FORENSICS TEST

List and describe the five multiple factors of how harmful toxicity is.

Dose: How much was absorbed
Duration: How long was the exposure
Entry: Was it ingested Inhaled Absorbed through skin
Interactions: Taken with other medications Substances
Byproducts(metabolites): What did it break down into

List and describe the 6 methods of collecting physical evidence.

Document, photograph, and collect all substances and what they may have contained
Plants/Wet: Dry and place in paper bag
Syringes/needles: Glass containers labeled 'Biohazard'
Dry: paper bindle & plastic bag

List and describe how physical evidence is tested

Microscope Identification
Microcrystalline Testing: Dry substances into crystal & measure unique light frequency
Gas Chromatography: Determine visual 'fingerprints'

Describe what happened in 1982 in Illinois.

Patients arrived at local hospitals with bizarre symptoms-headaches, dizziness, confusion. They quickly died after arrival from what appears to be lack of oxygen. Tylenol was found to be in the homes of each victim, the bottles revealed potassium cyanide.

What do forensic investigators must be able to determine

What poison was used, Why it was taken, By who

What facts do forensic investigators have to keep in mind

Less than 1% of homicides result from poisoning, accidental overdoses are the most common.

List the 8 methods by which substances can enter the body.

Buccal, Oral, Pulmonary, Transdermal, Ocular, Nasal, Sublingual, Vaginal/Anal

Why is smoking harmful

Smoke is harmful for the lungs

List the 3 ways a person can be exposed to a drug.

Intentional- taken a drug to treat illness or to relieve pain
Accidental- unintentionally taken
Deliberate- suicide

List the 5 types of drugs.

Stimulants, Narcotics, Depressants, Alcohol, Steroids

Name 3 types of alcohol.

Beer, Wine, Liquor

Describe what happens to the body and brain when under the influence of depressants

slows messages between the body and brain signals from the eyes and other senses reach the brain slowly

Describes what happens to the body and brain when under the influence of stimulants.

Creates fake messages in the brain, telling the body that it's under stress

Chemical elements that have the same number of protons, but different numbers of neutrons

Isotopes

The study of the adverse effects of chemicals or physical agents on living organisms

Toxicology

A substance naturally produced by a living thing that can cause illness or death in humans

Toxin

Rapid involuntary jerking of the eyeball

Nystagmus

A natural or manufactured substance that can cause severe illness or death if ingested, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin

Poison

A type of toxin produced by an animal that is actively delivered through a wound by means of a bite, sting, or similar action

Venom

Effects of a toxin occurring almost immediately (hours or days) after an exposure

Acute Toxicity

The combined effect of substances that decreases their individual effects

Antagonism

The combined effect of substances that exceed the sum of their individual effects

Synergism

Lethal dose for 50 percent of a given population

LD50

Continuing exposure to toxins over a long period of time

Chronic Exposure

The degree to which a substance is poisonous or can cause illness

Toxicity

An organic compound that complexes with a metal to form a ring structure

Chelating Agent

The time it takes for half a sample to decay

Half-life

One-millionth of a gram

Microgram

A physical or chemical phenomenon or a process in which atoms, molecules or ions enter some bulk phase-liquid or solid material

Absorption

A substance affecting the nervous system by increasing alertness, attention, and energy, as well as elevating blood pressure, heart rate, and respiration

Stimulan