Fatal intoxication with a decalcifying agent containing formic acid

A fatality caused by ingestion of a decalcifying agent containing formic ac id is reported. Quantitative analysis of formic acid in the form of its met hyl ester was performed in different body fluids and organ samples using he ad-space gas chromatography with flame ionization detection. The blood take n at the time of admission to hospital had a concentration of 370.3 mug/ml, which declined to 13.9 mug/ml after 6.5 h of haemodialysis. Post-mortem co ncentrations were 855.4 mug/ml (heart blood), 2712 mug/ml (gastric contents ), 1128 mug/ml (haemorrhagic fluid from abdominal cavity), 3051 mug/ml (bil e), 2664 mug/ml (contents of small intestine), 442.7 mug/g (liver) and 542. 3 mug/g (kidney). The most important morphological findings for differentia ting between oral and respiratory ingestion were ulceration of the orophary nx and the oesophagus as well as extensive necrotic lesions in the stomach and the duodenum without perforation. Death was caused by massive acidosis, haemolysis, bleeding complications, hepatic and renal failure. Toxicologic al and morphological findings revealed that a considerable amount of formic acid had been ingested orally with a suicidal intention.