The smell of death : fatal inhalation of volatile substances in 48 years of necroscopical activity

Introduction: the inhalation of volatile substances is a form of abuse often underestimated. However, in the adolescents’ and young people’s range, for individuals who live in isolated communities and for professions more exposed to these substances, it results a known delight activity. The sniffing phenomenon (abuse of volatile substances to achieve intoxication) has been reported in several parts of the world and it is an emerging problem. Materials and Methods: the authors reviewed a wide record of cases of death caused by sniffing phenomenon (suicides, accidental events at work and at home) from 1960 to 2008 in the Institute of Legal Medicine of Milan. Results and conclusions: in these 48 years a number of 44 cases were observed and were characterized for sex, age and cause of death. Collected data show a change in use of these substances: in the past were cause of occupational accidents and occasional poisoning, today they are used as delight poisoning.