Electrically induced deposition of metal on the human skin
Introduction
The diagnosis of fatal electrical injuries is usually based upon histological findings together with the history. It is difficult to distinguish between electrical injuries and heat exposure. A few studies during the last five decades have noticed deposition of iron [1]and copper 2, 3on the epidermis.
The purpose of the present investigation was to examine whether such deposition may have a diagnostic value.
Section snippets
Materials and methods
During the period 1974–1994, 11 fatalities (EL.AU) due to electric shock were examined at the University Institute of Forensic Medicine in Odense, Denmark. All cases from the period with a visible current mark [4]and subsequent histology examination were included. The mean age was 38 and the range was 16–62. They were all males and previously without any known disease, except for one male with multiple sclerosis who committed suicide. Thirty-five skin samples were taken out for histology.
Results
Table 2 shows some of the examined parameters. Seven people died at work. Three were professional electricians, two were welders. There was also a carpenter and a local authority, manual worker. The nature of the electrodes was known in most cases. All with copper depositions had this metal in the electrode. With reference to iron, it was not possible in all cases to establish the metal content in the electrodes. There was no obvious association between the deposition and the duration of the
Discussion
An electricity lesion is not always easily recognisable. It may be small and variable in its appearance. It is typically a well demarcated lesion sometimes with a central pale area, usually with various degrees of burns and often a hyperaemic peripheral zone [4](Fig. 5).
As the composition of the fatal metal object in most cases was not known it was not possible to correlate the metal probe to the deposition. It is, however, likely that both the iron and the copper are derived from the metal
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Determination of metallization with energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescent spectrometry in experimental electric injury
2020, Legal MedicineCitation Excerpt :Metallization is a characteristic sign of electrocution; therefore, it is an important finding for its diagnosis. Histological examination has been performed to detect skin metallization [4–6]. However, the detection rate of metallization by histological examination is not so high [6,7,17,18].
Comparison of histological findings and the results of energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry analysis in experimental electrical injury
2018, Legal MedicineCitation Excerpt :Detection of current marks is an important finding for the diagnosis of electrocution [1,2], but they may not be recognizable by the naked eye in some cases [1,3–5]. Therefore, the diagnosis of fatal electrical injuries is usually based on histological findings, such as nuclear elongation and blister formation in the epidermis [1–7]. However, these findings are also observed in thermal injuries and are not specific to electrical injuries [1–7].
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