Gasoline and kerosene components in blood--a forensic analysis.

A reliable method to analyse small amounts of fuel components in biological materials, using two simultaneous procedures, head space and solvent extraction methods has been developed. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) was used for qualitative and quantitative determinations. The aliphatic hydrocarbons with carbon numbers of 5 to 8 and aromatics such as benzene, toluene and xylenes were detected in laboratory animals, following exposure to gasoline vapour, using the head space method. Aliphatic hydrocarbons with carbon numbers over 9 as well as the aromatics with carbon number 9 group including cumene, mesitylene, pseudocumene and 1,2,3-trimethylbenzene were determined by the solvent extraction method following exposure to kerosene vapour. The lower limits of detection were 0.01 micrograms and 50 pg in gasoline and kerosene components, respectively. The methods were found to be applicable in confirming the cause of human deaths.