Plastic materialities nature 24-27 plastics’ death

Rapid onset of symptoms, followed by serious illness or death is the most valuable clue to the presence of this group. The probable identity of the particular poison may be indicated by the nature of the symptoms (Table 2). Physical evidence at the scene (e.g. bottles, residues in cups, etc., tubes of adhesives, and plastic bags with characteristic odours) frequently leaves little doubt of the nature of the intoxicant, if the material is submitted within 48 hours. If deadi has been delayed for several days by hospital treatment, it is imperative to obtain for analysis any antemortem samples taken on admission to hospital, no matter how small. 

Liotta (12) constructed his artificial heart from a combination of different materials - Lucite, teflon, polyester urethane, and silk. It is difficult to evaluate the thrombogenic potential of this combination of materials because the longest survival was 13 hours in dogs. The principle cause of death in these animals was low cardiac output secondary to inadequate venous return. The following year in a different series of experiments Liotta (13) tried a different combination of materials. Here, although the experiments were acute in scope, thrombus formation at the blood-plastic interface was a major problem. The left ventricular assist device (LVAD) was a tube-type with the housing and valves constructed of Estane. The internal elastic tube was made of either natural rubber. Silastic, or natural rubber covered externally with Silastic. 

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