Forensic Toxicology

role of forensic toxicologist

o   Studies pharmacokinetics — how drugs move through the body.

• analyzing biological evidence for toxins or drugs

• collaborating with law enforcement and medical examiners in criminal, civil, and workplace investigations

• providing expert testimony in court about toxicological findings

ADME curve represents

•   Absorption ↑ drug concentration (Cp)

• Distribution affects how the drug spreads in tissues

• Metabolism ↓ Cp (drug broken down)

• Elimination ↓ Cp (drug removed from body)

The list of target compounds for a forensic toxicologist is __ than for a forensic chemist

much larger

metabolite ratios can estimate the?

time of ingestion or time of death

Role of Forensic Chemist vs role of Forensic Toxicologist

o   Forensic Chemist (F.C.): Identifies drugs in seized materials.

o   Forensic Toxicologist (F.T.): Identifies and quantifies drugs/metabolites in biological samples (blood, urine, tissue).

what id LD₅₀

the dose that is lethal to 50% of a test population