Fatal Intoxications in a Forensic Autopsy Material from Epirus, Greece, During the Period 1998–2010
Abstract
In this retrospective study, we report the epidemiological characteristics of all poisoning deaths in E pirus, G reece, from 1998 to 2010; we present the toxicological findings and the statistical evaluation of the results. This is the first detailed scientific report on all the officially certified poisoning deaths concerning part of the G reek population. A total of 126 poisoning fatalities were recorded, 67 of them being mono‐intoxications (53.2%). The cause of poisoning was as follows: drugs of abuse (60%); carbon monoxide (19.8%); pesticides (9.5%); corrosives (4.8%); pharmaceuticals (4.8%); and spider bite (0.8%). The most frequently detected poisonous substances were as follows: heroin (65 cases), ethanol (55), benzodiazepines (42), carbon monoxide (25), cocaine (17), cannabinoids (17) and pesticides (12). Increasing tendency in poisoning death rates was recorded, due to an increase in accidental poisoning deaths attributed mainly to drugs of abuse (total, accidental, and drugs‐of‐abuse poisoning death rates per 100,000 inhabitants per year were 1.87, 1.19, and 0.79, respectively, in the period 1998–2002 and 3.97, 3.41, and 2.55, respectively, in the period 2007–2010).
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In Greece, drug abuse was found in 60% of cases and carbon monoxide in 19.8%; less than 10% of self-poisoning agents were pesticides, acids, and drugs.
“GC was used for toxicological investigations on blood and urine and revealed that there was drug abuse in 60%of the cases, and carbon monoxide was involved in 19.8% of the cases; less than 10% of the self-poisoning agents were pesticides, acids, and drugs.”
From Toxicological Findings of Self-Poisoning Suicidal Deaths: A Systematic Review by Countries (2022) · cites this paper as [33]
In Greece, of 1681 autopsies, 126 (7.49%) were poison-related deaths; there were 257 suicides (15.2%), of which 20 (16%) were suicides by poisoning.
“A study of 1681 autopsies performed in Greece [33] from 1998 to 2010 found 126 (7.49%) cases of poison-related deaths; the number of suicides was 257 (15.2%), and of these, 20 (16%) were suicides by poisoning.”
From Toxicological Findings of Self-Poisoning Suicidal Deaths: A Systematic Review by Countries (2022) · cites this paper as [33]
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- Authors
- Boumba, V. A., Georgiadis, M., Mirescu, N., & Vougiouklakis, T.
- Affiliations
- University of Ioannina (GR)
- Corresponding author
- Boumba, Vassiliki A.
- Venue
- Journal of Forensic Sciences
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2012-10-26
- Volume
- 58
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 425-431
- ISSN
- 0022-1198 (ISSN-L)
- 1556-4029
- OpenAlex
- W2047954107
- Cited by
- 11
- References
- 34
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2022: 1 · 2020: 1 · 2018: 3 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 1
- FWCI
- 0.89
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Forensic Sciences (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics › Toxicology › Forensic Toxicology and Drug Analysis
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Emergency Medicine › Poisoning and overdose treatments
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pathology and Forensic Medicine › Historical and Scientific Studies
- Keywords
- poisoning deaths, fatal poisoning, Epirus, drugs of abuse, heroin, ethanol, benzodiazepines, cocaine, cannabinoids, carbon monoxide poisoning, pesticide poisoning, corrosive poisoning, accidental poisoning, toxicological findings
- MeSH terms
- Accidents, Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Ethanol, Animals, Spider Bites, Carbon Monoxide Poisoning, Caustics, Central Nervous System Depressants, Female, Greece, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Pesticides, Poisoning, Retrospective Studies, Suicide, Age Distribution, Sex Distribution, Substance-Related Disorders, Forensic Toxicology, Young Adult
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