Systemic Effects and Medicolegal Aspects of Formic Acid Poisoning - An Autopsy Study

BACKGROUND Formic acid is easily available in open market, because of its wide use in the rubber industry for processing of latex. Because of the easy availability, case of accidental and suicidal poisoning by formic acid are on the rise and most of them end fatally. On reviewing the literature, only a few were found to be reported and studied in detail. METHODS This study was carried out on seventy-five medicolegal cases, brought with history of formic acid poisoning which were brought for autopsy during the period February 2012 - July 2013. Bits of tissues from upper part of oesophagus, lesser curvature of stomach, lungs, liver, kidney and pancreas were collected. The tissues were processed, and slides were prepared. Microscopic study of each slide was done. RESULTS Males (57.3%) outnumbered females and maximum number of cases was of age group 41-70 yrs. (72%). Most of the victims were taken to hospital for treatment and died after admission (85.3%). Laboratory investigations revealed that most of the cases (85.3%) showed impairment in renal function tests, evidence of haemolysis, and metabolic acidosis, corrosion of the upper part of alimentary tract, glottic oedema and brownish fluid in peritoneal cavity. CONCLUSIONS In Kerala the incidence of formic acid poisoning is on the rise, probably because of the easy availability of the acid to people engaged in rubber industry which is widely prevalent in this state. Ingestion of formic acid leads to a serious systemic and metabolic damage.