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Chronic occupational N, N-dimethylformamide poisoning induced death: a case report

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Abstract

N, N-dimethylformamide (DMF) is a toxic solvent that is widely used in many industries. Death directly attributed to DMF poisoning is rare. We report the case of a 40-year-old female who died of liver failure after occupational exposure to DMF poisoning over the course of 70 days, followed by 64 days treatment in hospital. Based on clinical procedures, autopsy findings, and environmental air quality assessment, the death in this case was confirmed to be the result of chronic DMF poisoning. This case gives further insight into occupational chronic poisoning-induced death, especially with negative toxicological analysis of rapid metabolism toxins poisoning.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to acknowledge Ji Zhang and Wenhe Li for assistance with the autopsy. This study was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 81273336).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Forensic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, NO. 13 Hangkong Road, Wuhan, 430030, People’s Republic of China

    Hui Zhang, Yijie Duan, Hongmei Dong & Yiwu Zhou

  2. Department of Investigation, Hubei University of Police, Wuhan, 430030, People’s Republic of China

    Quan Liu

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  1. Hui Zhang
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  2. Quan Liu
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  3. Yijie Duan
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  4. Hongmei Dong
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  5. Yiwu Zhou
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Hongmei Dong or Yiwu Zhou.

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Zhang, H., Liu, Q., Duan, Y. et al. Chronic occupational N, N-dimethylformamide poisoning induced death: a case report. Forensic Sci Med Pathol 11, 584–588 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-015-9705-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-015-9705-5

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