Toxicology - Forensic Science - Lecture Slides, Slides of Forensics

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Toxicology

Toxicology

 The study of poisons and the

identification of drugs that may have been

used for medicinal, recreational, or illegal

purposes.

Exposure

 Ingestion

 Inhalation

 Injection

 Absorption

Exposure

 Can be:

◦ Intentional ◦ Accidental ◦ Deliberate

Murder

 Less than one percent of homicides result

from poisoning.

 Most common agents are arsenic, cyanide,

strychnine, and fertilizers.

 Accidental overdoses are much more

common.

Acute or Chronic

 Acute poisoning is caused by a high dose

in a short time which produces

immediate symptoms.

◦ Cyanide

 Chronic poisoning is lower doses over a

longer time which produce gradual

symptoms

◦ Mercury or Lead

Organic toxins

 Poisonous substances produces by living

organisms.

◦ Bee Sting ◦ Snake bite

Bacterial Toxins

 Botulism

◦ Most poisonous biological agent known ◦ Neurotoxin that paralyzes muscles ◦ Toxic in small amounts ◦ If caught early an antitoxin is available ◦ From contaminated food or bacterial spores ◦ Current uses????

Heavy Metals and Pesticides

 Pesticides

◦ Accumulate in fat causing anxiety, seizures, twitching, weakness, sweating, diarrhea, rapid heartbeat, coma, and death

 Lead

◦ Nausea, stomach pain, headache, weight loss, anemia, kidney problems, seizure, coma, death

Heavy Metals and Pesticides

 Mercury

◦ Acute---flu like symptoms ◦ Chronic: personality changes, irritability, memory and balance problems, damage to gums, teeth, and mouth. Can cause death.

 Cyanide

◦ Fatal in 6-8 minutes ◦ Weakness, confusion, coma, and pink skin ◦ Almond odor

Pesticides

 Strychnine

◦ Spasms, increased temperature, convulsions, and rigor mortis within minutes.

Bioterrorism

 Ricin

◦ Results from production of castor oil. ◦ Tiny amount can be fatal ◦ Can be inhaled, ingested, or injected ◦ Prevents cells from making proteins which causes cell death ◦ Symptoms appear 6-8 hours later.  Fever, cough, nausea, vomiting, bloody urine, low blood pressure, hallucinations, convulsions, death

Mary Ansell (1899)

 Killed her sister with a phosphorus laced

cake to collect life insurance

 Proof of the phosphorus purchase as well

as the life insurance policy led to her

conviction and execution

Eva Rablen (1929)

 Feed her husband strychnine-laced coffee

while he waited for her in the car.

 Identified as having purchased the poison

 Pled guilty to avoid the death penalty