Toxicology Flashcards
Toxicology is the study of the ______ effects of _____ products in ____ and _____.
negative
chemical
humans and animals
The ____ is what differentiates the ____ from the _____.
dose
remedy
poison
What is the difference between intoxicant and poison?
intoxicants need big quantity, otherwise not generally toxic
Poison is always toxic
Ruling out the implication of drugs as implicating drugs because the suspect can ________>
be sent for psychological analysis
What is the role of the forensic toxicologist? 3
1-determine the state of inebriation of an individual
2- determine if the cause of death of an individual was poison
3- determine whether drugs were implicated in a criminal’s actions.
In what type of cases will forensic toxicologists be involved?
suspected suicides driving under the influence suspected overdoses doping in sports murders by poisoning
What will the ME generally send to the lab for examination?
blood and other tissues
Biotransformation (also called ______) is a process in which a _____ is transformed into ________ inside the ____. The product of this process are called _____
mechanism drug another chemical body metabolites
Why does the body perform biotransformation?
eliminate them faster from the body.
Where is biotransformation usually done>
liver
also lungs and kidneys
Toxicologists get samples from … 3
where the drug entered
where the drug concentrates
where the drug gets eliminated
What are the common entry, concentrated and exit spots?
entry: stomach content, tissues around injections
concentrated: brain and liver
exit: breath, urine, stools
Blood:
The most ____.
[ ] _____ well with effects.
Most effective at determining [ ] at ____.
useful
correlates
TOD
Urine and Stomach content:
[ ] ________ well with effects?
do not
Vitreous humor is ______.
it is resistant to _____ and is often the only liquid in a decomposing corpse.
the liquid in the eye
decay
Liver:
can show the presence of drugs or their metabolites when …
______ for timeline.
blood doesnt
not accurate
Hair, fingernails and toenails:
absorbs _______.
Unique ability to ________.
Differentiates between shot and long term ____.
heavy metals
provide intoxicating timeline
poisoning
Instects can help establish ____.
Bone and bone marrow are useful depending on ____ and ____ of bones.
TOD
availability and condition
What are the four manners of death?
Natural, accidental homicidal and suicidal
Name and describe the 5 presumptive tests.
1- color test: change if + 2- Immunoassays: antigens/antibody reaction 3- TLC (thin layer chromatography) 4- Gas Chromatography: chemical makeup 5- UV spectroscopy
Name and describe 2 confirmatory tests.
1- Mass spectronometry GC/MS: breaks down molecule
2- Infrared spectroscopy
What are the four levels of blood?
1- normal = nothing
2- therapeutic = cure
3- toxic = dangerous side effects
4- lethal LD50 (50 people would die out of 100)
What is the difference between acute vs chronique poisoning?
acute appears withing hours or days
Alcholo:
physically ___, _____ can be dangerous.
Legal limit ____, coma ____, death ____.
Alchol content in your ____ correlates _____.
_______ can help determine blood alcohol level ____ hours before death.
addictive, withdrawal 0.08, 0.30. 0.40 lungs blood levels vitreous humor 1-2
Depressants are divided in two catergories…
Other name for depressants?
opiates
brabiturates
downers
Opiates:
Natural (_____&____), synthetic (_____) semi-synthetic (______). ____ indice sleep and ____ pain relief.
Effects: ____, _____, ____ and ______. Caused by _______- death by ______.
Tests used?
morphine and codeine fentanyl heroin Sedative, analgesic euphoria, lethargy, coma, death suppression of respiratory center brain = asphyxia marquis
Barbiturates: Hypnotics or \_\_\_\_ pills such as \_\_\_\_\_\_. Sodium thipental (\_\_\_\_\_\_\_) suppress \_\_\_\_, coma and death. \_\_\_\_ test is used.
sleeping phenobarbital or pentobarbital truth serum respiration color
Stimulants:
The most commmon are______, _____ and _____.
It increases ______, decreases/suppresess ____ and _____.
Continued use causes _____, ______, _____, ____, _____ and _____.
It can also cause physical fatigue and exhaustion.
______ (body gets used to the dose and lessen effects).
What are the tests ? 3
amphetamine (crank), methamphetamine and cocaine
alertness - fatigue appetite
irritability, anxiety, aggression, paranoia, fatigue and depression.
