The forensic medical expertise of the victims of large-scale fires
Popov, V.L.; Babakhanian, R.V.; Bushuev, E.S.; Katkov, I.D.
Sudebno-Meditsinskaia Ekspertiza 35(2): 16-18
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 0039-4521 PMID: 1440730 Document Number: 397020
The difficulties of present-day forensic medical expert evaluation of poisonings in fires are explained by exposure of man to highly toxic compounds that form during burning of polymers. Analyzing forensic medical expert evaluations of a large number of victims dead in a large-scale fire, the authors emphasize the necessity of measuring not only dead people's blood levels of HbCO, but of some other toxic combustion products that may exert combined effects on human body. The authors think it desirable that criteria of forensic medical evaluation of combined poisoning in fire be defined.