this effort is important; special instruments, knowledge, and experience are needed. Our approach to such an investigation is discussed and past cases are used as illustrations. The role of the analytical chemist is presented, and the major resources needed for these investigations are described.

Endrin toxicosis in a cat

Endrin toxicosis was believed responsible for the sudden death of a cat. Stomach contents contained bird remains, and chemical analysis revealed 233 micrograms of endrin/g. The cat's owner had been using an avicide on the premises just before the cat's death. Endrin is an effective pesticide for control of insects, rodents, and birds. It poses a problem with secondary poisoning in other animals.

A case of fatal endrin poisoning

Ingestion of 12 g of endrin by a 49-year-old man caused convulsions persisting for 4 days, hypersalivation, hyperthermia, renal insufficiency, thrombocytopenia and recurrent hypotension. Death followed after 11 days, due to pulmonary complications (infection and haemorrhage) and hypoxaemia causing bradycardia and cardiac arrest. Endrin and dieldrin concentrations in blood 4 hours, 6 and 11 days after ingestion were respectively 450, 86 and 71 micrograms/l for endrin and 60, 19 and 19 micrograms/l for dieldrin. Dieldrin was also present, possibly because the endrin preparation contained traces of dieldrin. Endrin concentrations 11 days after ingestion were 0.071 mg/l in blood, in adipose tissue 89.5 mg/kg, in the heart 0.87 mg/kg, in the brain 0.89 mg/kg, in the kidneys 0.55 mg/kg and in the liver 1.32 mg/kg.

A suspected case of endrin toxicosis in a cat

Endrin toxicosis was diagnosed in a cat after it ingested birds poisoned with endrin. The animal lived next to a feed mill where an avicide was used. Analysis by gas chromatography of vomitus from the cat revealed the presence of endrin.

[Fatal endrin poisoning]

Endrin is a cycladine organic chloride insecticide responsible for fatal poisoning due to food contamination, suicide or occupational cause. The case of an 18 months old infant who ingested Endrin that was being used at home by his parents as raticide is reported. There appeared sudden convulsive crises, coma and death within 24 hours. The pathological findings were unspecific. Experimental studies and clinical observations of other authors that are coincidental with the symptoms shown by this child are discussed. The possible etiopathogenesis of this poisoining, together with the necessity to control this type of toxics, for which there is no antidotal treatment, are also discussed.

The successful use of "high level" PEEP in near fatal Endrin poisoning

The insecticide Endrin is a highly toxic chlorinated hydrocarbon which can cause severe CNS and respiratory derangement. Death usually follows intoxication within 24 hours. A 19-year-old male developed convulsions and gross pulmonary edema after the ingestion of Endrin. His trachea was intubated and constant positive pressure ventilation with PEEP of up to 28 cm H2O was instituted. The patient survived and recovery appeared to be complete. Severe pulmonary edema is not a common finding in patients who have Endrin poisoning. The use of PEEP above 15 cm H2O is a controversial issue; however, we believe that it contributed significantly to the survival of our patient.

Endrin toxicity in cagebirds

The deaths of approximately 320 cagebirds (finches, doves, quails) were found to be due to ingestion of panicum seed (Panicum miliaceum) contaminated with endrin. Most birds were found dead but some showed flight instability prior to death. No gross or microscopic lesions were found in necropsied birds.

Isolation and determination of chlorinated organic pesticides by thin-layer chromatography and the application to toxicological analysis

A sensitive method for the isolation and clean-up of chlorinated organic pesticides from tissues and biological materials is discussed. RF values of the pesticides in 26 solvent systems, and colours of the spots given with various chromogenic reagents, are reported. The limits of detection, and densitometric measurements, are also discussed. The average recovery has been found to be 94%. The distribution of endrin in different autopsy tissues from five different victims has been studied by the proposed technique.