Abstract
Carbon tetrachloride (lelrachloromethane, CCl4) is a well known chemical agent with toxic property. CCl4 is responsible of several cases of acute poisoning subsequent to inhalation of vapour or ingestion of liquid (1). In an adult human, the mean lethal dose by mouth appears to lie between 5 and 10 mL, but as little as 2 mL, has killed on several occasions (2, 3). The principal toxic actions are central nervous system depression and cellular necrosis in the liver and kidneys or both. CCl4 is readily absorbed by the lungs. It is also well absorbed by the intestinal tract. It is metabolized in the liver by the cytochrome P-450-dependent mixed-function oxidase to only a slight extent (4). Excretion of ingested CCl4 is almost entirely by the lungs; this is due to its extreme volatility. However a small amounts is also excreted by urine.
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© 1995 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
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Tombolini, A., Cingolani, M. (1995). Post-Mortem Distribution and Histologic Study on a Fatal Case due to Accidental Ingestion of Carbon Tetrachloride. In: Mangin, P., Ludes, B. (eds) Acta Medicinæ Legalis Vol. XLIV 1994. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-79523-7_64
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-79523-7_64
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