Case report of butane intoxication with fatal outcome

: Forensic medical examiners know numerous cases of non-occupational intoxication (e.g. suicide, drug intoxication, household poisoning) but rarely encounter cases of occupational poisoning with household gases. Collection of forensic chemical facts testifying to the presence of saturated hydrocarbons in blood and other tissues is a challenging task. It hampers evaluation of their toxic effect on human brain for the purpose of forensic medical examination. A method is proposed for the analysis of biological materials allowing for the detection of natural alkanes, such as butane, along with recommendations on taking samples for chemical analysis in suspected cases of poisoning with household gases. The method is designed to be employed in combination with up-to-date analytical techniques, such as capillary gas chromatography and mass spectrometry.