Forensic toxicological implication of acute fatal poisoning cases due to benfuracarb ingestion

We describe here three cases involving acute fatalities due to benfuracarb ingestion and the forensic toxicological implications. Benfuracarb, a carbamate insecticide and its main metabolite carbofuran, were detected using thin layer chromatography (TLC) and gas chromatography/mass spectrophotometry (GC/MS) after extraction with ethyl acetate and then quantified using gas chromatography (GC) equipped with NPD. The blood levels of benfuracarb and carbofuran were in the range of 0.30 similar to 2.32 mu g/ml and 1.45 similar to 1.47 mu g/ml, respectively. Benfuracarb was not detected in urine, but carbofuran was detected in the range of 0.53 similar to 2.66 mu g/ml.