SCOPE OF FORENSIC CHEMISTRY AND TOXICOLOGY

What does Forensic mean in Criminology?

 Forensic science is a critical element of the criminal justice system.
 Forensic scientists examine and analyze evidence from crime scenes and
elsewhere to develop objective findings that can assist in the
investigation and prosecution of perpetrators of crime or absolve an
innocent person from suspicion.
FORENSIC
 comes from the Latin word "forensis" meaning forum.
TOXICOLOGY
from the Greek word toxicos - "poisonous" and "logos". - it is the study of
the symptoms, mechanisms and treatments.
What is the importance of chemistry in the practice of criminology?
 A forensic chemist's job is to identify and characterize the evidence as part of the
larger process of solving a crime. Forensic chemists rarely conduct any investigative
work; they handle the evidence collected from the crime scene. Evidence may include
hair samples, paint chips, glass fragments, or bloodstains.
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• FORENSIC CHEMISTRY
 Is defined as that branch of Chemistry which deals with application of chemical
principles in the solution of crimes, like the other forensic science.
 Forensic chemistry plays a very important part in the speedy investigation and in the
administration of justic.
 It is well-settled that this Science has an advantages over extracted confession,
eyewitnesses and other circumstantial evidence.
 Thus, it is regarded as the highest form uncontestable and conclusuive piece of
evidence with the utmost legal significance.
 This Forensic Science deals with application of chemistry in the identification
of evidence, its physical and chemical properties.
 It also includes the collection, preservation, examination, and study of blood
semen, and other body fluids; examination of dangerous drugs, examination
of body fluids to determine the presence of dangerous drugs; alcohol (liquor)
test.
 Examination of fake products for unfair trade competetion, arson
investigation, macro etching examination, bullet trajectory; ultraviolet
examination; tools and other marks.
 Gunshot residues (gunpowder nitrates, paraffin test: distance determination;
and firearm examination.)
 Principles and examination of explosive, textiles fibers, chemical aspects of documentation
and examination.
 Problems on a glass fragments and glass fracture, moulage metallurgy and petrography as
applid to investigation.
 Forensic Chemistry also includes the study and examination of Deoxyribunucleic Acid or
DNA brevity.
FORENSIC TOXICOLOGY
 Deals with the examination of human internal organs, food samples and water and gastric
content for the purpose and detecting the presence of poisonous substance, its dosage,
effects and treatment.
PRACTICE OF FORENSIC CHEMISTRY
 The work of a Forensic Chemistry is devided into four stages:
1. Collection or reception of the specimen.
 2. The actual examination
3. The communication of the result of the examination
4. Court appearance.
COLLECTION OF THE SPECIMEN TO BE EXAMINED
 The proper collection, preservation and transportation of specimens are essential in the
investigation of a crime.
 Hence, whenever possible, the specimens necessary for the examination.
 This particular stage of Forensic chemist’s work in essential as questions regarding the
collection, presentation and transportationof the specimenare raised during the trial.
Factors that must be considered when collecting specimen for examination
a. Sufficiency of Samples
 As much as p;ossible, the investigator should collect sufficiency amount of specimen
for examination.
 This will make the chemist confident that in case of doubtful result, he/she can still
have enough samples to repeat or to proceed to the succeeding examination.
b. Standard for Comparison
 When evidence in question is located in or added with the foreign substance, a
sample of such foreign substance must be submitted for analysis.
EX:
If the blood is found in linoleum, a sample of the unstained linoleum must be
submitted together with the stain portion.
 In case of adulteration or unfair trade competition, genuine sample must be
submitted for comparison.
 In the examination of hair, textile fiber, soil etc.
 Standard sample must be submitted for comparison.
c. Maintenance of Individuality
 Each piece of evidence must be collected and preserve as a separate
sample.
 There must be no mixing or intermingling of specimen/s collected from
different locations, as well as those of standard specimen.
d. Labeling and Sealing
 It is as well rule that evidence will have no value in court inspite of the
good reporto f the expert if the specimen cannot be identified by reason
of improper labeling.
 hence, each sample must be labelled properly
 Small fragment should be enclosed in proper specimen boxes/container
and the boxes should be sealed.
