Ethanol levels in legally autopsied subjects: Analytical approach and epidemiological relevance in a prospective study in the touristic region of the Canary Islands (Spain)

• Published in: Journal of forensic and legal medicine Vol. 52; pp. 40 - 45
• Main Authors: Almeida-González, Maira, Henríquez-Hernández, Luis A., P. Luzardo, Octavio, Zumbado, Manuel, Zaragoza, Enrique, Meilán, María J., Camacho, María, D. Boada, Luis
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2017
• Subjects: Accidents, Traffic - mortality; Adolescent; Adult; Age Distribution; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Blood alcohol concentration; Blood Alcohol Content; Canary islands; Cause of Death; Central Nervous System Depressants - analysis; Child; Child, Preschool; Ethanol - analysis; Female; Forensic sciences; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Male; Middle Aged; Pathology; Prospective Studies; Sex Distribution; Spain; Suicide - statistics & numerical data; Tourist region; Traffic accidents; Travel; Violence - statistics & numerical data; Vitreous Body - chemistry; Vitreous humor alcohol concentration; Young Adult; Tourist region; Blood alcohol concentration; Traffic accidents; Canary islands; Vitreous humor alcohol concentration; Forensic sciences
• ISSN: 1752-928X; 1878-7487; 1878-7487
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jflm.2017.08.015

The aim of this study was to analyze the presence of alcohol in individuals (137) that were subjected to a mandatory medico-legal autopsy in the Institute of Legal Medicine of Las Palmas (Canary Islands, Spain) during 2015. Blood and vitreous humor samples (232) were analyzed by gas chromatography. 46.0% of the individuals were positive for alcohol, being half of them tourists. Blood alcohol concentrations (BAC) was higher in men over 60 years (p = 0.041). 10.2% of the series died in a traffic accident, and victims had the highest proportion of positives to alcohol (64.3%) and the highest BAC (2.56 g/L, p = 0.048). The BAC:VHAC (alcohol in vitreous humor) ratio was higher among victims of traffic crashes (p = 0.036), suggesting a short elapsed interval between the alcohol intake and the fatal accident. The results of this study indicate that ethanol is still heavily involved in non-natural deaths. •BAC and VHAC were determined in 232 samples from medico-legal autopsies.•Men over 60 years showed the highest BAC.•Highest BAC was observed among subjects died in a traffic accident.•The BAC:VHAC ratio was higher among victims of traffic crashes.