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    Forensic Toxicology: DR Sagal Omar Anatomical Pathologist

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    Cabdi
    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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    Forensic Toxicology: DR Sagal Omar Anatomical Pathologist

    Uploaded by

    Cabdi
    150 views16 pages
    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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    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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    Download as pptx, pdf, or txt
    150 views16 pages

    Forensic Toxicology: DR Sagal Omar Anatomical Pathologist

    Uploaded by

    Cabdi
    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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    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
    6
    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

    10
    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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