CONCEPTUALIZING TOXICOLOGY 14-1 Forensic Toxicity Testing

I. Forensic toxicity testing A. Analytic chemistry melded with organ damage consistent with the compound and concentration found (consonance of data) 1. Most intentional poisoning deaths suicide; most unintentional poisoning deaths from overdose of opioids and cocaine; toxicity from ethanol, drugs of abuse, overuse of medications lead car crash causes; unintentional nonfatal poisonings causes by opioids benzodiazepines 2. Most exposures were oral 3. Sampling of tissues a. Living being is preferred as death results in tissue destruction, possible loss of toxicant, and redistribution of toxicant (from organ to plasma resulting in false poisoning indication if plasma is the key item utilized) For humans: take 15 mL of blood for ethanol/toxicants Take 30 mL urine for metabolites Hair samples (pulled not cut) for drugs of abuse (e.g., methamphetamine in child’s hair from house manufacturing this drug) → extraction with HCl → enzymatic treatment (Pronase or -glucuronidase) → hot CH3OH extraction → hot NaOH disintegration and extraction Metals → urine, blood, and hair samples possibly fingernails (As especially) Teeth for chronic exposure to Pb in children