A suicide using a homemade carbon monoxide "death machine"

Am J Forensic Med Pathol. 2005 Jun;26(2):177-80.

Abstract

Deaths related to carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning are common. Most represent accidents and suicides, and most result from CO production via the incomplete combustion of carbon-containing substances. Suicide via CO toxicity is not uncommon and typically involves the use of motor-vehicle exhaust as a source of CO. Presented herein is a case of suicidal CO poisoning in which the CO was produced via a chemical reaction between formic acid and sulfuric acid within a homemade device.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Carbon Monoxide / chemical synthesis*
  • Carbon Monoxide Poisoning / diagnosis*
  • Carboxyhemoglobin / analysis
  • Forensic Medicine
  • Formates / chemistry
  • Formates / poisoning
  • Hemostatics / chemistry
  • Hemostatics / poisoning
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Suicide*
  • Sulfuric Acids / chemistry
  • Sulfuric Acids / poisoning

Substances

  • Formates
  • Hemostatics
  • Sulfuric Acids
  • formic acid
  • Carbon Monoxide
  • Carboxyhemoglobin
  • sulfuric acid