Acute Selenium Poisoning: Suicide by Ingestion

• NCJ Number: 210790
• Journal: Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 50 Issue: 4 Dated: July 2005 Pages: 942-946
• Author(s): Donna M. Hunsaker M.D.; Henry A. Spiller M.S.; David Williams M.D.
• Date Published: July 2005
• Length: 5 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Case Study
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Presented at the 56th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, February 16-21, 2004, Dallas, TX.

Annotation

This case study is presented to highlight the typical symptoms of acute selenious acid intoxication, to report pertinent autopsy and toxicological findings, and to distinguish features of acute from chronic selenium intoxication.

Abstract

Selenium is a gray metalloid of the sulfur group that is widely used in commercial applications, making it easily accessible. It is also an essential dietary trace element at a recommended adult daily allowance of 50-200 mg. Distinctive physical forms of selenium produce graded levels of intoxication. In the reported case, a 24-year-old man with a history of depression and alcohol abuse was observed by his mother to be vomiting shortly after stating he was going to kill himself. The paramedics called to the scene observed the victim hallucinating. Three hours after being brought to an emergency room, he rapidly deteriorated and became cyanotic, lost consciousness, and experienced cardiopulmonary arrest. Resuscitation efforts failed. At autopsy, oral mucosa and lips appeared mildly cyanotic, and a strong metallic garlic odor came from the opened body cavity. The internal examination revealed diffuse mucosal hyperemia and focal hemorrhage of the gastric cardia and fundus. The serum selenium concentration, measured from blood drawn approximately 1 hour after ingestion, was reported several days later at 30,000 mg/l. Toxicological results confirmed elevated blood and tissue concentrations of selenium, and the cause of death was attributed to acute selenium intoxication, which ensued rapidly after the oral ingestion of selenium-containing "G-96 Instant Gun Blue." To the authors' knowledge, the following features of this case have not been previously reported: antemortem and postmortem determination and comparison of selenium concentrations in various intravascular and tissue matrixes; vitreous fluid selenium concentrations; and bile selenium concentrations. 2 figures, 1 table, and 20 references