FORENSIC

TOXICOLOGY
CHRISTIAN G. DOMINGO, RCr., MCJ, PGDip-AC
INSTRUCTOR
 BASIC CONCEPTS
• TOXICOLOGY - is a sicentific study of poisons, their nature, properties,
effects, and detection and the treatment in case of poisoning.

• POISON - a substance that when introduced into or absorbed by a

living orgnanism casuses death or injury.

• ADVERSE EFFECTS - refers to the injury caused by poison

• APPROPRIATE CONDITION - the dosage of the substance that is

sufficient to cause adverse effect.
 BASIC CONCEPTS

• POSOLOGY - science which deals with the study of the dosage of medicine
to be within a certain period.

• DOSE - the quantity of medicine to be administered at one time.

• MEDICINE - any subtance which can be administered to correct or alleviate

the disease or disorder state of the system.

• ANTIDOTE - any agent that neutralizes a poison or otherwise counteracts or

opposes its effects.
 IMPORTANCE OF TOXICOLOGY
• To verify if it is a case of poisoning
• To be able to treat as the occasion demands
• To forward justice

• NOTE: The reason for the application of

Toxicology is to determine the presence of
volatile, non-volatile and metallic poisons in
case of alleged poisoning.
 TYPES OF POISON
• TRUE POISON - one that is still poison no matter
how diluted it is. Ex. Hydrogen Cyanide (HCN)

• CORROSIVE POISON - one which by contact with

it chemically produces local destruction of
tissues. Ex. Nitric Acid, Mercuric Chloride-Acid

• CUMULATIVE POISON - one that increases

suddenly in its intensity of action after gradual
additions of it. Ex. Arsenic
 TYPES OF POISONING
ACUTE POISONING CHRONIC POISONING

- one which there is prompt and - one in which there is a gradual

marked disturbance of function or deterioration of functions of tissues
death within a shorter period of time and may or may not result in death. It
and is due to; ma be produced by;

1. taking a strong poison 1. taking several small doses at long

2. excessive single dose intervals
3. several doses, small but frequent 2. taking only toxic doses of the drug
 EVIDENCE OF POISONING
CIRCUMSTANTIAL OR MORAL - an evidence deduced from occurence of facts or circumstances.
EVIDENCE Ex. motives for poisoning, purchasing the poison, keeping the
materials. This is not strong evidence.

SYMPTOMATIC EVIDENCE - this includes the symptoms observed during the poisoning. This is
not conclusive because some disease may show similar symptoms
as those of poisoning. Ex. Arsenic poisoning is like cholera; alcoholic
coma may stimulate diabetic coma

CHEMICAL EVIDENCE - obtained by chemical analysis of the suspected substance.

POST MORTEM EVIDENCE - this evidence is obtained from an examination of the tissues and
organs after death.

EXPERIMENTAL EVIDENCE - is obtained by administering the suspected susbtance to some

living animal and noting the effect or symptoms. This alone is also
not conclusive because the tolerance may not be of a man.
 THREE MAJOR CASE LOAD AREAS

• POLICE CASES - toxicological aspect of criminal investigations

• POST-MORTEM CASES - analytical studies in support of the medical

examiner to determine the cause of death

• DRUG ABUSE CASES - resulting from the illegal use of drugs

 METHODS OF EXAMINATION
ISOLATION IDENTIFICATION

- submitted specimen is in pure form, the poison must be

first isolated. Thus poison may be classified according to - method employed for the identification of specific poison
their method of isolation as; like Spectrophotometer and Gas Chromatograph

1. VOLATILE - isolated by extraction with alcohol and

chloroform

2. NON-VOLATILE - isolated by etxraction with organic

solvents and alkaloids

3. METALLIC POISONS - poisons such as arsenic, mercury and

lead
VOLATILE SUBSTANCE
NON-VOLATILE SUBSTANCE
METALLIC POISON
 ELEMENTS OF POISONING
1. Poison
2. The poisoned organism
3. The injury to the cells
4. The symptoms and the signs of
death
 CLASSIFICATION OF POISONS
• BASED ON ITS ORIGIN
1. ANIMAL/TOXIN - produced by living organism stimulating
antibodies.

