6-1©2011, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

FORENSIC SCIENCE: An Introduction, 2nd ed.By Richard Saferstein

Warm-Up: Find the 6 differences between the two pictures.

Source: http://www.slylockfox.com/arcade/6diff/index.html

6-2©2011, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

FORENSIC SCIENCE: An Introduction, 2nd ed.By Richard Saferstein

The answers are …

Source: http://www.slylockfox.com/arcade/6diff/index.html

Answers: Feed, boy’s hair, bird’s legs, bucket, dog’s collar, duck’s wing

6-3©2011, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

FORENSIC SCIENCE: An Introduction, 2nd ed.By Richard Saferstein

Objective• SWBAT understand the difficulty in

isolating toxins in human tissues.

6-4©2011, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

FORENSIC SCIENCE: An Introduction, 2nd ed.By Richard Saferstein

Agenda1. Toxicology

2. Toxicity

3. Poison

4. Alcohol

5. Dr. Shipman Documentary

6. Pick Your Poison

7. Exit Slip

6-5©2011, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

FORENSIC SCIENCE: An Introduction, 2nd ed.By Richard Saferstein

FORENSIC TOXICOLOGY

Chapter 6

6-6©2011, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

FORENSIC SCIENCE: An Introduction, 2nd ed.By Richard Saferstein

6

Toxicology

Toxicology—the study of the adverse effects of chemicals or physical agents on living organisms. Video

Types:

Environmental—air, water, soil

Consumer—foods, cosmetics, drugs

Medical, clinical, forensic

6-7©2011, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

FORENSIC SCIENCE: An Introduction, 2nd ed.By Richard Saferstein

Toxicologists• Toxicologists are charged with the

responsibility for detecting and identifying the presence of drugs and poisons in body fluids, tissues, and organs. Video

• Toxicologists not only work in crime laboratories and medical examiners’ offices, but may also reach into hospital laboratories and health facilities to identify a drug overdose or monitor the intake of drugs.

6-8©2011, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

FORENSIC SCIENCE: An Introduction, 2nd ed.By Richard Saferstein

Mathieu Orfilia – Father of Tox• The father of toxicology was Mathieu

Orfilia in the early 1800’s .

• His work mainly centered around arsenic.

• It was relatively easy to get because it was the rat poison of the day and was the favorite murder weapon among poor people.

6-9©2011, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

FORENSIC SCIENCE: An Introduction, 2nd ed.By Richard Saferstein

Intoxicant vs. Poison:• An intoxicant such as alcohol requires

that a relatively large amount be added to be lethal.

• A poison, like cyanide, requires a relatively small amount to be fatal.

6-10©2011, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

FORENSIC SCIENCE: An Introduction, 2nd ed.By Richard Saferstein

10

Forensic Toxicology found in

Postmortem—medical examiner or coroner

Criminal—motor vehicle accidents (MVA)

Workplace—drug testing

Sports—human and animals

Environment—industrial, catastrophic,

terrorism. Video link

6-11©2011, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

FORENSIC SCIENCE: An Introduction, 2nd ed.By Richard Saferstein

Environmental Example: Love Canal New York

An example of where forensic toxicology impacts the population is the Love Canal Disaster. Video

6-12©2011, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

FORENSIC SCIENCE: An Introduction, 2nd ed.By Richard Saferstein

12

Toxicology

Toxic substances may:

*Be a cause of death

*Contribute to death

*Cause impairment

*Explain behavior

6-13©2011, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

FORENSIC SCIENCE: An Introduction, 2nd ed.By Richard Saferstein

Life Example: Carbon Monoxide:

Video Link

6-14©2011, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

FORENSIC SCIENCE: An Introduction, 2nd ed.By Richard Saferstein

14

Aspects of Toxicity

Dosage

The chemical or physical form of the substance

The mode of entry into the body

Body weight and physiological conditions of the victim, including age and sex

The time period of exposure

The presence of other chemicals in the body or in the dose

6-15©2011, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

FORENSIC SCIENCE: An Introduction, 2nd ed.By Richard Saferstein

15

Lethal Dose

LD50 refers to the dose of a substance that kills half the test population, usually within four hours. Testing is usually done on animals that compare well to humans metabolism.

Expressed in milligrams of substance per kilogram of body weight

6-16©2011, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

FORENSIC SCIENCE: An Introduction, 2nd ed.By Richard Saferstein

16

Toxicity Classification

LD50 (rat,oral) Correlation to Ingestion by 150-lb Adult Human

Toxicity

<1 mg/kg a taste to a drop extreme

1–50 mg/kg to a teaspoon high

50–500 mg/kg to an ounce moderate

500–5,000 mg/kg to a pint slight

5–15 g/kg to a quart practically nontoxic

Over 15 g/kg more than 1 quart relatively harmless

6-17©2011, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

FORENSIC SCIENCE: An Introduction, 2nd ed.By Richard Saferstein

17

Symptoms of Various Types of Poisoning

Type of Poison1. Caustic poison (lye) Characteristic burns around the

lips and mouth of victim

2. Carbon monoxide Red or pink patches on the chest and thigh, unusually bright red lividity

3. Sulfuric acid Black vomit

4. Hydrochloric acid Greenish-brown vomit

5. Cyanide- Seizures, Burnt almond odor

6. Arsenic diarrhea, vomiting, blood in the urine, cramping muscles, stomach pain, and convulsions.

7. Methyl (wood) or isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol Nausea and vomiting, unconsciousness possibly blindness

