A Fatality Caused by Hydrogen Sulfide Produced from an Accidential Transfer of Sodium Hydrogen Sulfide into a Tank Containing Dilute Sulfuric Acid
Abstract
The National Transportation Safety Board has an agreement with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that the FAA's Civil Aeromedical Institute (CAMI) provide toxicological services for selected surface transportation accidents. Under this agreement, postmortem biosamples from a hazardous chemical accident fatality were submitted to CAMI for toxicological evaluation. The victim succumbed from breathing the hydrogen sulfide (H2S) gas produced by an accidental transfer of sodium hydrogen sulfide (NaHS) from a tanker truck to a tank containing 4% sulfuric acid (H2SO4) and iron(II) sulfate (FeSO4). After inhaling the gas, the 55-year old male Caucasian truck driver was dead at the scene. Autopsy examination of the decedent's body revealed pulmonary edema and passive congestion in lungs, spleen, kidneys, and adrenal glands. The submitted samples were analyzed for carbon monoxide, cyanide, alcohols, and drugs. Since a potential exposure to H2S was involved, blood was analyzed for sulfide (S(2-)) The analysis entailed isolating S(2-) from blood as H2S using 0.5 M H3PO4, trapping the gas in 0.1 M NaOH, and determining the electromotive force using a sulfide ion specific electrode. Carbon monoxide, cyanide, or ethanol was not detected in blood, but acetaminophen at a therapeutic concentration of 14.3 microg/mL of blood was found, and metoprolol was detected in the blood, liver, and kidney samples. Analysis further revealed the presence of S(2-). in blood at the level of 1.68 microg/mL. This S(2-). concentration is approximately 2 times higher than that reported in the blood of 2 separate fatalities associated with accidental exposures to H2S. The blood S(2-). value in the present case was about 34 times higher than the blood S(2-) concentration (<0.05 microg/mL) in normal subjects.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 2000
- Accession Number
- ADA388303
Entities
People
- Arvind K. Chaturvedi
- Dennis V. Canfield
- Dudley R. Smith
Organizations
- Federal Aviation Administration