  The label; should include information concerning the nature and source
of the sample, date and timne of collection, case number, if any, and
name of the person collecting the sample.
ACTUAL EXAMINATION OF THE SPECIMEN
FIRST STEP
 in the examination of an article is to scrutinize it carefully and write down in
the laboratory logbook/record book a complete description of the external
appearance including the manner in which it is secure and the particulars of
the sealing.
 If possible take a photograph of the specimen and take note of its descriptions.
 Detailed description of the appearance of the contents of the package should
be noted and recorded.
 All wrappers should be kept and preserve since questions concerning them
may be arised in court during trial.
SECOND STEP
 The examination is to measure or write the object and all measurement and
weights should be entered in the laboratory logbok/record book.
 The specimen should then be placed in the proper container or wrapper and
must be kept in the proper evidence room.
THIRD STEP
 In the examination is to measure or weight the object and all measurement
and weights should be entered in the laboratory logbook/record book.
 The third step in the laboratory examination which consist of the chemical, physical, and
confirmatory test.
COMMUNICATION OF THE RESULT OF THE EXAMINATION
 The result of the examination conducted should be communicated which the requesting party in
the form of a written report which must included an enumeration of facts on the specimen
recieved for examination with detailed description of the packaging, sealing, and labeling date of
reciept and from whom it was recieved, tyhe purpose of the examination, the finding and
conclusion.
COURT APPEARANCE
 The written report of the forensic Chemist is usually supplemented by testimonial evidence in a
later date if the case is brought to court or the fiscals’ office.
 Since the testimonial evidence may be given weeks, months or even years after the examination
and the written report has been made, it is no only permissible but indespensable that the chemist
should refresh his memory by refresh his memory by referring to his laboratory record book
before presenting himself in court
ROLE OF FORENSIC CHEMIST IN THE SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATION
 A forensic Chemist, as a man of science performs laboratory examinations on physical
evidence submitted to the crime laboratory in order to expidite the investigation of a crime
by the investigating party.
 He/she has the following responsibilities:
1. Conduct qualitative and quantitative determination of abused drugs as well as
volatile subtances.
2. Conducts chemical examination of explosives and/or explosive inggedient.
3. Conducts examination of paraffin cast and firmarms to determine the presence of
gunpowder nitrates.
4. Conducts gunpowder examination on clothing for possible gunshot range.
 5. Conducst chemico-toxicological examination of human internal organs,
gastric contents, blood water, food sample and other substances.
6. Conducts examination of fake products in cases of unfsir trade
compettiton.
7. Conducts blood alcohol determination.
8. Examines urine sample and other body fluids for the presence of abused
drugs.
9. Conducts researcher related to cases being examined.
10. Testifies and gives expert opinion in court.
11. Gives lectures on Forensic Chemistry snd chemico-toxicology to various
schools, universities, police training centers nd investigating units.
 12. responds to queries all investigating units and render expert opinion omn matters related to th application of chemical
principles for the purpose of assisting investigstors to develop investigative leads.
SIX GOLDEN RULES IN THE PRACTICE OF FORENSIC CHEMISTRY
1. GO SLOWLY
Good work cannot be hurried, therefore, tke all the time necessary to make the case completeno matter how urgent it
mayappear.
2. BE THROUGHT
Make carefull and minutes examination of everything and do not be satisfied with a quantitative analysis if a quantitative one
is possible.
Italways pays to do too much rather than too little and it os dificult to foresee thatwill or will or will not be required in court.
3. TAKE NOTES
 Keep a full and clean record of everything seen and done.
4. CONSULT OTHERS
 Many cases will lead the expert into paths with which he is no not familiar and
when this happen he should consult those who know better.
5. USE IMAGINATION
 An expert with a wide and uncontrollable imagination is considered as the most
dangerous creature.
 Though his being imaginative is something useful, an expert witness does not have
to be solely imaginative but he has to be skilled in the field of Forensic Science.
 He must bear witness within the limits of science.
