Determination of Toluene and Xylene Levels in Postmortem Tissues of Rats as a Human Autopsy Process

Abstract Background Toluene and xylene are frequently used aromatic hydrocarbons in industry. It is also a subject of abuse by inhalation since they have lipid solubility and may affect the blood-brain barrier easily. Toluene or xylene exposure has been reported to cause death. Analyzing the levels of Toluene and xylene in toxicological samples obtained during the autopsy process is important for determining the cause of death. It is also known that the levels of toxic substances show differences during the postmortem period. To make a differential diagnosis of toluene or xylene exposure-related deaths, it is necessary to consider the changes in the levels of these two substances in tissues during the postmortem period. This study aimed to examine the changes in toluene or xylene levels in toxicological samples obtained from rats exposed to lethal doses of Toluene or xylene in the postmortem period. Methods; In our study, intraperitoneal administration of toluene, xylene, and corn oil for the control group was administered to the female Wistar Albino rats. All three groups of rats were also classified according to their postmortem sampling after 0, 2, 4, and 6 hours. Each group (Toluene, Xylene, Control) had 16 samples in the pool chart. Toluene and xylene levels in all tissue specimens were investigated by Head Space-Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry. Statistical analysis of the data were performed by using IBM SPSS Statistics 21 windows based statistical package program. Results Xylene was detected at the maximum level at hour zero in liver, adipose and brain tissues. Toluene was measured at its highest level at hour zero in liver, followed by brain, adipose and blood tissues. Conclusion The changes among tissue levels of these two substances in the postmortem period showed different patterns. This Head Space-Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry method validated for tissue procedures, is highly valuable for determining the amounts of toluene and xylene in tissues