Title: Helium Suicide, a Rapid and Painless Asphyxia: Toxicological Findings
Authors & Designations:
- Anna Carfora, PhD, Forensic Toxicology Unit, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”
- Raffaella Petrella, PhD, same affiliation
- Giusy Ambrosio, MSc; Pasquale Mascolo, MSc; Bruno Liguori, MSc, forensic toxicology team
- Christian Juhnke, PhD, Laboratory for Vacuum & Low-Temperature Technology, Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences
- Carlo Pietro Campobasso, MD, PhD, same forensic unit as above
- Thomas Keller, MD, PhD, Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Salzburg
(Carfora, Petrella, Ambrosio, Mascolo, Liguori, Juhnke, Campobasso & Keller, 2022) (mdpi.com, researchgate.net, mdpi.com)
Source: Toxics 2022, 10(8), Article 424 (Open Access, CC‑BY)
Citation APA: Carfora, A., Petrella, R., Ambrosio, G., Mascolo, P., Liguori, B., Juhnke, C., Campobasso, C. P., & Keller, T. (2022). Helium Suicide, a Rapid and Painless Asphyxia: Toxicological Findings. Toxics, 10(8), 424. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics10080424.
🔍 Background & Objective
The study investigates cases of helium suicide, which have risen in Europe and the US due to their perceived rapidity and lack of pain. Traditional toxicology overlooks helium due to its colorless, odorless nature. Researchers aimed to verify if toxicological evidence could reliably confirm helium inhalation as cause of death (researchgate.net).
📈 Methodology
- A forensic analysis was conducted following the death of a 17-year-old female suspected of helium inhalation.
- Gaseous samples were collected via gastight syringes from the trachea, bronchi, and stomach, minimizing air contamination.
- Samples underwent qualitative assessment to detect helium, followed by quantitative analysis using a mass spectrometer with a vacuum-based gas-inlet system (researchgate.net).
🧪 Key Findings
- Helium detected in all respiratory gases; quantitative concentrations: 20.16% in the trachea, 12.33% in the right bronchus, and 1.5% in the stomach gas (mdpi.com).
- Cause of death was confirmed as asphyxia by helium inhalation, validated through rigorous toxicological methods (researchgate.net).
⚠️ Implications
- Helium suicide can now be confirmed through forensic analysis of gaseous respiratory samples.
- Establishes best-practice protocols for autopsies involving inert gas inhalation—crucial for accurate death investigations.
📌 Conclusion
Carfora et al. conclude that helium, though previously undetectable via standard methods, can be reliably identified and quantified in forensic samples. Their protocol offers a validated forensic strategy to confirm helium-based asphyxia, improving accuracy in medico-legal investigations and death certification.