L3 Toxicology

Dosage, duration, byproducts, and nature of exposure

• Intentional: taken with a safe purpose like for medical purposes such as pain reliefs or fever alleviation

• Accidental: taken without  being aware of the consumption of the poisonous substance

• Deliberate: taken with a dangerous intention like committing suicide

Chronic is small dosage over a long period of time, acute is a large dosage over a short period of time 

Contact, inhalation, and ingestion

Drug Class

Purpose

Side Effects

Narcotics

Treat pain

abuse can cause low blood pressure, weakness, confusion, and coma; don’t slow down mental function like depressants.

Depressants

Relieve anxiety

reduce body functions, induce sleep and are highly addictive; slow down body functions, loss of coordination, and coma. 

Stimulants

Increase energy/alertness

lead to high blood pressure and heart rate and sometimes bleeding in the brain; depression after drug wears off.

Hallucinogens

Affect perception

self-awareness, emotions and cause increased heart rate, blood pressure, and dilated pupils

Anabolic steroids

Promote cell/tissue growth

cause high cholesterol level—>cardiovascular problems.

Schedule

Definition

Examples

I

drugs with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse

heroin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), marijuana (cannabis), 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (ecstasy), methaqualone, and peyote

II

drugs with a high potential for abuse and very limited medical use

Combination products with less than 15 milligrams of hydrocodone per dosage unit (Vicodin), cocaine, methamphetamine, methadone, hydromorphone (Dilaudid), meperidine (Demerol), oxycodone (OxyContin), fentanyl, Dexedrine, Adderall, and Ritalin

III

drugs with a moderate level to abuse and is medically accepted

Products containing less than 90 milligrams of codeine per dosage unit (Tylenol with codeine), ketamine, anabolic steroids, testosterone 

IV

drug abuse potential and risk of dependence are low and is medically approved

Xanax, Soma, Darvon, Darvocet, Valium, Ativan, Talwin, Ambien, Tramadol

V

defined as drugs with a low potential for abuse and low risk of dependence; medical use; often have a certain measurement for a safe usage

cough preparations with less than 200 milligrams of codeine or per 100 milliliters (Robitussin AC), Lomotil, Motofen, Lyrica, Parepectolin

Family

Drug(s)

Source and Effect

Depressants

Ethanol

• found in alcohol, depresses the CNS, impairs cognition, judgment, and coordination

Opioids 

Fentanyl

• Found in synthetic production, analgesia euphoria, relaxation, and pupil constriction

Stimulant 

Ecstasy

• Synthetic production, increased energy, emotional warmth, heart rate, and dehydration

Hallucinogen

Cannabis 

• Found in the cannabis plant, euphoria, altered perception, relaxation, impaired memory, and coordination

Type of poisoning

Effects

Source

Lead poisoning

cognitive impairments, developmental delays (especially in children), and abdominal pain.

In older paints, contaminated water, and certain occupational settings.

Mercury poisoning

neurological symptoms, including tremors, memory problems, mood changes, and muscle weakness. 

in certain fish, dental amalgam fillings, and occupational exposure

Arsenic poisoning

abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, skin changes, neurological effects, and an increased risk of cancer

In contaminated water, some pesticides, and certain industrial settings

Cadmium poisoning

Chronic exposure to cadmium can cause kidney damage, respiratory problems, bone disease, and an increased risk of cancer

Found in certain industrial workplaces, cigarette smoke, and contaminated food

Aluminum poisoning

It can lead to neurological symptoms, including memory loss, cognitive impairment, and movement disorders.

can occur in cases of prolonged exposure to high levels of aluminum, such as through occupational exposure or certain medical treatments

Cyanide poisoning (chemical)

Cause rapid breathing/heart rate, headache and dizziness, confusion, disorientation, nausea, seizures, (cause intense red discoloration in the stomach)

Gas or salt form 

Carbon monoxide poisoning (chemical)

Oxygen depreciation in the body’s organs and tissues, headache, dizziness, nausea, confusion, shortness of breath, and loss of consciousness

Incomplete combustion of carbon-based fuels (instead of carbon dioxide)

Tests that yield a color change to indicate the presence of substances 

Thiocyanate Test

Iron (III) ions

Deep red 

Cobalt Nitrate Test

Chloride ions

blue

Flame Test

Flames of diff colors

Depends; sodium - yellow, potassium - violet, copper - green 

Duquenois-Levine Test

Cannabis and TLC

Purple +

Marquis Reagent

Drugs 

Amphetamines (orange-brownish to brownish-black), opioids (purple), and ecstasy (dark purple to black)

Scott Test

cocaine

blue

Dille-Koppanyi Test

Barbiturates (class of sedative-hypnotic drugs)

violet

Van Urk Test

LSD

Violet-blue in presence of LSD

Tests that yield a reasonable indication of the presence of substances 

Test

Purpose

Immunoassays 

Assays that use antibodies to detect presence of toxins or drugs in a sample 

Thin-layer chromatography

Technique that uses solvents traveling through a porous medium to separate compounds by chemical reactivity 

Microcrystalline Test

Evidence into solution → dry and place under ultraviolet spectroscopy → examine for crystalline shape → take measurement based on how substance responds to ultraviolet light 

Mass Spectrometry

Technique that identifies and quantifies the compounds in a sample by measuring the mass to charge ratio of ions produced from the sample 

Gas Chromatography

Separation technique that uses gas flowing through a coated tube to separate compounds by their size, weight, and chemical reactivity with the column coating 

Liquid Chromatography

Separation technique through a coated tube to separate compounds by their size, weight and chemical reactivity with the column coating 

Tests that yield an absolution indication to the presence of substances 

Test

Purpose

GC-MS

Combining o gas chromatography and mass spectrometry 

LC-MS

Combining of liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry 

NMR

Monitors the splitting of nuclear energy levels within a molecule when it is exposed to oscillating magnetic field to provide info about the structure, dynamics, and composition of molecules 

Marsh Test

Highly sensitive method that tests the presence of arsenic;  in which hydrochloric acid and zinc are added to the sample and heated up for arsine gas to be produced. Gas from the sample is led through a heated glass tube and, if arsine is present, it decomposes to give a brown deposit of arsenic metal