Fatal formalin poisoning: A rare case report

Formaldehyde is a colourless gas with strong pungent smell. Formalin is an aqueous solution of formaldehyde containing 37-40% formaldehyde and 10-15% methanol. Commercially available formalin is a 1:10 dilution containing 3.7% of formaldehyde. Suicidal ingestion of formalin is rare as it has strong taste and suffocating odour, also the common people does not have an easy access to it. That is why suicidal cases by formalin consumption are rare. We herewith present a case report of a 45-year old farmer who committed suicide by formalin consumption.