Tachylaxis
urine tests, immunoassays, colour tests for cocaine.
What are the 5 hallucinogens ?
marijuana, cacti, mushrooms, LSP, PCP
Marijuana:
active ingredient is _______ (acronyme ___)
It is usually about _____%, except in its oil extract (called ____) then ____%
Causes ___, ____, _____ and even ______ selon researches.
Urine tests show positive results up to _____ after use or passive exposure.
tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) 2-6 Hashish (12) euphoria, sedation, impaired judgment and schizophrenia 2 months
Cacti:
____ cactus. Active ingredient is ____. Tests using ___ and ______.
Mexican
mescaline
TLC or GC
Mushrooms:
Active ingredients are ____ and ____.
Tests? 3
psilocin and psilocybin
color tests, TLC and GC/MS
Date-rape drug: Examples are \_\_\_\_\_, \_\_\_\_, \_\_\_ and \_\_\_\_\_. Causes \_\_\_\_, \_\_\_\_\_, \_\_\_\_\_\_ and \_\_\_\_\_. Why hard to determine the dose? Tests?
ketamine, ecstasy (amphetamine), Rohypnol, GHB.
sedation, compliance, poor judgment, amnesia
often combined with other products
GC/MS
Household products:
Examples: ___, ____, ______, _____, _______.
Causes: ____, ____, ____, ____, ____, ___.
Permenant damage to ___, ___, ___, ____.
Hard to find because excreted through ____.
glue, gasoline, mothballs (naphthalene), paint thinners (toluene), nitrous oxide (laughing gas).
giddiness, euphoria, dizziness, vomiting, coma, death.
brain, liver, heart, kidneys.
lungs
Steroids:
people use it for: 3
causes: 4
muscle growth, increased strength, improved reflexes.
impotence, hair loss, liver damage, aggressive behaviours.
Poison Cyanide:
Enters body via ____, _____ or _____.
Damages _______, so the blood of the victims become _____.
inhalation, ingestion, skin contact
internal working of cells
cherry red
Poison Strychnine:
Commonly known as _____.
Has a ___ taste and causes _______, so death by ____.
rat-poison
bitter, contraction of all muscles, asphyxiation.
Poison mushrooms:
____ mushrooms, one mushroom kills.
often implicated in ______.
Severe damage to ____.
amanita
accidental poisoning
liver
Poison Ethylene Glycol:
found in _____.
Use by alcoholics when they cant find _____.
What does it do in the body?
anti-freeze
ethanol
oxalate crystals in the brain and kidneys
Poison oxalic acid:
Irritate _____, _____ and _____.
causes ______, ______ and death.
mouth esophagus and GI tract
cardiac arrests, kidney problems
Heavy metals poison:
Examples:
Causes ___ injury such as ___, ____ and ___.
Damages ____, ___, ____.
mercury, aresnic, lead
GI - vommiting, diarrhea, nausea.
kidneys, liver and brain
Insulin:
Overdose causes _____ which is the ___ nutrition.
Death is ____.
Why difficult to determine as homicide?
dramatic drop in sugar - brain
quick
diabetics
Succinyl Choline poison:
Causes _____, which causes death by _____.
Testing requires finding _____.
paralyzes all muscles
asphyxia
metabolites
Corrosive chemicals poisons: Strong \_\_\_ or \_\_\_\_. Severe \_\_\_ or \_\_\_\_ on the mouth and GI tract. Causes severe \_\_\_\_, \_\_\_\_ and death. Often in cases of :
acids or alkalis
burn corrode tissues
shock bleeding
accidental children poisoning
NAme 4 other well known poisons:
risin, botox, radioactive substance, biological weapons (viruses and bacterias)
What are the two poisons that were used in executions?
Succinyl choline and Cyanide
What are the different forms that drugs can take at at the crime scene? 7
trace, powder, liquids, stains, pills, plant material, in paper and food (candy).
What is the weight tests?
determines if enough material to perform all or a few tests
Why do we use presumptive tests?
Gives an idea of what it could be so determines the confirmatory tests that will be used.
