Hydrocarbons, C4, 1,3-butadiene-free

Direct observations: clinical cases, poisoning incidents and other

Administrative data

Endpoint:

direct observations: clinical cases, poisoning incidents and other

Type of information:

migrated information: read-across based on grouping of substances (category approach)

Adequacy of study:

supporting study

Reliability:

4 (not assignable)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

other: Human clinical data published in peer reviewed literature. Reliability not known but contributing to weight of evidence assessment

Justification for type of information:

Justification for Category/Read-across approach:
See justification document for category approach and read-across to individual UVCB constituents in section 13.2.

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

publication

Title:

A fatal case considered to be due to cardiac arrhythmia associated with butane inhalation

Author:

Fuke C, Miyazaki T, Arao T, Morinaga Y, Takaesu H, Takeda T and Iwamasa T

Year:

2002

Bibliographic source:

Legal Medicine 4, 134-138

Materials and methods

Study type:

clinical case study

Test guideline

Qualifier:

no guideline followed

Principles of method if other than guideline:

The case report summarises human data following exposure to butane gas.

GLP compliance:

no

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

Butane

EC Number:

203-448-7

EC Name:

Butane

Cas Number:

106-97-8

Molecular formula:

C4H10

IUPAC Name:

butane

Details on test material:

- Name of test material (as cited in study report): butane
- Physical state: gas
- Other: contents of a portable fuel canister

Method

Type of population:

general

Subjects:

- Number of subjects exposed: 1
- Sex: male
- Age: 14 years
- Height/weight: 165 cm/44 kg
- Race: no data
- Known diseases: none

Route of exposure:

inhalation

Reason of exposure:

intentional

Exposure assessment:

not specified

Details on exposure:

The boy inhaled butane gas, over a period of approximately 1 h 30 min.

Examinations:

- An autopsy was carried out 12 h after death
- Urine analysis: no
- Haematology: yes; fuel gases were analysed 19 h after death by headspace gas chromatography
- Lung tissue: fuel gases were analysed 19 h after death by headspace gas chromatography
- Other: brain tissue; fuel gases were analysed 19 h after death by headspace gas chromatography

Medical treatment:

Approximately 2 h after starting to inhale butane gas, the boy collased. Ambulance crew performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation including cardioversion, but this was not successful. An electrocardiogram revealed ventricular fibrillation. Resuscitation attempts continued at hospital.

Results and discussion

Clinical signs:

None reported.

Results of examinations:

- Autopsy findings: The external jugular veins were clearly visible on the surface. No petechial haemorrhages were found in the conjunctivae. Internally, every organ was congested. No oedema was found in the larynx. Microscopic examination showed severe oedema in the lungs; no inflammatory lesions were found in any organ. Neither natural diseases nor traumatic lesions related to his death were found.
- Results of fuel gas analyses: n-Butane, isobutane and propane were detected in the blood, brain and lung. Acetone was not detected in any specimen. The concentrations of n-butane, isobutane and propane were 2.4, 0.4, 0.04 µL/mL in the blood, 3.0, 1.2, 0.04 µL/g in the brain, and 1.1, 0.3, 0.02 µL /g in the lung, respectively.
- There was no other toxicological evidence including ethanol or drugs except for lidocaine which was used for emergency medical treatment.

Outcome of incidence:

Death occurred approximately 4 h after starting to inhale butane gas.

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Conclusions:

This was a fatal case considered to be due to cardiac arrhythmia associated with butane inhalation.

Executive summary:

This was a fatal case considered to be due to cardiac arrhythmia associated with butane inhalation. If collapse comes during butane sniffing or after butane inhalation, cardiac arrhythmia should be considered as a cause of death.