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?