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Scheme for Investigating Cases of Death due to Poisoning
Published in Paul T. Jayaprakash, Crime Scene Investigation and Reconstruction, 2023
Major indications in the scene supporting accidental poisoning are evidence of lack of deliberation and willfulness on the part of the victim in exposure to the poison. Examples include carbon-monoxide-related fatalities involving family members sleeping in closed rooms that are connected to defective heating systems or fatalities of individuals relaxing inside cars parked in closed garages with engine and air conditioner turned on. Toxic-gas-related accidental poisoning occurs when individuals get into sewage tanks or into unused wells for cleaning them. In such instances, the SOCOs can tie a live chicken in a rope by its legs and let it go into the depth of the tank or well to verify if it becomes unconscious due to the noxious gases. Accidental poisoning may also be reported during drug and alcohol abuse. Mixing of methyl alcohol with other intoxicating liquors has been the cause for mass fatalities in some parts of India. This author examined a case wherein three friends consuming alcoholic drinks mistakenly mixed cyanide considering it to be chloral hydrate, and all of them died of cyanide poisoning.
Diagnosis and Treatment of Inhalation Injury in Burn Patients
Published in Jacob Loke, Pathophysiology and Treatment of Inhalation Injuries, 2020
Khan Z. Shirani, Joseph A. Moylan, Basil A. Pruitt
The most prevalent among the toxic gases produced in a fire is carbon monoxide, generally causally linked to fire-related deaths. The affinity of hemoglobin to combine with carbon monoxide to form carboxyhemoglobin is over 200 times greater than its affinity to combine with oxygen. Both duration of exposure and prevailing carbon monoxide concentrations at the time of exposure regulate the rate of carboxyhemoglobin formation.
Entrapment and Incaprettamento
Published in Burkhard Madea, Asphyxiation, Suffocation,and Neck Pressure Deaths, 2020
Vittorio Fineschi, Matteo Scopetti, Emanuela Turillazzi
The hazards found in any confined spaces are represented by the process taking place in the confined space, by the eventual material being stored or used in the confined space, and by the effect of the external environment. Oxygen deficiency occurs from biochemical reactions which displace or consume oxygen from a confined space. Normally, ambient air has an oxygen content of 21 per cent. When the oxygen level drops, physiological responses include increased breathing volume and accelerated heartbeat. If the oxygen shortage increases (14–16%), poor muscular coordination, rapid fatigue and intermittent respiration occur. Between 6 per cent and 10 per cent oxygen victims experience nausea, vomiting, inability to perform and unconsciousness. At concentrations lower than 6–8 per cent there is loss of consciousness and death in minutes. Furthermore, toxic gases (i.e. carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide, etc.) may be present in particular confined spaces, mostly working places, and can play a significant role in causing death. Finally, it has to be remembered that physical hazards, including extreme hot or cold temperature, activation of electrical or mechanical equipment, falling objects and flammable atmosphere can cause further injury to victims in confined spaces.
Emergency response plan for methane and chlorine with dispersion modelling using CAMEO
Published in International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics, 2022
Chinnakannu Jayakumar, Steffy Isac, D. M. Reddy Prasad
Hazards for any organization are often dangerous threads. Management and mitigation often require proper consideration. Emergency management plans visualize steps to mitigate and reduce the impacts of dangerous chemical spillage, toxic gas accidental release and fire or explosion. All hazardous installations should have an appropriate emergency plan that is specific to that installation and focused on a whole range of credible scenarios of incidents. To tackle such situations, a systematic review of hazard identification procedures and consequence analysis is essential. This will aid in the efficient control of major injury scenarios. Primary aspects of emergency preparedness include good communication systems, emergency preparedness preparation, staff training and safety training, analysis of previous incidents, impact evaluation reports and daily contact with different departments. The plan and procedure for an emergency should be checked and revised regularly. This is to ensure that they are current and accurate, that they comply with new legislation, that lessons learned are implemented and that improvements are made to increase performance. The results of this study showed that each type of accident occurring in the process plant could be effectively managed by adequately trained staff. Appropriate management-side preparation and implementation are recommended.
Sargassum seaweed health menace in the Caribbean: clinical characteristics of a population exposed to hydrogen sulfide during the 2018 massive stranding
Published in Clinical Toxicology, 2021
Dabor Resiere, Hossein Mehdaoui, Jonathan Florentin, Papa Gueye, Thierry Lebrun, Alain Blateau, Jerome Viguier, Ruddy Valentino, Yannick Brouste, Hatem Kallel, Bruno Megarbane, André Cabie, Rishika Banydeen, Remi Neviere
Coastlines of Caribbean islands, Florida and Mexico have witnessed deposition of successive and massive waves of sargassum seaweed, i.e., sargassum fluitans and sargassum natans depending on the geographical area [1]. French Caribbean overseas departments, especially Martinique and Guadeloupe, have also been affected by strandings of sargassum seaweed since 2011 [2]. Pelagic deposition of sargassum seaweed on Martinique and Guadeloupe beaches has never been as extensive as it was in 2018 [3,4], while prediction models indicate that massive strandings are likely to repeat in the coming years [5]. Despite constant cleaning, beach accumulation and compaction of large amounts of sargassum seaweed result in anaerobic degradation and release of nonvolatile and volatile compounds, which have not been fully characterized [3,4]. Among the many toxic gases produced by decomposing sargassum seaweed, hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and ammonia are known to elicit deleterious consequences on human health [6].
Human and organizational factors in Chinese hazardous chemical accidents: a case study of the ‘8.12’ Tianjin Port fire and explosion using the HFACS-HC
Published in International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics, 2018
Lin Zhou, Gui Fu, Yujingyang Xue
Hazardous chemical accidents (HCAs) occur when a significant amount of toxic, explosive or flammable chemicals are released unintentionally during production, operation, storage, transportation, usage or disposal; these types of accidents can result in casualties, property damage and environmental pollution (excluding toxic gas poisoning and explosions during mine exploitation) [1]. As China is a major chemical producer and user, severe HCAs occur frequently. Official figures state that in 2015 there were 97 HCAs in China, resulting in 157 fatalities (based on the Chinese accidents statistical method, HCAs during transport are excluded) [2]. Learning from previous accidents is important in the prevention of future ones [3], therefore, it is necessary to comprehensively analyze the causes of HCAs to ensure the safety of the chemical industry, prevent fatalities and reduce economic losses.