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Tracing the source of methomyl using stable isotope analysis
Author(s) -
Song ByeongYeol,
Gwak Seongshin,
Jung Minji,
Nam Geummun,
Kim Nam Yee
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
rapid communications in mass spectrometry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.528
H-Index - 136
eISSN - 1097-0231
pISSN - 0951-4198
DOI - 10.1002/rcm.8039
Subject(s) - methomyl , chemistry , isotope analysis , toxicology , environmental chemistry , pesticide , biology , ecology
Rationale Pesticide self‐poisoning is a major method of suicide in many agricultural communities worldwide. In addition, there are a number of known crime cases related to people being harmed by insecticides. Methomyl, a prohibited insecticide in the Republic of Korea, has high toxicity and is frequently used for self‐poisoning. In this study, we investigated the source of origin of methamyl in a fatal poisoning case using stable isotope ratio analysis. Methods Two bottles of Soju from a crime scene were seized and nine different brands of methomyl products were collected from the neighborhood for analysis. In addition, the gastric contents and energy drink from the person who had committed suicide were analyzed. Isotope analysis using GC/Isolink/IRMS was conducted to determine the source of the methomyl by comparing their carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios. Linear discriminant analysis was utilized to verify the results. Results Isotope ratio analysis showed that the isotope ratio ranges of methomyl found in the Soju, the gastric contents of the suicide victim, and the energy drink bottle were similar to those of a seized methomyl product, Samgong methomyl 2011 (SG11). Thus, it was assumed that SG11 was used in this fatal poisoning case. Conclusions This study demonstrates the potential of stable isotope ratio analysis for the determination of insecticide origin in fatal poisoning cases.