SIC

TOXIC
Prepared by: Group 4

OLOGY Lourdelyn S. Olivar

Carlo Medina
Hanna Rhea Nuńala
Fernando Montemayor
de t e
es
ctiv
OUR TEAM

Fernando Montemayor Carlo Medina Hanna Rhea Nuńala

Presentor:

Lourdelyn S. Olivar
 OBJECTIV
ES
At the end of this report you will be avail to learn the ff:
● Identify the principles of forensic toxicology
● Know important terms in forensic toxicology
● Familiarize principles and procedures in forensic
toxicology
● Understand the importance of forensic toxicology
● Deepened understanding of forensic toxicology
 InTRO
DUCTI
ON
 Forensic toxicology is defined as the
application of toxicology for the purposes
of the law.
 On the 20th century, forensic toxicology
was practiced almost exclusively as a
result of investigating a fatality.
 Analyses were performed on specimens
from deceased individuals until today
blood forensic pathologists rely heavily upon
forensic toxicology testing to determine
how alcohol, drugs, or poisons may have
caused or contributed to death.
 INTROD
01
CRI
UCTION
 The most obvious use for postmortem
M forensic toxicologic analyses lies in
E suspected drug intoxication cases, which
are not readily diagnosed at autopsy.
 In intravenous drug deaths, a recent
injection site may be observable, and oral
intoxications may be inferred from a large
amount of unabsorbed tablet fragments in
the stomach.
 .
 Common terms in
forensic toxicology
Chain of custody - ensuring evidence is secure and traceable at all times.
Chromatographic techniques - analytical procedure used for separation of compounds or drugs.
Derivitization - process of modifying original compound/drug for enhanced analytical detection.
Drug or toxin concentration - the amount of drug, metabolite or other toxin in a given volume
of plasma, urine, other fluid, tissue homogenate, etc. (e.g., number of micrograms, nanograms
or picograms per millilitre).
Forensic practitioner - A person, usually police officer, scientist or physician who is engaged in
forensic investigations.
Hazard - the biological effects produced by substances (i.e., toxicity). Hazards pose risks only if
the exposure is sufficiently high.
 Common terms in
forensic toxicology
Histalogical - pertaining to the minute structure of animal and plant tissues as
discernible with the microscope.
Homogenization - process of preparing tissue for analysis by grinding a known
amount of tissue in a known amount of water.
Immunoassays - a biochemical test that measures the presence or concentration of a
substance in solutions that frequently contain a complex mixture of substances.
Medico-legal death investigation (MDLI) - A medical investigation performed by
especially trained forensic medical practitioners, often in conjunction with forensic
scientists, to determine the cause and manner of death.
Metabolism - the sum of the processes by which a particular substance is handled in
the living body.
Metabolite - a product of metabolism.
 Common terms in
forensic toxicology
Post-mortem redistribution - recognized toxicological phenomenon of an increase in
drug concentration after death.
Specimens - Biological samples collected from a living or deceased person that can be
analysed for one or more substances relevant to the matter.
Toxic - containing or being poisonous material especially when capable of causing
death or serious debilitation.
Toxicant - a toxic agent.
Toxicity - the biological effect of a substance. In this context, toxicity and hazard are
used interchangeably.
Toxicology - a science that deals with poisons and their effect and with the problems
involved (as clinical, industrial, or legal).
 Role of
Forensic
Toxicologists Toxicologists
-are charged with the responsibility for detecting and identifying the
presence of drugs and poisons in body fluids, tissues, and organs.

-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.

-also invited as expert witness in court for those cases which are related
to poison and substances found in the body.
 Three main
objectives of
forensic
toxicology
• Establish if toxicants are present and capable of contributing to death
• Establish if toxicants are present and capable of causing behavioural changes
• Establish if substances are present and whether or not they represent legitimate use or
exposure, such as prescribed medications or workplace exposures.
 Mathieu
Orfilia
Father of
Toxicology
- 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
 Forensic
Toxicology
Postmortem— Medical Examiner Or Coroner
found in :
Criminal— Motor Vehicle Accidents (MVA)

Workplace— Drug Testing

Sports—human And Animals
Environment— Industrial, Catastrophic,
Assassination/Terrorism
Forensic toxicologist focuses on the
three main areas:

a. Post- mortem toxicology – helping to identify

the cause or manner of death.

b. Human performance toxicology – to

determine impairment during a crime.

c. Forensic drug testing – used in the workplace,

, athletics, and probation/ parole.
 Principles of Post-mortem
(Death Investigation)
Sixteenth centuryForensic Toxicology
scientist Paracelsus gave us the adage “the dose makes the poison”.
Basically, he surmised that a certain amount of every substance, even water and air,
can be toxic and those amounts can differ somewhat from person to person and
substance to substance.

