Industrial use of lethal substance and its easy access to artisan makes life insecure: A case of potassium cyanide poisoning

Abstract

Poisoning is one of the main contributors to the mortality and morbidity in both developed and developing countries. Poisoning is a common method of suicide and one of the common causes of death in developing countries, followed by accidental and in some cases homicidal. Cyanide poisoning is a suicide method that can either kill quickly or with horrific symptoms, depending on how the substance is administered. Industrial use of cyanide includes electroplating, metal processing, and extraction of ores, photographic processes, production of synthetic rubber and manufacture of plastics. A 26 year old male artisan was working in gold manufacturing factory. He had no history of any kind of depression or addiction neither had any chronic disease when he commits suicide by consuming potassium cyanide at working place. At autopsy, bluish pink colour post-mortem lividity noted over back, chest and abdomen with lip and fingernails cyanosis. All visceral organs were severely congested. Stomach mucosa haemorrhagic with erosion seen at places. Histopathological report showed greenish discolouration on cut section of liver and kidney withpulmonary and cerebral oedema present. Chemical analysis report of viscera came positive for potassium cyanide. Present case discusses as to how easy access of lethal industrial substance to person made his life perilous. Keywords: Suicidal poisoning, Potassium cyanide, Gold manufacturing factory.