6-18©2011, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

FORENSIC SCIENCE: An Introduction, 2nd ed.By Richard Saferstein

18

To Prove a Case

Prove a crime was committed

Motive

Intent

Access to poison

Access to victim

Death was homicidal

Death was caused by poison

6-19©2011, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

FORENSIC SCIENCE: An Introduction, 2nd ed.By Richard Saferstein

• http://www.slideshare.net/elisthom/forensic-toxicology-ppt

6-20©2011, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

FORENSIC SCIENCE: An Introduction, 2nd ed.By Richard Saferstein

20

Alcohol—Ethyl Alcohol (C2H5OH)

Most abused drug in America

About 40 percent of all traffic deaths are alcohol-related. Acts as a depressant

Toxic—affecting the central nervous system, especially the brain

Colorless liquid, generally diluted in water

Alcohol appears in blood within minutes; 30–90 minutes for full absorption

Detoxification—about 90 percent in the liver

6-21©2011, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

FORENSIC SCIENCE: An Introduction, 2nd ed.By Richard Saferstein

Introduction• A major branch of

forensic toxicology deals with the measurement of alcohol in the body for matters that pertain to violations of criminal law.

6-22©2011, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

FORENSIC SCIENCE: An Introduction, 2nd ed.By Richard Saferstein

Alcohol & Circulatory System• Alcohol is absorbed from the stomach and

small intestines into the blood stream.

• Alcohol is carried to the liver where the process of its destruction starts.

6-23©2011, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

FORENSIC SCIENCE: An Introduction, 2nd ed.By Richard Saferstein

Toxicology of Alcohol• The analysis of alcohol exemplifies the primary

objective of forensic toxicology—the detection and isolation of drugs in the body for the purpose of determining their influence on human behavior.

• Alcohol, or ethyl alcohol, is a colorless liquid normally diluted with water and consumed as a beverage.

6-24©2011, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

FORENSIC SCIENCE: An Introduction, 2nd ed.By Richard Saferstein

Breath Testers• Breath testers that

operate on the principle of infrared light absorption are becoming increasingly popular within the law enforcement community.

6-25©2011, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

FORENSIC SCIENCE: An Introduction, 2nd ed.By Richard Saferstein

Alcohol and Law• To prevent a person’s refusal to take a test for

alcohol consumption, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommended an “implied consent” law.

• Adopted by all states by 1973, this law states that the operation of a motor vehicle on a public highway automatically carries with it the stipulation that a driver will submit for a test for alcohol intoxication if requested or be subject to loss of the license.

6-26©2011, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

FORENSIC SCIENCE: An Introduction, 2nd ed.By Richard Saferstein

Gas Chromatography Testing• Gas chromatography offers the toxicologist the

most widely used approach for determining alcohol levels in blood.

6-27©2011, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

FORENSIC SCIENCE: An Introduction, 2nd ed.By Richard Saferstein

Gas Chromatography Testing• Blood must always be drawn under medically

accepted conditions by a qualified individual.

• It is important that a nonalcoholic disinfectant be applied before the suspect’s skin is penetrated with a sterile needle or lancet.

• Once blood is removed from an individual, its preservation is best ensured when it is sealed in an airtight container after an anticoagulant and a preservative have been added and stored in a refrigerator.

6-28©2011, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

FORENSIC SCIENCE: An Introduction, 2nd ed.By Richard Saferstein

The Confirmation Step• The GC separates the sample into its

components, while the MS represents a unique “fingerprint” pattern that can be used for identification.

• Once the drug is extracted and identified, the toxicologist may be required to provide an opinion on the drug’s effect on an individual’s natural performance or physical state.

6-29©2011, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

FORENSIC SCIENCE: An Introduction, 2nd ed.By Richard Saferstein

Dr. Shipman Documentary1. How many people did Dr. Shipman

murder and how did he murder them?

2. What caused the funeral directors to become suspicious?

3. What information did doctors request in order to decide if Dr. Shipman was killing his patients and what did they find from this information?

6-30©2011, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

FORENSIC SCIENCE: An Introduction, 2nd ed.By Richard Saferstein

Pick Your Poison Project

6-31©2011, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

FORENSIC SCIENCE: An Introduction, 2nd ed.By Richard Saferstein

Homework• Chapter 6 Review

6-32©2011, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

FORENSIC SCIENCE: An Introduction, 2nd ed.By Richard Saferstein

Exit Slip – November 4, 2014• Go to m.socrative.com and enter 417101.

• Question: What are the best tissues to sample for poisons?