Arsenic speciation in human organs following fatal arsenic trioxide poisoning - A case report

The aim of this investigation was to study the distribution of arsenic spec ies in human organs following fatal acute intoxication by arsenic trioxide. The collected autopsy samples of most organs were ground and dried, and th e total arsenic was measured by electrothermal atomic absorption spectromet ry (ETAAS). The arsenic species-inorganic arsenic, in the form of arsenite [As(III)] and arsenate [As(V)], and its metabolites [monomethylarsonic acid (MMA) and dimethylarsinic acid (DMA)]-were quantified by ETAAS after extra ction with methanol/water (1:1, by volume) and separation by HPLC. The resu lts indicate that after acute intoxication, the liver and kidneys show the highest concentrations of total arsenic and that the total concentration in blood is 7- to 350-fold less concentrated than in organs. In all organs, A s(III) is the predominant species, and MMA is more concentrated than DMA. M MA and DMA are more prevalent in lipidic organs (49% of total arsenic) comp ared with other organs (25% of total arsenic). As(V) was found in small qua ntities in the liver, kidneys, and blood.