Increasing use of sodium nitrite in suicides-an emerging trend.

ABSTRACT: Sodium nitrite (NaNO₂) is a compound with broad practical applications in food preservation, automotive maintenance, and animal control. Sodium nitrite is also potentially fatal when ingested, as it interferes with the ability of red blood cells to transport oxygen. While incidents of accidental consumption have been reported in the literature, case reports of sodium nitrite being used as a pharmacological suicide agent are becoming more frequent. Therefore, a study was undertaken to evaluate trends in sodium nitrite deaths in South Australia between 2000 and 2019. All cases of fatal sodium nitrite ingestion were identified in the Toxicology database and autopsy reports at Forensic Science SA (FSSA). Ten cases of fatal sodium nitrite ingestion were identified, with the rate of c

SUBMITTER: Stephenson L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9587107 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature