Top

Published in:

01-01-2014 | Short Communication

Occurrence of postmortem production of ethylene glycol and propylene glycol in human specimens

Authors: Amin Wurita, Osamu Suzuki, Koutaro Hasegawa, Kunio Gonmori, Kayoko Minakata, Itaru Yamagishi, Hideki Nozawa, Kanako Watanabe

Published in: Forensic Toxicology | Issue 1/2014

Abstract

We previously established a sensitive gas chromatography–mass spectrometry method for analysis of ethylene glycol (EG), propylene glycol (PG), and diethylene glycol (DEG), and disclosed the presence of appreciable amounts of EG, PG, and DEG in fresh whole blood and urine specimens obtained from nonoccupational healthy humans. These results led us to analyze EG and PG in specimens taken from three human cadavers. EG and PG concentrations in the postmortem blood and solid tissues were much higher than those found in fresh whole blood; their concentrations in many postmortem specimens were more than tenfold those in fresh whole blood specimens, suggesting the postmortem production of EG and PG. Therefore, we examined the time courses of EG and PG concentrations in blood specimens in the absence and presence of saprogenic blood (10 % volume) and/or glucose (3 mg/ml) in vitro, which were left at room temperature for 7 days. EG concentration in fresh blood without any addition decreased slightly during the 7 days. EG concentration in the blood with addition of glucose, and PG concentrations in the blood with and without addition of glucose did not change appreciably during the 7 days. EG and PG concentrations in the blood after addition of 10 % saprogenic blood increased 3.1-fold and 3.5-fold after 7 days, respectively; those after addition of saprogenic blood plus glucose increased 9.1-fold and 11.9-fold after 7 days, respectively. These results show that microorganisms present in the saprogenic blood caused the postmortem production of EG and PG, and the addition of glucose further enhances the EG and PG concentrations, probably acting as the substrate for glycol production by the microorganisms. To our knowledge, this is the first report to describe postmortem production of EG and PG in human specimens.

Baselt RC (2004) Disposition of toxic drugs and chemicals in man, 7th edn. Biomedical Publications, Foster City, pp 332–333, 425–428, 960–961

Wurita A, Suzuki O, Hasegawa K, Gonmori K, Minakata K, Yamagishi I, Nozawa H, Watanabe K (2013) Sensitive determination of ethylene glycol, propylene glycol and diethylene glycol in human whole blood by isotope dilution gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, and the presence of appreciable amounts of the glycols in blood of healthy subjects. Forensic Toxicol 31:272–280CrossRef

Wurita A, Suzuki O, Hasegawa K, Gonmori K, Minakata K, Yamagishi I, Nozawa H, Watanabe K (2013) Presence of appreciable amounts of ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, and diethylene glycol in human urine of healthy subjects. doi: 10.1007/s11419-013-0206-5

Nanikawa R, Moriya F, Hashimoto Y (1988) Experimental studies on the mechanism of ethanol formation in corpses. Z Rechtsmed 101:21–26PubMedCrossRef

Ziavrou K, Boumba VA, Vougiouklakis TG (2005) Insights into the origin of postmortem ethanol. Int J Toxicol 24:69–77PubMedCrossRef

Yajima D, Motani H, Kamei K, Sato Y, Hayakawa M, Iwase H (2006) Ethanol production by Candida albicans in postmortem human blood samples: effects of blood glucose level and dilution. Forensic Sci Int 164:116–121PubMedCrossRef

Boumba VA, Ziavrou KS, Vougiouklakis T (2008) Biochemical pathways generating post-mortem volatile compounds co-detected during forensic ethanol analyses. Forensic Sci Int 174:133–151PubMedCrossRef

Boumba VA, Economou V, Kourkoumelis N, Gousia P, Papadopoulou C, Vougiouklakis T (2012) Microbial ethanol production: experimental study and multivariate evaluation. Forensic Sci Int 215:189–198PubMedCrossRef

Zhu J, Feng Y-L, Aikawa B (2004) A positive chemical ionization GC/MS method for the determination of airborne ethylene glycol and propylene glycols in non-occupational environments. J Environ Monit 6:881–887PubMedCrossRef

Title: Occurrence of postmortem production of ethylene glycol and propylene glycol in human specimens
Authors: Amin Wurita
Osamu Suzuki
Koutaro Hasegawa
Kunio Gonmori
Kayoko Minakata
Itaru Yamagishi
Hideki Nozawa
Kanako Watanabe
Publication date: 01-01-2014
Publisher: Springer Japan
Published in: Forensic Toxicology / Issue 1/2014
Print ISSN: 1860-8965
Electronic ISSN: 1860-8973
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11419-013-0210-9

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Occurrence of postmortem production of ethylene glycol and propylene glycol in human specimens

Abstract

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 1/2014

Erratum to: Two new synthetic cannabinoids, AM-2201 benzimidazole analog (FUBIMINA) and (4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)(1-pentyl-1H-indol-3-yl)methanone (MEPIRAPIM), and three phenethylamine derivatives, 25H-NBOMe 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzyl analog, 25B-NBOMe, and 2C-N-NBOMe, identified in illegal products

Application of modified QuEChERS method to liver samples for forensic toxicological analysis

MALDI-TOF mass spectrometric determination of four pyrrolidino cathinones in human blood

Homicide–suicide by oral administration of cyclobarbital

Simultaneous and sensitive analysis of fourth-generation antidepressants in human plasma by ultra-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

Identification of two new-type designer drugs, piperazine derivative MT-45 (I-C6) and synthetic peptide Noopept (GVS-111), with synthetic cannabinoid A-834735, cathinone derivative 4-methoxy-α-PVP, and phenethylamine derivative 4-methylbuphedrine from illegal products