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Forensic Toxicology: DR Sagal Omar Anatomical Pathologist

Forensic toxicology is the application of toxicology to legal investigations. It involves analyzing biological samples to identify and quantify toxins, determine the route of administration, and interpret the results. A forensic toxicologist investigates cases of suspected poisoning to determine whether the cause was suicide, homicide, accident, or natural. They collect and test samples like blood, urine, stomach contents and tissues to isolate, detect, identify and quantify any toxic substances present. The results are crucial for determining the manner and cause of death or illness.

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206 views16 pages

Forensic Toxicology: DR Sagal Omar Anatomical Pathologist

Forensic toxicology is the application of toxicology to legal investigations. It involves analyzing biological samples to identify and quantify toxins, determine the route of administration, and interpret the results. A forensic toxicologist investigates cases of suspected poisoning to determine whether the cause was suicide, homicide, accident, or natural. They collect and test samples like blood, urine, stomach contents and tissues to isolate, detect, identify and quantify any toxic substances present. The results are crucial for determining the manner and cause of death or illness.

Uploaded by

Cabdi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Forensic toxicology

Dr Sagal Omar
Anatomical pathologist
Forensic Toxicology

Toxicology is the study of the toxic or adverse effects of various


substances on living organisms

Forensic toxicology the application of the study or science of poisons


(toxic substances) to law

2
Forensic Toxicology

Activities of a forensic toxicology in forensic investigation


comprises of applying analytical investigations which will draw on
the following disciplines:-

• Analytical chemistry
• Pharmacology
• Clinical chemistry

3
Forensic Toxicology
• Focus of a FTI will be based on the fact that there have not been
previous history of illness prior to the sickness or death.
• Homicidal deaths have the greatest medico-legal significance
although more and more cases of chemical administration are as
a result of suicides or accidents.
1 CI: self, attempted homicide, accidental, or environmental?
2. FTI: suicide, homicide, therapeutic misadventure ( allergy,
operative/ anesthetic, accidental overdose), environmental or
lastly, disease/natural causes
4
Forensic Toxicology

For poisoning to occur the following activities must take place:

• Chemical, physical or biological agent capable of producing a result


• Biological system ( target organ or area) for interaction
• Response that can be considered harmful to the biological system

5
Forensic and Clinical Toxicology
Classification of poisons

1. Agricultural
• Insecticides e.g. OP’s (malathion)
• Herbicides e.g. paraquat (gramoxone, weedol) & diquat
• Rodenticides (e.g. thallium, phosphorous etc)

2. Industrial
• Hydrocarbons e.g. paraffin, benzene
• Corrosives (acids & alkalis) e.g. methanol, ethanol
• Heavy metals e.g. mercury, arsenic, lead
• Gases e.g. CO, cyanide
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Forensic and Clinical Toxicology
3. Household poisons
• Cosmetics
• Insecticides
• Medicine & prescribed drugs e.g. Aspirin
• Food poisons

4. Drugs of recreational abuse


• Alcohol
• Narcotic & hallucinogenic drugs e.g. cocaine

7
Forensic and Clinical Toxicology
5. Plant poisons

• Certain mushrooms
• Herbal toxins

6. Animal poisons

• Insects e.g. spiders, scorpions, bees


• Reptiles especially snakes

8
Routes
• Ingestion (oral)
• Injection
• Inhalation
• Dermal exposure (skin)

Pathologists and doctors should therefore consider route of administration,


transport medium, target organ metabolic/destructive/excretory organs.

9
Specimens to collect

1. Clinical toxicology

blood
vomit
gastric lavage /wash
urine
fecal matter

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Specimens to collect

2. Forensic toxicology

blood
whole stomach and contents
liver
urine
intestinal contents (duodenum or small intestines)
fecal matter
11
• Depending on the history of the case other specimens of relevance
may include:

kidney
lungs, pancreas, bile
injection site, saliva
nails
hair
brain
Vitreous humour
cerebrospinal fluid
12
Other relevant submissions
Toxicological investigations will also consider other relevant
information or samples

• Physical evidence at the scene of incidence like tablets, glasses,


food, syringes, powders etc
• Physical symptoms noted at the scene of incident e.g. vomiting,
hyperventilation, comatose condition etc
• History behind the incident (contact with other people, location
which may be a factory/plant)

13
Analytical process

The AP will take the following path

• ISOLATION of the toxic substance


• DETECTION of the toxic substance
• IDENTIFICATION of the toxic substance
• QUANTITATION of the toxic substance
• INTERPRETATION of the obtained result

14
Challenges
1. Identification of ingested material
2. Digestion or metabolism products (byproducts)
3. Reclaimability of substance from injection site
4. Dilution of substance by dispersal through the body
5. Determination of route of administration
6. Quantity and quality of specimens

15
THE END

16

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