Poisoning Deaths in Central China (Hubei): A 10-Year Retrospective Study of Forensic Autopsy Cases

• NCJ Number: 233527
• Journal: Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 56 Issue: S1 Dated: January 2011 Pages: S234-S237
• Author(s): Lan Zhou, M.D.; Liang Liu, M.D.; Lin Chang, M.D.; Ling Li, M.D.
• Date Published: January 2011
• Length: 4 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

A retrospective study of autopsy cases was conducted at the Department of Forensic Medicine, Tongji Medical College (DFM-TMC), in Hubei, China to describe the characteristics of poisoning deaths from 1999 to 2008.

Abstract

A total of 212 poisoning deaths were investigated by DFM-TMC during the 10-year period. The poisoning deaths ranged from 17 cases in 1999 to 27 cases in 2008. Of the 212 cases, 82 deaths (38.7 percent) were from pesticides, 36 deaths (17.0 percent) from carbon monoxide, 34 deaths (16.0 percent) from drugs, 22 deaths (10.4 percent) from alcohol, 17 deaths (8.0 percent) from other chemicals, 15 deaths (7.1 percent) from poisonous plants and animals, and six deaths (2.8 percent) from heavy metals. Of the 82 pesticide poisoning deaths, 43 (52.4 percent) cases were caused by rodenticides, mainly tetramine (N = 39). The majority of poisoning deaths were accidents (63.7 percent), followed by suicides (25.9 percent) and homicides (3.8 percent). The manner of death could not be determined in 14 cases (6.6 percent). (Published Abstract)