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 a.Collect sample of all body fluids b.Collect samples from organs and tissues c.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 d.Toxicological analysis must start as soon as possible after a person’s death

6. Toxicological Analysis of Tissue a.Collect sample of all body fluids b.Collect samples from organs and tissues c.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 d.Toxicological analysis must start as soon as possible after a person’s death

7. General Classes of Poisons 1.Gases 2.Metallic Poisons 3.Volatile Organics 4.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 adrenaline amphetamine cocaine ecstasy serotonin

10. Methods of Detection 1.Color test 2.Microdiffusion test 3.Chromatography a. thin-layer chromatography (TLC) b. gas chromatography (GC) c. high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) 4.Spectroscopy a. UV lightd. X-ray b. visible lighte. infrared c. microwave

11. Methods of Detection 1.Color test 2.Microdiffusion test 3.Chromatography a. thin-layer chromatography (TLC) b. gas chromatography (GC) c. high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) 4.Spectroscopy a. UV lightd. X-ray b. visible lighte. infrared c. microwave

12. Methods of Detection 1.Color test 2.Microdiffusion test 3.Chromatography a. thin-layer chromatography (TLC) b. gas chromatography (GC) c. high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) 4.Spectroscopy a. UV lightd. X-ray b. visible lighte. infrared c. microwave

13. Methods of Detection 1.Color test 2.Microdiffusion test 3.Chromatography a. thin-layer chromatography (TLC) b. gas chromatography (GC) c. high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) 4.Spectroscopy a. UV lightd. X-ray b. visible lighte. infrared c. microwave

14. Methods of Detection 1.Color test 2.Microdiffusion test 3.Chromatography a. thin-layer chromatography (TLC) b. gas chromatography (GC) c. high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) 4.Spectroscopy a. UV lightd. X-ray b. visible lighte. infrared c. microwave

16. Methods of Detection 1.Color test 2.Microdiffusion test 3.Chromatography a. thin-layer chromatography (TLC) b. gas chromatography (GC) c. high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) 4.Spectroscopy a. UV lightd. X-ray b. visible lighte. infrared c. microwave

17. Example UV-vis Spectrum

18. Methods of Detection 1.Color test 2.Microdiffusion test 3.Chromatography a. thin-layer chromatography (TLC) b. gas chromatography (GC) c. high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) 4.Spectroscopy a. UV lightd. X-ray b. visible lighte. infrared c. microwave

19. Example IR Spectrum

20. Methods of Detection 5.Mass Spectroscopy 6.Immunoassay

22. Methods of Detection 5.Mass Spectroscopy 6.Immunoassay

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