The Fatal Poisoning Pattern of Ankara (Turkey) and Nearby Cities from 2007 to June 2011: A Retrospective Study in Forensic Autopsies |
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| Authors: | Bekir Karaarslan M.D. Mustafa Karapirli M.D. Eyup Kandemir M.D. Hudaverdi Kucuker M.D. Mukaddes Gurler M.D. Cengiz Haluk Ince M.D. Omer Akyol M.D. Ph.D. |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Forensic Medicine, Gaziantep University Medical Faculty, , Gaziantep Universitesi Kampus alani, Tip Fak. Dekanligi, Sehitkamil, 27310 Gaziantep, Turkey;2. Ankara Branch of the Council of Forensic Medicine, , Sefkat Mah. Dr. Omer Besim Cad. No: 61, Kecioren, 06300 Ankara, Turkey;3. The Council of Forensic Medicine, , Yenibosna Cobancesme Mah. Sanayi Cad. Kimiz Sok. No:1 Bahcelievler 34196 Istanbul, Turkey;4. Sakarya University Medical Faculty, Department of Forensic Medicine. Sakarya Universitesi Tip Fakultesi Dekanligi, , Korucuk Kampusu, Korucuk, Adapazari, 54187 Sakarya, Turkey;5. Ankara Branch of the Council of Forensic Medicine, Department of Chemistry. Sefkat Mah. Dr. Omer Besim Cad., , No: 61, Kecioren, 06300 Ankara, Turkey;6. Hacettepe University Medical Faculty, Department of Biochemistry. Hacettepe Universitesi Tip Fakultesi, , Dekanlik Binasi 3. Kat, Sihhiye, 06100 Ankara, Turkey |
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| Abstract: | We aimed to obtain an outline of the nature and number of fatal poisonings which still appear to affect widely the population in Turkey. A total of 5921 forensic autopsies were performed between 2007 and 2011 in Ankara and nearby cities and 366 of them were fatal poisonings (219 male, 147 female). Most of the cases were between 41 and 60 years old (n = 84). Most of the fatalities were reported during winter months (48.1%). Carbon monoxide exposure was the most common reason (66.7%) within all the causes followed by medicine and narcotics (13.9%). Postmortem blood alcohol concentrations in ethyl and methyl alcohol poisonings were 385.1 ± 61.9 and 206.8 ± 138.9 mg/dL, respectively. The most common location of deaths was home (71.3%). Fatal poisonings have been a growing global problem because of some shortcomings about the socioeconomic conditions and increasing illicit drug abuse. The level of education, socioeconomic conditions, and legal approaches are very important for the prevention fatal poisonings. |
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| Keywords: | forensic science fatal poisoning carbon monoxide pesticides autopsy drug |
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