2. VEGETABLE - poison ivy and jimsonweed plants

3. MINERAL - hydrochloric acid, caustic alkalai

4. MICROBIAL - produced by microscopic organism. Ex, bacteria,

funji

5. SYNTHETIC - manufactured by Chemist such as drugs,

pesticides as well as chemical purified from natural sources
such as metals from ores and solvents from gasoline.
• ACCORDING TO CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
1. VOLATILE POISONS
2. NON-VOLATILE
3. ANIONS
4. METALLIC
• ACCORDING TO PHYSICAL FORM
1. SOLID
2. LIQUID
3. GAS
4. VAPOR
5. AEROSOL
• ACCORDING TO ACTION
1. IRRITANTS - by direct contact, this poison inflames the mucous
membrane or the parts when it comes in contact with resulting to
nausea, vomiting, pain and diarrhea. Ex. bromine, chloride
2. CORROSIVE - by direct contact, chemically produces local
destruction of tissues. Ex. Phenol, Caustic Soda, HNO3
3. NEUROTICS - those that affect the central nervous system. Ex.
alcohol, tobacco, opium
4. AESTHETICS/EXHAUSTIVE - causes marked loss of vital or muscular
power or general weakness.
• ACCORDING TO THEIR EFFECTS ON THE BODY/TARGET SITES

1. Those which cause local destruction (skin) - phenol, HCl

2. Blood poisons - Carbon Monoxide, Hydrogen Cyanide

3. Nervous Poisons (nervous system) - alcohol, tobacco, opium

4. Cardiac Poisons (cardiovascular system) - stop the heart beat -

digitalis, antipyrine
 SOLUBILITY & DILLUTION OF POISON
SOLUBILITY OF THE DRUGS DILLUTION
- In order for a substance to act as a poison, it - Generally, when a poison is deluted, the
must be capable of forming solution and absorption is rapid, thus, resulting to intense
readily absorbed by the blood. toxic effects. An exception to this in the case
of corrosive poisons.
Ex. Barium Chloride - readily soluble and is
extremely toxic - Corrosive poisons produce less toxic effect
Barium Sulfate - insoluble when diluted.
 ENTRANCE AND ELEMINATION OF POISONS
POISON MAY ENTER THE BODY THROUGH: THEY MAYBE ELIMINATED BY:

- Mouth - Emesis

- Skin - Respiration

- Nose and Eyes - Feces

- Rectum and Vagina - Urine

- Hpodermically - Milk

- Intraveneously -Sweat, Saliva and Tears

 DOSE
(Its concept is important. Whether a drug acts as therapy or poison, it will depend on the dose.
Even water is poisonous if too much is ingested.)

• SAFE DOSE - does not cause harmful effects.

• MINIMUM DOSE - smallest amount of medicine that can produce the desired
theraputic effect without causing harm.

• MAXIMUM DOSE - largest amount that will cause no injury bu the same time
produce the desired theraputic effects.

• TOXIC OR POISONOUS - one that is harmful both to the healthy and the sick.

• LETHAL OR FATAL DOSE - a dose that kills

 ANTIDOTES
(neutralizes or counteracts or opooses effects of poison)

• To act as an antidote, it may;

1. Remove the poison from the body

2. It may mechanically prevent its absorption

3. It may change the physical state or chemical composition

4. It may act upon the functions of the body so as to overcome the

effcets of its absorption
 KINDS OF ANTIDOTES
CHEMICAL OR TRUE OR SPECIFIC - one that makes the poison harmless by chemically altering it.

MECHANICAL OR ANTIDOTAL - an agent that removes the poison without changing it; coats the surface of the
MEASURE organ so that absorption is prevented. (Ex. Stomach tube and pump,
precipitants, ligatures, washes, injections poultries)

PHYSIOLOGICAL ANTIDOTE, - an agent that acts upon the system so as to counteract the effects of the
SYMPTOMATIC poison. (Ex. chloral for strycine convulsions)

EMETICS - an agent that causes vomiting

CATHARTIC - an agent that produces intestinal evacuation

DEMULCENT - an agent that forms a protective film, soothes and protects the parts where
demulcent is applied

PRECIPITANTS - substances that prevent absorption of poisons by precipitating them and

rendering the insoluble.
 CAUSES OF DEATH IN POISONING
• Cardiac failure
• Respiratory failure
• General devitalizing
• Shock to the nervous system
THANK YOU...