CASE HISTORY

A 55yo man was found dead in a park, laying over dry grass on a hot summer day (max temp 43C). Suicide note recovered from his pocket. When police turned the body to the supine position, police heard an explosive sound with flash and saw flame coming out of the mouth of the deceased.

Body moved to mortuary, where autopsy performed.

AUTOPSY EXAMINATION

The body was slightly bloated, and greenish discoloration was present over abdomen. Blood-tinged fluid was oozing out of mouth and nostrils. Shirt and baniyan worn revealed blackening and melting effect on the collar region and right shoulder region:

Scalp hair was signed, as well as the beard an mustache. The face was darkened and slightly swollen (Fig. 2)

DISCUSSION

AlP, the Aluminum salt of Phosphine is sold as Celphos, and is one of the major causes of death and common method of suicide in North India. When the salt comes into contact with water, it rapidly converts to phosphine (PH₃) gas:

AlP + 3 H₂O -> Al(OH)₃ + PH₃

Posioning with this method carries a mortality rate of 60-90%, phosphine itself is extremely toxic (lethal dose=3.03mg/kg). So why did the body ignite itself?

Sometimes phosphine dimerizes to make diphosphine:

2 PH₃ -> P₂H₄ + H₂.

Diphosphine is known to be pyrophoric, when it comes into contact with air it ignites, which is why phosphine samples usually catch on fire. The decendent ingested a massive amount of Aluminum phosphide (200mL), which could have been the reason why it ignited.

Persons exposed only to phosphine do not pose substantial risk of secondary contamination, but persons ingesting solid phosphides may present risk either by liberation of phosphine or spontaneous ignition. However, spontaneous ignition is rare, and this report is the one of the only reports of it occuring.

Source: Am J Foresnic Med Pathol 2007; 28: 353-355 (doi:10.1097/PAF.0b013e31815b4bed)