Therein lies one of the most basic challenges of toxicology: is it the quantity of the
toxin or the make-up of the person? Forensic toxicology applies analytical
toxicology to the purposes of the law, and includes the analysis of a variety of fluids
and tissue samples to determine the absence or presence of drugs and poisons. Once
the analytical component is complete, the toxicologist has the equally challenging
aspects of interpreting the findings.
 Types of Postmortem Forensic
Toxicology Cases
1. DEATH INVESTIGATION-
A. General- any unnatural or suspicious death is subject to investigation:
deaths involving trauma or violence, deaths that are potential suicides, or
deaths that potentially result from criminal activity. Even apparently
natural deaths, if occurring suddenly or unexpectedly, fall under the
jurisdiction of the medical examiner or coroner.
B. Specific- governmental subdivisions may also define specific
circumstances of death that require an investigation. Each coroner or
medical examiner has the authority to conduct investigations, perform
autopsies, request toxicologic analysis, or employ the services of any other
forensic experts deemed necessary to arrive at the final determination of
cause and manner of death.
 Types of Postmortem Forensic
Toxicology
2. SPECIMEN AQUISITION-
Cases
A critical and often overlooked component of the forensic autopsy is the
collection of proper specimens for toxicologic analysis. Since it is difficult
if not impossible to acquire quality specimens after an autopsy has been
completed, the pathologist must ensure that all necessary specimens are
made available to the toxicologist.
a. BLOOD – The single most important specimen to be collected is blood.
Blood should be obtained during all inspections and limited or complete
autopsies
b. VITREOUS HUMOR - displays good stability and resides in an
anatomically isolated area. Therefore, it is more resistant to putrefactive
changes than are other specimens.
c. URINE- The utility of urine in postmortem cases is similar to its uses in
other types of drug testing. Many drugs and metabolites are present in
higher concentration in urine than in blood.
 Types of Postmortem Forensic
Toxicology Cases
d. BILE - In the absence of urine, bile from the gallbladder
can be used as an alternate waste fluid for screening. Because
bile can concentrate certain drugs such as narcotics and
benzodiazepines, all available bile should be collected.
e. LIVER - drug metabolism occurs in the liver, so parent
drugs and their metabolites may be present in higher
concentrations in the liver than in the blood, thus making
detection easier.
f. ANTEMORTEM SPECIMEN - When an individual is
treated in the hospital prior to death, the collection of these
specimens by the postmortem toxicology laboratory may be
vital in cause of death determination.
Other
Specimens
o Lung tissue is frequently collected in cases involving
the inhalation of volatile substances. Spleen,
o being a source of red cells, can be used for carbon
o monoxide analysis when blood is unavailable or
o unsuitable for analysis.
o In overdoses, stomach contents can provide easy
identification of the ingested substance or substances if
tablets are still intact.
o A large amount of drug would also be present in the HOM
CI D I
o stomach contents, thus facilitating analytical
identification.
o Hair can also be used to identify long term drug use; E
moreover, metals such as arsenic
o can be detected in hair.
Presentor:

CARLO MEDINA
 TOXIC
SA M P OLOGY
LE

REQUE
STFOR
 A PICTURE
IS WORTH A
THOUSAND
WORDS
 SPECIMEN RECEIPT AND
ACCESSIONING
AQUIRE TRANSFORM
The Phatologist or
It will be transforted to the
investigator aquires the
laboratory
specimen

ENUMERATE LABEL
Specimen sould be Each should be individually packaged
enumerated and labeled with the decedent’s name
and autopsy or case number and
accompanied by the documentation.
1 Significance OF
FORENSIC
Forensic science is the application of a broad
spectrum of sciences to answer questions of interest

