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Forensic Toxicology

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Forensic Toxicology - the study of the chemical and physical properties of toxic substances and their physiological effect on living organisms – PowerPoint PPT presentation

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Title: Forensic Toxicology


1
Forensic Toxicology
  • - the study of the chemical and physical
    properties of toxic substances and their
    physiological effect on living organisms

2
Three Primary Responsibilities
  1. Postmortem Drug Testing
  2. Workplace Drug Testing
  3. Identification of Contraband Materials

3
Deaths Investigated by Toxicologists
  1. Accidental Poisonings
  2. Drug Abuse Cases
  3. Suicidal Poisonings
  4. Homicidal Poisonings

4
Deaths Investigated by Toxicologists
  1. Accidental Poisonings
  2. Drug Abuse Cases
  3. Suicidal Poisonings
  4. Homicidal Poisonings

5
Toxicological Analysis of Tissue
  1. Collect sample of all body fluids
  2. Collect samples from organs and tissues
  3. A forensic toxicologist cannot simply look for
    the presence of a toxin or drug in a body, she
    must understand how the body processes these
    molecules
  4. Toxicological analysis must start as soon as
    possible after a persons death

6
Toxicological Analysis of Tissue
  1. Collect sample of all body fluids
  2. Collect samples from organs and tissues
  3. A forensic toxicologist cannot simply look for
    the presence of a toxin or drug in a body, she
    must understand how the body processes these
    molecules
  4. Toxicological analysis must start as soon as
    possible after a persons death

7
General Classes of Poisons
  • Gases
  • Metallic Poisons
  • Volatile Organics
  • Non-volatile Organics
  • - the major category here is what is known as an
    alkaloid, a drug that mimics human
    neurotransmitters or hormones and therefore
    interferes with normal body chemistry
  • Alkaloids are derived from plants

8
Alkaloids
  • Common Examples
  • Amphetamines stimulants that provoke euphoria
    these drugs mimic catecholamines in the human
    body (adrenaline, etc)
  • Cocaine natural stimulant that acts as a mimic
    to catecholamines metabolites are detected in
    urine for as many as 3 days
  • Opiates depressants that reduce muscle
    activity, heartbeat, respiration, and the
    inclination to sleep effective pain relievers
    and euphoria producing opiates mimic endorphins
    in the human body
  • Cannabinoids fast acting plant alkaloid body
    mimic is unknown metabolites can be detected in
    urine for months

9
Alkaloids
amphetamine
adrenaline
cocaine
serotonin
ecstasy
10
Methods of Detection
  • Color test
  • Microdiffusion test
  • Chromatography
  • a. thin-layer chromatography (TLC)
  • b. gas chromatography (GC)
  • c. high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)
  • Spectroscopy
  • a. UV light d. X-ray
  • b. visible light e. infrared
  • c. microwave

11
Methods of Detection
  • Color test
  • Microdiffusion test
  • Chromatography
  • a. thin-layer chromatography (TLC)
  • b. gas chromatography (GC)
  • c. high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)
  • Spectroscopy
  • a. UV light d. X-ray
  • b. visible light e. infrared
  • c. microwave

12
Methods of Detection
  • Color test
  • Microdiffusion test
  • Chromatography
  • a. thin-layer chromatography (TLC)
  • b. gas chromatography (GC)
  • c. high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)
  • Spectroscopy
  • a. UV light d. X-ray
  • b. visible light e. infrared
  • c. microwave

13
Methods of Detection
  • Color test
  • Microdiffusion test
  • Chromatography
  • a. thin-layer chromatography (TLC)
  • b. gas chromatography (GC)
  • c. high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)
  • Spectroscopy
  • a. UV light d. X-ray
  • b. visible light e. infrared
  • c. microwave

14
Methods of Detection
  • Color test
  • Microdiffusion test
  • Chromatography
  • a. thin-layer chromatography (TLC)
  • b. gas chromatography (GC)
  • c. high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)
  • Spectroscopy
  • a. UV light d. X-ray
  • b. visible light e. infrared
  • c. microwave

15
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16
Methods of Detection
  • Color test
  • Microdiffusion test
  • Chromatography
  • a. thin-layer chromatography (TLC)
  • b. gas chromatography (GC)
  • c. high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)
  • Spectroscopy
  • a. UV light d. X-ray
  • b. visible light e. infrared
  • c. microwave

17
Example UV-vis Spectrum
18
Methods of Detection
  • Color test
  • Microdiffusion test
  • Chromatography
  • a. thin-layer chromatography (TLC)
  • b. gas chromatography (GC)
  • c. high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)
  • Spectroscopy
  • a. UV light d. X-ray
  • b. visible light e. infrared
  • c. microwave

19
Example IR Spectrum
20
Methods of Detection
  1. Mass Spectroscopy
  2. Immunoassay

21
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22
Methods of Detection
  1. Mass Spectroscopy
  2. Immunoassay

23
Interpretation of Findings
  1. Is a drug or poison present? What substance?
  2. How much of the substance is present? Is its
    concentration in the body sufficient to cause
    death?
  3. How was the drug/poison administered?
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