Skip to main content
Log in

Suicide by inhalation of butane gas through a homemade adaptation of a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) face mask

  • Images in Forensics
  • Published:
Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Fatal poisoning due to butane inhalation has been described in the clinical and forensic literature. We report the first case of a seventy-year-old obese man with a history of sleep apnea and depression, who was found dead in bed after inhaling butane gas through a homemade adaptation of his own continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) face mask. The death scene investigation, autopsy findings and toxicological results are described. The cause of death was suspected to be due to asphyxia through butane inhalation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Novosel I, Kovačić Z, Gusić S, Batelja L, Nestić M, Seiwerth S, et al. Immunohistochemical detection of early myocardial damage in two sudden deaths due to intentional butane inhalation. Two case reports with review of literature. J Forensic Legal Med. 2011;18:125–31.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Marsolek MR, White NC, Litovitz TL. Inhalant abuse: monitoring trends by using poison control data, 1993–2008. Pediatrics. 2010;125:906–13.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Bugra A, Das T. Postmortem diagnosis of myocardial infarction due to butane gas intoxication in a child: a case report. Am J Forensic Med Pathol. 2019;40:81–3.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Khattak HK, Hayat F, Pamboukian SV, Hahn HS, Schwartz BP, Stein PK. Obstructive sleep apnea in heart failure: review of prevalence, treatment with continuous positive airway pressure, and prognosis. Tex Heart Inst J. 2018;45:151–61.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Wick R, Gilbert JD, Felgate P, Byard RW. Inhalant deaths in South Australia: a 20-year retrospective autopsy study. Am J Forensic Med Pathol. 2007;28:319–22.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Rossi R, Suadoni F, Pieroni L, De-Giorgio F, Lancia M. Two cases of acute propane/butane poisoning in prison. J Forensic Sci. 2012;57:832–4.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Fuke C, Miyazaki T, Arao T, Morinaga Y, Takaesu H, Takeda T, et al. A fatal case considered to be due to cardiac arrhythmia associated with butane inhalation. Leg Med (Tokyo). 2002;4:134–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Al Rabiah AA, Al Shamrani AM, Al Mass AA. Cardiac arrest due to butane gas inhalation in an 18 years old boy. Case Rep Emerg Med. 2019;2019:2461346.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Winek CL, Wahba WW, Huston RM. Accidental death due to inhalation of butane. J Anal Toxicol. 1997;21:323.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Ventura F, Barranco R, Landolfa MC, Gallo M, Castiglione AG, Orcioni GF, et al. Fatal poisoning by butane sniffing: a forensic analysis and immunohistochemical detection of myocardial hypoxic damage. J Forensic Legal Med. 2017;51:57–62.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Varlet V, Smith F, Augsburger M. Accuracy profile validation of a new analytical method for butane measurement using headspace-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci. 2013;913–914:155–60.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Gaulier JM, Tonnay V, Faict T, Sayer H, Marquet P, Lachâtre G. Analytical aspects of volatile substance abuse (VSA). J Forensic Sci. 2003;48:880–2.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Dinis-Oliveira RJ, Vieira DN, Magalhães T. Guidelines for collection of biological samples for clinical and forensic toxicological analysis. Forensic Sci Res. 2016;1:42–51.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Dinis-Oliveira RJ, Carvalho F, Duarte JA, Remião F, Marques A, Santos A, et al. Collection of biological samples in forensic toxicology. Toxicol Mech Methods. 2010;20:363–414.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Dinis-Oliveira RJ, Magalhães T. Forensic toxicology in drug-facilitated sexual assault. Toxicol Mech Methods. 2013;23:471–8.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Tsukamoto S, Chiba S, Muto T, Ishikawa T, Shimamura M. Study on the metabolism of volatile hydrocarbons in mice--propane, n-butane, and iso-butane. J Toxicol Sci. 1985;10:323–32.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Sasao A, Yonemitsu K, Ohtsu Y, Mishima S, Nishitani Y. Quantitative determination of n-butane metabolites in three cases of butane sniffing death. Forensic Sci Int. 2015;254:180–4.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Albertini RJ, Sram RJ, Vacek PM, Lynch J, Wright M, Nicklas JA, et al. Biomarkers for assessing occupational exposures to 1,3-butadiene. Chem Biol Interact. 2001;135–136:429–53.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Albertini RJ, Sram RJ, Vacek PM, Lynch J, Rossner P, Nicklas JA, et al. Molecular epidemiological studies in 1,3-butadiene exposed Czech workers: female-male comparisons. Chem Biol Interact. 2007;166:63–77.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Sugie H, Sasaki C, Hashimoto C, Takeshita H, Nagai T, Nakamura S, et al. Three cases of sudden death due to butane or propane gas inhalation: analysis of tissues for gas components. Forensic Sci Int. 2004;143:211–4.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Molina DK, Limfueco S, Hargrove VM. Brain: the best matrix for volatile testing? Am J Forensic Med Pathol. 2015;36:122–3.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, and royalties.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ricardo Jorge Dinis-Oliveira.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interests

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest. No writing assistance was used in the production of this manuscript.

Ethical approval

all procedures were performed according to the ethical and legal standards of the institution.

Informed consent

not applicable.

Additional information

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Durão, C., Pedrosa, F. & Dinis-Oliveira, R.J. Suicide by inhalation of butane gas through a homemade adaptation of a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) face mask. Forensic Sci Med Pathol 16, 732–734 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-020-00271-y

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-020-00271-y

Keywords

Navigation