TOXICOLOGY
to a legal system. This may be in
relation to a crime or a civil action. Besides its
relevance to a legal system more generally forensics
encompasses the accepted scholarly
or scientific methodology and norms under which
the facts regarding an event, or an artifact, or
some other physical item are ascertained as being
the case.
 Significance OF
2
FORENSIC
TOXICOLOGY
● The concept is related to the notion of
authentication, where by an interest outside of a
legal form exists in determining whether an object is
what it purports to be, or is alleged as being.
● The use of drug has become a significant and
social problem in the society therefore the
chemical testing of biological specimens from
individuals is generally accepted to be the most
objective method for determining the drug use.
 Significance OF
FORENSIC
TOXICOLOGY
● Toxicological analysis represents a tool for assessing
the degree of impairment exerted by a drug or
combination of drugs. With the ultimate degree of
impairment being death, toxicological findings are
also used to determine cause and manner of death.
● Every year many people are found dead in
unexplained circumstances: they may be found in
bed at home or in hotels, or in squats or on open
ground.
● Evidence found at the scene, such as empty tablet
bottles, bottles of alcohol or drug-taking
paraphernalia can help to indicate a drug or alcohol 3
related death.
 Significance OF FORENSIC
TOXICOLOGY 4
• Analysis can be crucial in determining the cause of death and
many such cases are submitted to LGC Forensics from
coroners and the police.
• Suspicious deaths in nursing homes and hospitals are
particularly challenging, as the interpretation of high levels of a
prescribed drug in an individual with some tolerance to its
effects can be complex.
• The most common application of toxicological findings to
assess or explain performance impairment is to determine
whether an individual has been driving under-the-influence
(DUI) of ethanol (alcohol) and/or drugs (DUID).
• Another application is to determine whether the actions,
behavior or demeanor of a homicide subject or suspect were
affected by drugs or alcohol at the time of the incident and,
thereby, offer potentially mitigating circumstances when the
case is brought before a jury.
5 Significance OF
FORENSIC
TOXICOLOGY
● The study of toxicology serves society in many
ways, not only to protect humans and the
environment from the deleterious effects of
toxicants but also to facilitate the development of
more selective toxicants such as anticancer and
other clinical drugs and pesticides.
● Clearly, toxicology is preeminently an applied
science, dedicated to the enhancement of the quality
of life and the protection of the environment.
 Significance OF FORENSIC
TOXICOLOGY
● Data on forensic evidence collected at crime
scenes included DNA material, weapons
evidence, latent prints, ballistics, trace evidence,
and other types of forensic evidence.
● Through crime lab reports, it was possible to
determine the number of cases with requests for
analysis by investigators and the results of the
analysis by forensic scientists.
● Comparisons were then made between open and
closed cases from the two participating sites. 6
 MANNER OF
PRESERVATION OF
0 Liquid
EVIDENCE
specimens
1
0 Gastric contents
2
0 Specimens of greater density
3
Presentor:

Hanna Rhea Nuńala

 MANNER OF
PRESERVATION OF
EVIDENCE
LIQUID
SPECI Should be collected, labeled, and
separated in the proper containers
MEN or tubes indicated for the specific
analysis or analyses desired. The
specimens routinely collected
should be homogenous by nature,
and can be easily aliquot in
accurate volumes for analysis by
using verified pipetting
instruments.

(e.g., blood, serum, plasma, urine, vitreous, amniotic

fluid, oral fluid, and bile)
How the evidence is
collected ?
 OD
a. BLOOD
a. BLO

UM
b. SER

SMA c.
c. PLA
PLASMA
d. URINE
e. VITREOUS
displays good stability and
resides in an anatomically
isolated area. Therefore, it
is more resistant to
putrefactive changes than
are other specimens.
The utility of urine
in postmortem cases
is similar to its uses f. AMNIOTIC
in other types of FLUID
drug testing. Many
drugs and
metabolites are
present in higher
concentration in
urine than in blood.
 In the absence of urine, bile
h. BILE from the gallbladder can be used
as an alternate waste fluid for
screening. Because bile can
g. ORAL FLUID concentrate certain drugs such as
narcotics and benzodiazepines,
all available bile should be
collected.
 Gastric  as well as “tissues” may vary
contents significantly in consistency and density.
Gastric contents are not as homogenous
as tissues. All these specimens require
proper preparation and homogenization
in order to achieve a high yield of
extraction of the drugs and produce
accurate and reproducible analysis.

(e.g., liver, kidney, brain, muscle, fat, placenta, skin,

blood vessel, lung, spleen, hair, nails, and bone)
Specime may even require pulverization (e.g., hair, nails, or
ns of bone) in a ball mill in order to obtain an aliquot of
the specimen adequately homogenized to achieve
greater good extraction of the drugs contained in the tissue.
density Special preparation techniques may also be
required for certain specimens to avoid
environmental contamination of the specimen in
order to measure the true drug concentration in the
specimen

