Forensic Toxicology

Forensics

define forensic toxicology

study of poisons

study harmful affects of substances on the body

list and describe the four methods of exposure to toxins( ways to introduce them into the body)

ingesting them through the gastrointestinal system.

inhaling them into the lungs.

injecting them into the bloodstream.

absorbing them through the skin.

what is toxicity

the extent to which a substance is poisonous

what four factors can affect toxicity

dosage, duration frequency and length of exposure interactions- other substances in the body

what two poisons were frequently used in the 17th century

arsenic and cyanide

what common household pest control product contains arsenic

rat poison

what test was developed to detect arsenic and was the first use of toxicology in a jury trial?

the marsh test

list ways in which people are exposed to cyanide

manufacturing; paper, textiles and plastic; cigarettes, burning of rubber and plastic

Who are seen as the fathers of toxicology

Matthew Orfilla and Rbert Christison

name some job responsibilities of present day toxicologists

analyze body fluids in autopsies

show evidence in court

contrast the two types of poisoning

cyanide has a smell or sight flavor

what makes a drug illegal

drugs with no current accepted medical use

define controlled substance

legal drugs whose sale is restricted due to possible lethality or abuse

drug offenders make up how much of the federal prison system population

half in federal prisons and 20% in state prisons

what three factors determine classification of controlled substances?

potential for abuse

physical or psychological dependencies

medical value

what are the three ways people can be exposed to toxins

intentionally- treat on illness or pain

accidentally- overdose or combination

deliberately- suicide attempt

describe and give an example of the five schedule of controlled substances

Schedule 1: drug with high abuse and addiction such as heroine and LSD

Schedule 2: high potential for abuse/addiction, some value with restriction such as PCP and cocaine

Schedule 3: less potential for abuse; acceptable for medical use such as some barbiturates and codeine

Schedule 4: low potential for abuse/addiction, acceptable for use such as valium or xanax

Schedule 5: Low potential for abuse and has medical use such as some opiates and non-narcotic ingredients

what group of drugs acts to reduce pain by surppressing the central nervous systems ability to relay rain messages to the brain?

narcotics

what group of drugs increases feelings of well being and energy

stimulants

what group of drugs slow down the normal function of the central nervous system?

depressant

what group of drugs promotes cell and tissue growth and division?

anabolic steroids

what group of psychedelic drugs affects the users perception, thinking, self awareness, and emotions

hallucinogens

list four examples of hallucinogens

LSD

name two commonly used stimulants

name three other illegal stimulants

used: ritalin/nicotine/caffeine

illegal: amphetamine/cocaine/meth

list three examples of anabolic steroids

anadrol, oxandrin, dianabol, winstrol,

which group of drugs tends to be highly addictive

stimulants

which group of drugs tends to produce tolerance and withdrawal

narcotics

which organ is most commonly damaged by alcohol use

the liver

what is the most poisonous biological substance known to human? where is it found

botulism (clostridium botulinum)

what deadly nervous system disease takes few lives bc of vaccinations against it?

tetanus

name two bioterrorism agents

ricin: kills cells in body

anthrax: spores are noncontagious

what is the purpose of presumptive testing

doesn't identify substance but narrows

if a toxicologist cannot find a chemical in a body fluid what else can they look for?

organ samples

ultraviolet over the body

hair and nail samples

what is the formal term for a post-mortem examination

autopsy

What is toxicity?

The extent to which a substance is poisonous