Kerosene condenses in the trachea following inhalation

We have investigated the absorption dynamics of petroleum fuel components from the analytical results of autopsy samples. Post-mortem samples of the severely burned case, including femoral blood, intratracheal contents (mucus) and intratracheal gas-phase samples were collected, and analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometer with head-space solid-phase microextraction. The composition of flammable substances in the tracheal gas phase differed slightly from that in mucus. High-boiling point components are retained in the trachea, whereas relatively lower-boiling point components are detected predominantly in the tracheal gas phase and blood.