(e.g., liver, kidney, brain, muscle, fat, placenta, skin,

blood vessel, lung, spleen, hair, nails, and bone)
 Proper collection and identification of the biological
specimen is extremely important for the correct
toxicological interpretation of the analytical results. The
source of the specimen (e.g., femoral or cardiac blood) as
well as the orientation and/or partition of the specimen (e.g.,
scalp versus distal segment of hair) is of toxicological
significance. The source of the specimen should be noted in
the report for proper interpretation of the result.
Biological Evidence that has been
dried should be stored in a facility
that minimizes extreme heat and
humidity, which can cause DNA to
Gases and volatile liquids are particularly challenging for the degrade. Items that are dried and
toxicologist. Proper collection (e.g., full, sealed, gray top, extremely odorous maybe retained
Vacutainer® tubes for in a sealed plastic bag. Biological
fluids and glass or plastic jars for tissues) and frozen storage evidence that cannot feasibly be
are critical in order to preserve gas concentrations until dried should b stored frozen.
analysis.
 Role of the clinical toxicologist in
court
The clinical toxicologist may play a role in court when issues arise
concerning therapeutic drug monitoring, drug abuse, environmental
chemicals, or toxic torts, where the traditional forensic toxicologist
may not have expertise. Beyond being credible in court, the
toxicologist’s testimony must be based on good scientific evidence.

When testifying, the clinical toxicologist should be

aware of other court rules and expectations. As with all
testimony, objections from opposing counsel can be
raised to disallow the presentation of evidence by a
toxicologist. The toxicologist is usually used to establish
causation of injury, whether from negligence, prenatal
injury, or environmental chemicals. Several exam- pies
are presented.
 Credibility In Court In addition to basing expert
opinion on relevant and reliable evidence, the
clinical toxicologist must appear credible. The
manner in which evidence is expressed can be
crucial to one’s persuasiveness [6]. Besides a
conservative appearance, the expert witness should
communicate directly and keep eye contact with
those to whom he or she is responding (e.g., jury,
judge, or attorney). While testifying, an expert
should appear relaxed but authoritative and give
direct and concise answers. The clinical toxicologist can serve an important legal role in the
situations described. Some cases are fairly straightforward, e.g.,
when a particular drug is analyzed and trustworthy scientific data
are known to exist to help interpret the result. Other cases, e.g.,
involving extrapolation of data in risk assessments, are much more
complex. Credible clinical toxicologists in court should know the
limitations of their expertise. When the question is beyond their
expertise, they should limit their testimony. If the question is
within the expertise of the clinical toxicologist, the response
should be authoritative, concise, and appropriate under the rules of
evidence.
Expert Witness

Okorie Okorocha is a Forensic Toxicologist and expert

witness that is widely recognized in his field of work.
He has obtained two Master’s Degrees in toxicology
and pharmacology. Okorie has served as a forensic
toxicology expert witness in more than 440 trials and
has relevant experience in court as a drug and alcohol
expert witness. By ensuring that the jury understands
the multifaceted nature of scientific concepts, Okorie
has been able to successfully serve as an expert
witness.
What is an What will an expert witness do?
expert witness
An expert witness is a credible subject matter expert in a
specific field. In the case of forensic toxicology, Okorie
 Act as an independent expert source of
information on their subject matter.
Okorocha is that expert. Utilizing his background in
 Deliver an opinion before the court if
toxicology and pharmacology as well as his knowledge of
the judicial system, he is able to provide expert testimony on necessary.
 Ensure that the jury understands the
drug and alcohol related cases.
complex scientific concepts of the
case.
 Ensure that all data provided is
compliant and that proper procedure is
When do you need an expert carried out.
 Remain impartial when delivering the
witness? facts of the case as well as when
It is necessary for a subject matter expert to review the case data
giving their opinion on the data.
if there is a dispute regarding evidence for the case. If your
attorney is uncertain about any aspect of your case, you will need
to hire a forensic toxicology expert witness. An expert will be able
to correctly analyze and interpret the data of the case and can
provide a professional opinion on the validity of the evidence.
Evidence results can be affected when it is contaminated or if the
incorrect procedure was used. An expert witness will be able to
see the truth of the matter and provide your attorney with the
Presentor:

Fernando Montemayor
 COURT
PRESENTATIO
N
Evidence is the information you use in court to convince the judge to make the order you've asked
for. The judge decides what evidence can or can't be presented in (shown to) court.

One way to present your evidence is by getting an expert opinion.

Regular witnesses can't usually give their opinions in court. But a qualified expert can give an
opinion based on:

what they've seen or learned directly, or

information other people gave them.

