J Korean Soc Clin Toxicol.  2017 Dec;15(2):101-106. 10.22537/jksct.2017.15.2.101.

Analysis of Death Due to Poisoning in the National Capital Region (2014–2016)

• Park M
• Park J
• Lee S
• In S

• KMID: 2402614
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.22537/jksct.2017.15.2.101

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study examined the patterns of drugs, poisons, and chemicals detected in autopsy samples performed in the Seoul Institute and other regional forensic offices of the National Forensic Service (NFS) between 2014 and 2016.
METHODS
The investigation carried out using the laboratory information management system. Forensic toxicological identification and quantitation were performed in autopsy samples, including heart blood, peripheral blood, liver, kidney, vitreous humor and etc. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) were used to analyze the drugs and poisons.
RESULTS
Forensic autopsies were performed on 9,674 cases in this period. Based on the autopsy reports, 699 cases (7.2%) were considered as unnatural deaths caused by fatal intoxication. The number of male deaths was higher than that of female deaths, with the age of 50-59 being the most common age group.
CONCLUSION
Drugs comprised the largest number of deaths due to poison, followed by alcohol, agrochemicals, drug with alcohol, carbon monoxide, and cyanide, in that order. Zolpidem was the most frequently used drug in all drug-related intoxication cases.

Keyword

Autopsy; Forensic service; Poisoning

MeSH Terms

Agrochemicals
Autopsy
Carbon Monoxide
Female
Heart
Humans
Information Management
Kidney
Liver
Male
Mass Spectrometry
Poisoning*
Poisons
Seoul
Spectrum Analysis
Vitreous Body
Agrochemicals
Carbon Monoxide
Poisons