Determination of formic acid tissue and fluid concentrations in three fatalities due to methanol poisoning

Three fatalities caused by methanol ingestion are reported. Admission blood methanol concentrations ranged from 0.28 to 4.6 g/L. Two patients had been admitted after a significant delay (>20 hours), and one patient was observ ed within 90 minutes following ingestion. Formic acid levels were determine d in blood samples at admission and ranged from 302 to 680 mg/L. The patien ts died 44, 55, and 82 hours after poisoning. Formic acid determinations in postmortem tissues were performed by a gas chromatograph method. The autho rs found great variability in formic acid distribution among the patients a nd among organs.