Their opinion has to give the court information that the judge wouldn't normally know (for example,
about certain health conditions).
An expert witness has special knowledge of a certain area because of their:
training,
education, and
work experience.
 COURT
PRESENTAT
ION
Clinical toxicologists will often be asked their opinion regarding the toxicity of a substance; i.e., did a toxin
cause an injury? Before an opinion can be rendered, foundation must be established by admitting the
testimony of the injury and results of a toxicological examination into evidence. Attorneys will make
objections based on the “lack of foundation” when the expert’s opinion assumes facts not in evidence.
Although allows experts to base an opinion or interpretation on other opinions or inferences made known
to them before a hearing, the majority of courts reject this and require personal knowledge or prior
introduction of the evidence upon which the opinion is based. Therefore, if a toxicologist is going to base
an opinion on analytical results from another laboratory, the results must first be placed in evidence. The
presentation of expert testimony in the form of an opinion may take the form of a hypothetical question.
In this case, the legal counsel who called the expert to testify will frame a question around a set of facts
already in evidence, upon which the expert can form an opinion.
 Court
presentation
Training/Experience
• Please introduce yourself to the members of the jury.
• What is your occupation? (forensic toxicologist)
• What is a forensic toxicologist?
• What does a forensic toxicologist do?
• What is your educational background?
• What training and experience do you have in the field of forensic toxicology?
• What training and experience do you have that enables you to test blood/urine specimens
for the presence of drugs?
• How are you currently employed?
• How long have you worked at the lab?
• What are your duties?
• How long have you been a forensic toxicologist?
• Other than blood/urine, what other substances can be tested for drugs?
• How many cases does your laboratory test annually?
• How many blood/urine tests have you run in your career?
• Have you taught in the field of forensic toxicology?
• Have you published any articles in that field?
 Court
presentation
“At this time the State would like to tender________________ as an expert in
the field of forensic toxicology ”
• Showing you what has previously been marked as State’s Exhibit [urine/blood
report] for identification, do you recognize it?
• How do you recognize it? (bears signature)
• Whose toxicology result does this contain?
• Why did you test the sample of this defendant?
• I am showing you what has been marked as State’s Exhibit Number ____ for
identification purposes. (blood/urine kit and defendant’s blood/urine samples)
Do you recognize it?
• How?
• Whose sample is this?
• How do you know?
• How did that exhibit come in to your possession?
• How was it packaged and marked?
• Was it in a sealed container?
 Court
presentation
Testing
• What is the testing procedure used to analyze this sample?
• Can you describe how it works?
• What procedure do you follow when you test a blood sample?
• Is the testing procedure accurate and reliable?
• Do you use any controls during your analysis?
• What controls do you use?
• Why do you use controls?
• How do the controls work?
• Is this testing procedure generally accepted in the scientific community?
• What is considered the best testing method in forensic urine drug testing?Why is this so?
• Is this the same method used in toxicology labs throughout the nation?
 Court
presentation
Alcohol
• What does _____ (blood test result) mean?
• What is the legal limit for blood alcohol level?
• What signs and symptoms does alcohol produce in the body?
• At what levels does alcohol begin to produce these effects?
• Have you participated in drinking experiments, sometimes referred to as wet labs?
• Have you read studies from organizations like the American Medical Association
concerning the effects of alcohol?
• Is the per se limit established by state law consistent with the study of alcohol in the
field of medicine?
 APPLICATION
OF
TECHNOLOGy
Gas chromatography, or gas-
liquid chromatography, involves
using a liquid stationary phase
and a gas mobile phase. In
forensics, gas chromatography is
used to determine if a deceased
person has taken any alcohol or
drugs prior to death, as well as
determining if they had been
poisoned. This is crucial
information when trying to
determine how a person has died
 APPLICATION
OF
TECHNOLOGy
WHAT IS MASS
SPECTROMETRY?
Mass spectrometry – an analytical
technique that measures the
mass-to-charge ratio of ions and,
in forensic science, one of the
best ways for toxicologists to
identify and analyse substances.
In the forensic community, it’s
heralded as the “gold standard”
and the “near universal test” for
isolating and assessing unknown
agents. As a result, its widest
application is in the analysis of
drugs (including drug metabolites
and drug paraphernalia).
THA
NKS
Do you have any questions?

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ALTERNATIVE RESOURCES
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Users/elmer%20magday/Downloads/ibook.pub-principles-
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Honolulu. Roberts, J. 1974. Aging brings changes in how
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de t e
es
ctiv OUR TEAM

Lourdelyn Carlo
You can replace the image on You can replace the image on
the screen with your own the screen with your own
THA
NKS
Do you have any questions?

CREDITS: This presentation template was created

by Slidesgo, including icons by Flaticon, and
infographics & images by Freepik

Please keep this slide for attribution

ALTERNATIVE RESOURCES
 RESOURCES
● file:///C:/Users/elmer%20magday/Downloads/ibook.pub
-principles-of-forensic-toxicology.pdf
● http://medcraveonline.com/FRCIJ/FRCIJ-04-00121.pdf