Suicide by Inhalation of Carbon Monoxide of Car Exhausts Fumes

Abstract

Background: Carbon monoxide (CO) is a major and ubiquitous component of fire atmospheres produced when organic matter is burned in an inadequate supply of oxygen. Accidental poisoning by CO is common in cold climates where fireplaces, a gas, electric or kerosene heaters or grills are used inside ill-ventilated buildings. In the Brazilian Amazon, with its hot and humid climate, there is no need for the use of heaters and accidents may occur in cases of residential fires or burning of the forests for land use in agriculture.

Objective: We present a case of CO suicide of twenty-six-year-old men.

Methods: A forensic autopsy was performed to evaluate the circumstances, cause and medio-legal death etiology.

Results: Autopsy evidenced the typical but also not commonly published cherry-red color of the hypostasis, lungs and other organs, and the very fluid cherry-red blood. The cause of death was due to a massive CO inhalation.

Conclusion: While these poisonings are well recognized, and a vast number of publications on CO toxicity exist, both in an environmental and industrial context, suicide is infrequently encountered in forensic practice and the typical signs are rarely seen in the literature.

Keywords: Carbon monoxide; forensic autopsy; ill-ventilated; poisoning; residential fires; suicide..