Abstract:

Objective To detect metal elements in skin in electric injury by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry （ICP-MS） after fixed by formalin. Methods Brass and iron were used as electrodes to make electrical marks on rabbit hind limbs （220v AC）， and the injured skin was fixed in formalin for 1 week or 6 months separately. ICP-MS was applied to detect metal elements in the injured skin. Results Compared with the control group， the levels of chromium， nickel， copper， zinc and lead were higher in the group of brass shock， and these elements were still detected in the injured skin fixed for 1 week or 6 months by formalin. Furthermore， the chromium， copper， zinc and lead concentrations showed no significant difference between the instant injured group and the fixed group. Compared with the control group， the levels of chromium， manganese and nickel were higher in the group of iron shock. Iron， chromium and nickel concentrations showed no significant difference between the instant injured group and the fixed group. Conclusion  ICP-MS can be used as an effective tool to detect electric injury. After formalin fixation for as long as 6 months， deposited metal elements can still be detected in the injured skin and the fixation showed little effect on the levels of metal elements in the skin. Therefore， formalin fixed skin can provide evidence for electric injuries.

Key words: forensic pathology, electric injury, skin, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry （ICP-MS）, formalin, metallization, rabbit

摘要：

目的 探讨应用电感耦合等离子体质谱（inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry ICP-MS）技术检测甲醛溶液固定后电流损伤皮肤中金属元素。方法 利用黄铜、铁电极材料以220V交流电电击兔子后肢，电损伤皮肤分别进行甲醛溶液固定1周、6个月后，应用ICP-MS对电流损伤皮肤中金属元素进行测定。结果 与对照组皮肤比较，黄铜电击组皮肤中检测出Cr、Ni、Cu、Zn、Pb含量升高（P＜0.05）；固定1周、6个月后仍可检测出Cr、Ni、Cu、Zn、Pb成分，其中Cr、Cu、Zn、Pb含量电击组与固定组差异无统计学意义。与对照组比较，铁电击后皮肤中检测出Fe、Cr、Mn、Ni元素含量升高（P＜0.05）；固定组（1周和6个月）后Fe、Cr、Ni元素含量与电击组差异无统计学意义。结论 ICP-MS可作为检测电流损伤皮肤中金属元素的有效方法，甲醛溶液固定后触电皮肤仍可进行沉积的金属元素检测，且固定对皮肤金属元素的含量影响较小，该方法仍可为电流损伤诊断提供依据。

关键词: 法医病理学, 电击伤, 皮肤, 电感耦合等离子体质谱仪, 甲醛溶液, 金属化, 兔