Toxicology Flashcards by Élorie Jacques

Toxicology is the study of the ______ effects of _____ products in ____ and _____.

negative
chemical
humans and animals

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The ____ is what differentiates the ____ from the _____.

dose
remedy
poison

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What is the difference between intoxicant and poison?

intoxicants need big quantity, otherwise not generally toxic
Poison is always toxic

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Ruling out the implication of drugs as implicating drugs because the suspect can ________>

be sent for psychological analysis

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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.

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In what type of cases will forensic toxicologists be involved?

suspected suicides 
driving under the influence 
suspected overdoses
doping in sports 
murders by poisoning

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What will the ME generally send to the lab for examination?

blood and other tissues

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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

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Why does the body perform biotransformation?

eliminate them faster from the body.

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Where is biotransformation usually done>

liver

also lungs and kidneys

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Toxicologists get samples from … 3

where the drug entered
where the drug concentrates
where the drug gets eliminated

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What are the common entry, concentrated and exit spots?

entry: stomach content, tissues around injections
concentrated: brain and liver
exit: breath, urine, stools

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Blood:
The most ____.
[ ] _____ well with effects.
Most effective at determining [ ] at ____.

useful
correlates
TOD

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Urine and Stomach content:

[ ] ________ well with effects?

do not

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Vitreous humor is ______.

it is resistant to _____ and is often the only liquid in a decomposing corpse.

the liquid in the eye

decay

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Liver:
can show the presence of drugs or their metabolites when …
______ for timeline.

blood doesnt

not accurate

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Hair, fingernails and toenails:
absorbs _______.
Unique ability to ________.
Differentiates between shot and long term ____.

heavy metals
provide intoxicating timeline
poisoning

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Instects can help establish ____.

Bone and bone marrow are useful depending on ____ and ____ of bones.

TOD

availability and condition

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What are the four manners of death?

Natural, accidental homicidal and suicidal

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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.