Forensic Chemistry and Toxicology

Welvor B Ilaygan
 Definition of terms:
• Chemistry- branch of science that deals with matter, its
properties and the changes it undergoes.
• Forensics- scientific method or techniques used in the
elucidation of legal problems.
• Forensic Chemistry- branch of Chemistry that deals with
the application of chemical knowledge and principles
used as a solution of legal problems in connection with
the administration of justice.
• Forensic Chemist- a person that practices Forensic
Chemistry to aid in an investigation to solve legal
problems.
 Definition of terms:

• Toxicology- branch of science that defines the

nature, effects and detection of substance
that is present to a specific matter.
• Forensic Toxicology-is the use of Toxicology
principles to aid Medico legal investigations of
deaths and poisoning.
• Forensic Specialist- a person that practices
forensics such as; DNA Examiner, Ballistician,
Forensic photographer and etc.
 Forensic Toxicology
• Applicable and sometimes overlaps with other
areas such as
• clinical toxicology, environmental toxicology and
veterinary toxicology,
• criminology, forensic psychology,
• drug testing and sports medicine,
• Pathology and pharmacology
Forensic Laboratories in the Philippines

• PNP Crime Laboratory

• NBI Crime Laboratory
• Other Lab
• PDEA Laboratory Service
• UP-PGH National Poison Control
 Founding Father of Forensic

• Dr Edmund Loccard,
• French criminologist,
• the father of modern forensics.
• He established the world`s first crime
laboratory in Lyons, France (1910);
headed that lab until 1951.
• He formulates the Loccard exchange
principle:
• whenever two objects come in
contract with each other, they transfer
material from one to the other.
 Founding Father of Forensic
Chemistry and Toxicology
• Prof Matheiu Orfila,
• Spanish toxicologist, chemist, medical
professor in France
• father of modern forensic Toxicology
• testify in court as expert witness
• against Madam Marie Lafarge, after
poisoning her husband, Charles Lafarge
with Arsenic.
• uses the chemical technique “Marsch
test” to identify arsenic from the body
of Charles LaFarge.
 Early Practice of Forensic in the
Philippines
• Medicos Titulares
• The first public recognition of the value of
science in justice was made into law
• Royal Decree 188 March 1876 by the King
of Spain
• Forensic Physicians assigned task to
conduct autopsies/medico legal aid and
sanitation duties per province
 Early Practice of Forensic Chemistry
in the Philippines
• (August 1937) Miss Marcelina Villanos
• Appointed as detective chemist by MPD in
Aug 1937
MPD Office
• Detailed in Dept of Legal Med, Univ of the
Phils
• She performs laboratory examinations for
both Manila Police Department and
Department of Justice

UP Dept of Legal Med

 Early Practice of Forensic Chemistry
in the Philippines
• (December 1937) Division of Investigation
• Created in Dec 1937 by virtue of Commonwealth Act 181 by
Pres Quezon

• created with medico-legal section

• employed two medico-legal officers and
• a Chemist

• Renamed as NBI by RA 157 by Pres Roxas

 Early Practice of Forensic Chemistry
in the Philippines
• Philippine Constabulary Crime Lab
• Created Medico Legal and Chemistry Lab in October 1939
• for the purpose of assisting Criminal Investigation in their
own jurisdiction.
 The New PNP Crime Laboratory
From ISO 9001:2000 to ISO 9001-2008 (Quality Management)
by Certification International

“The fight against crimes cannot be won by

arms alone, but by scientific techniques.”
 Golden Rules of Practice
• Go slowly
• take all time to make the test complete, no matter how
urgent or pressure is given. Others say that work must
done slowly but surely.

• Be thorough
• make careful observation and conduct all sufficient
analysis before releasing a result to prevent mistakes.
• In forensic mistake is inevitable because the life of other
people depend on the result of their examination.
 Golden Rules of Practice
• Take down notes
• used laboratory notebook, photograph, voice recorder or
other means to record all your observations.

• Consult others
• consulting others who already handled similar case can
help to speed up investigation at the same improving the
performance in dealing the case compared fom the
previously one.
 Golden Rules of Practice
• Use imagination
• be imaginative and think ahead the outcome of the
analysis done.

• Avoid complicated theories

• explain in layman terms to understand the chemical
language for easily understanding by non-expert.
 Practice of Forensic Chemistry

1. Collection at the site and Reception of

specimen to be examined
• the chemist should personally collect the
specimen or
• supervise collector for proper evaluation.
 Practice of Forensic Chemistry
2. Conduct examination of the specimen
• He should established methods of analysis
• Some specimen requires longer duration of
examination due to the availability of
instruments, standards and method.
 Practice of Forensic Chemistry
3. Report in writing the result of
examination
– do not give the result loosely to everyone.
– Adhere to the format that is previously
agreed upon
 Practice of Forensic Chemistry

4. Give advice or consultation with the

requesting parties.
5. Testify in Court as an expert witness.
 Forensic Chemistry Mind-set

1. Assume nothing: be unpretentious

-never guest the result of the examination prior testing.

2. Be resourceful - contact other experts assistance

 Forensic Mind-Set
All investigators should adopt the ff:

3. Think outside the discipline: integrate many

areas.
4. Be creative:
- Challenging cases requires creativity.
- Creativity involves applying novel
approach to problem or finding novel
application of existing tools and skills.
- Painters use paint but have different way
of assembling in canvass.
 Forensic Chemistry Mind-set

5. Build a big toolbox that never stops growing.

• Source of information is the best key of application
for future cases.
 Forensic Chemistry Mind-set

6. Know your limitations

• know the capacity of your laboratory and seek for
others lab help if you think the analysis is not
sufficient.
7. Be flexible
• one solution to one case will not solve other case.
• More knowledge is more flexible.
 Forensic Mind-Set

8. Be persistent:
• At first glanced, the case have seem hopeless, difficult case is not
the same with impossible; a good investigator/ scientist
recognizes the differences.
End of Lecture