Development of a Method for Measuring Volatile Organic Compounds in the Blood of Fire Victims Using'Purge and Trap' Gas Chromatography

Abstract

Smoke inhalation remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Clinical and laboratory studies have re vealed numerous potentially toxic components of com bustion in the fire environment and in human tissue samples. However, the frequency and importance of the various compounds remains poorly understood. A new simple method to quantitatively measure volatile or ganic compounds (VOCs) in small samples of the blood of fire victims has been developed utilising the 'purge and trap' method of gas phase chromatography with flame ionisation detection using two columns. Thirty- three compounds were identified on the basis of the retention index method with acceptable repeatability and reproducibility. This method should permit a more complete investigation of the toxic volatile organic com pounds found in fire victims.

Evaluation of Internal Standards for the Analysis of Ignitable Liquids in Fire Debris

“…Halogenated compounds, such as 1,1,2-trichlorotrifluoroethane, have been used as an internal standard for the analysis of lighter fluid in blood (6), and chlorobenzene-d5 was used as an internal standard in the chemical analysis of food exposed to smoke (7). Finally, an internal standard solution of n-pentane and 1-pentanol was added to the blood of fire victims during a headspace extraction for volatile hydrocarbons (8).…”