Methyl isothiocyanate

Direct observations: clinical cases, poisoning incidents and other

Administrative data

Endpoint:

direct observations: clinical cases, poisoning incidents and other

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

supporting study

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

other: Study well documented, meets generally accepted scientific principles.

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

publication

Title:

Fatal poisoning with wethyl isothiocyanate.

Author:

Sharma BK, Singh S, and Mehta R.

Year:

1981

Bibliographic source:

British Medical Journal, volume 283

Materials and methods

Study type:

poisoning incident

Endpoint addressed:

acute toxicity: oral

Test guideline

Qualifier:

no guideline followed

Principles of method if other than guideline:

no data

GLP compliance:

not specified

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

Methyl isothiocyanate

EC Number:

209-132-5

EC Name:

Methyl isothiocyanate

Cas Number:

556-61-6

Molecular formula:

C2H3NS

IUPAC Name:

isothiocyanatomethane

Details on test material:

MITC was purchased from Mann Laboratories Inc, NY.

Method

Type of population:

general

Subjects:

A 23-year-old chemistry student (woman).

Route of exposure:

oral

Reason of exposure:

intentional

Exposure assessment:

estimated

Details on exposure:

50 mg MITC in drinking water

Examinations:

Patient was brought to the emergency department of Nehru Hospital within 20 minutes after intentionally drinking water containing MITC.

Medical treatment:

Gastric lavage was performed with sodium thiosufphate, and sodium nitrite and sodium thiosulphate were given intraveinously diapezam, and she was put on respirator. Peritonoeal dialysis was instituted about one hours after admission.

Results and discussion

Clinical signs:

Immediately after ingestion she had noticed severe retrosternal burning and epigastric pain and begun to vomit repeatedly. A few minutes later she began generalised tonic and clonic seizures and became unconcious. She was admitted deeply comatose and with pulse 98/min and blood presssure 90/60 mmHg. Chest, heart, and abdomen were normal. The pupils were slightly dilated but equal in size and reacted sluggishly to light. There was complete perte of all reflex and motor activity including oculocephalic reflex.

Results of examinations:

Necropsy a few hours later showed extensive mucosal necrosis of oesophagus, stomach, and proximal part of duodenum. Other organs showed only evidence of shock.

Effectivity of medical treatment:

no data

Outcome of incidence:

After medical treatement, she continued to deteriorate with a further fall in blood pressure, however, and died about eight hours after admission.

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Conclusions:

A woman student was died after drinking water with MITC.

Executive summary:

A 23-year-old chemistry student (woman) swallow 50 mg MITC in drinking water to suicide her.

Immediately after ingestion she had noticed severe retrosternal burning and epigastric pain and begun to vomit repeatedly. A few minutes later she began generalised tonic and clonic seizures and became unconcious. She was admitted deeply comatose and with pulse 98/min and blood presssure 90/60 mmHg. Chest, heart, and abdomen were normal. The pupils were slightly dilated but equal in size and reacted sluggishly to light. There was complete perte of all reflex and motor activity including oculocephalic reflex.

Gastric lavage was performed with sodium thiosufphate, and sodium nitrite and sodium thiosulphate were given intraveinously diapezam, and she was put on respirator. Peritonoeal dialysis was instituted about one hours after admission. After medical treatement, she continued to deteriorate with a further fall in blood pressure, however, and died about eight hours after admission. Necropsy a few hours later showed extensive mucosal necrosis of oesophagus, stomach, and proximal part of duodenum. Other organs showed only evidence of shock.