After ingestion of an unknown amount of formalin with suicidal intent, a 55-year-old female and a 34-year-old male were admitted to the hospital with extensive gastrointestinal corrosive damage, circulatory shock, metabolic acidosis, respiratory insufficiency and impairment of renal function, which rapidly progressed to acute renal failure. Metabolic acidosis was in part due to high plasma levels of formic acid, the main metabolite of formaldehyde, and hyperlactatemia. Both patients underwent hemodialysis and hemofiltration treatment. In the male patient, a gastrectomy had to be performed. The further clinical course in the patients was characterized by sepsis and protracted pulmonary complications. Both patients died after developing adult respiratory distress syndrome and global cardiac insufficiency.
After ingestion of an unknown amount of formalin with suicidal intent, a 55-year-old female and a 34-year-old male were admitted to the hospital with extensive gastrointestinal corrosive damage, circulatory shock, metabolic acidosis, respiratory insufficiency and impairment of renal function...
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
As a general rule ideal suicidal poisons should be tasteless or pleasant in nature and capable of being easily taken in food or drink. Formalin has selective availability, strong taste and pungent odor. Formalin is an aqueous solution of formaldehyde containing 37-40% formaldehyde and 10-15% of methanol. Due to its reactive and unstable nature formaldehyde generally marketed in aqueous solution. Formalin is a protoplasmic poison and potent caustic substance; it causes coagulation necrosis, precipitation of protein, fixation of tissues and stabilizes the structural details of the cells. Ingestion of formalin and inhalation of fumes causes immediate deleterious effects on different systems of body. These properties of formalin generally serve a sufficient warning for suicidal intake in comparison to other poisons. That is why formalin is a very unusual suicidal poison to be taken.
"Formalin , a Rare Suicidal Poison – A Case Report", SurangamaChakraborty, 2015