American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology 2013-03-01

Suicide by hydrogen sulfide inhalation.

Eleanor Bott, Malcolm Dodd

Index: Am. J. Forensic Med. Pathol. 34(1) , 23-5, (2013)

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Abstract

The authors report a case of suicide by hydrogen sulfide in Australia. A young woman was located in a car wearing protective eyewear. A tub of foamy yellow substance and a quantity of hydrochloric acid and lime sulfur were also located in the rear of the vehicle. Morphological findings at autopsy were nonspecific. Toxicologic analysis of a specimen of leg blood detected elevated levels of methemoglobin. If Australia follows a similar trend to Japan and the United States, it is possible that incidences of such cases will rise, probably because of Internet dissemination. From a public health perspective, emergency service providers and forensic case workers should be aware of the potential hazards to themselves and others when dealing with such cases.