 6. AVOID COMPLICATED THEORIES
 The simplest explanation is fundamentally the right one.
 Interpretation of result is often the most difficult part of the expert’s task that is
why a wide knowledge and scientific experience are the essential elements to obtain
the right forensic examination result.
EQUIPMENT USED IN THE FORENSIC EXAMINATION
The following are some of the most of the most common laboratory equipments used in
forensic examination:
1. HPLC (High Powered Liquid Chromatography)
 This scientific equipment is used for qualitative and quantitative determination of a
volatile or non-volatile compound based on the chromatographic separation of its
components.
ULTRA-VIOLET SPECTROPHOTOMETER
 It is used for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of organic
compound.
 is a quantitative technique used to measure how much a chemical
substance absorbs light. This is done by measuring the intensity of light
that passes through a sample with respect to the intensity of light through
a reference sample or blank.
3. EMIT (ENZYME MULTIPLE IMMUNO ASSAY TECHNIQUE)
 It is used for screening of abused urine samples.
4. SEM (SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPE)
 This scientific equipment is used for the physical identification of various
questioned specimens.
 It is a software-controlled digital scanning electron microscope used to
produce sticking images overa wide range of magnification (3x3,000,000x)
on rough or covered surface of minutes specimen such as hair, fiber, paint
particles, drug, metal, etc.
5. FTIR (FOURIER TRANSFORM INFRARED
SPECTROSCOPY)
 Used for the identification of pure organic
substances.
 it iedentifies organic substances particulartly
abused drugs and explosive ingredients based
on their characteristic functional groups.
 in layman’s term the resulting spectrum could
be referred to as the fingerprints of the
substance.
 CHAPTER II: PRESERVATION AND SAFEKEEPING OF EVIDENCE
The following are the guidelines in the proper preservation and safekeeping of evidence:
1. Proper chain of custody shall always be observe
2. All examined piece of evidence (such as drugs, and other paraphernalia, explosive
firearms, and all other chemistry-related evidence) shall be personally turned over by the
examiner on case to the evidence custodian.
• The latter, in turn, shall execute its documentation by recording all received as well
as released evidence for court presentation.
• No examiners shall keep in their possession evidence once examined.
3. Evidence shall properly placed in suitable dry containers for proper preservation
and shall be placed inside the concrete evidence room.
........Firearm evidence shall be kept in a separate evidence room especially designed
for purpose.
..........However, hazardous evidence such as explosives and other inflammable
evidence are photographed after the examination with its corresponding case number
before turning it over to Explosive Ordinance Disposal Unit (EODU) with proper
reciept for safekeeping or proper disposal.

>>>>>>>>>>>> END OF CHAPTER II >>>>>>>>>>>>

 CHAPTER III: DEVELOPMENT OF SCIENCE CRIME LABORATORY IN THE
PHILIPPINES
FEBRUARY 14, 1829
 Massacre occured in Chicago. Then a group of public-minded individuals was responsible
for the establishment of scientific crime laboratory in the city which today has marked its
place in the historical annals of police science.
MARCH 31, 1876
 Creation of “Mediacos Titulares” by virtue of Royal Decree No. 188 of Spain.
 For every province, a Forensic Physician was assigned to perform public sanitary duties
and at the same time provide medico-legal aids to the administration of justice.
DECEMBER 15, 1884
 Governor General Joaquin Javellar created a committee to study the mineral waters of
Luzon and appointed Anacleto del rosario as chemist.
SEPTEMBER 13, 1887
 Establishment of “Laboratorio Municipal de Manila” under the inspection of the “Direccio
general de Administracion civil” and the control of the “ Gobierno de provincias”.
 The function of the laboratory was to make analysis not only of food, water and others ffom the
standpoint of public health and legal medicine but also of specimen of clinical purposes.
1894
 “Laboratorio Medico-Lega” was created under the dependency of the judicial branch of the
government and the laboratory functioning under the direction of a physician and assisted by a
pharmacist-chemist.
1895
 Antonio Luna established a clinical laboratory where some original works in chemistry were
done.
 Unfortunately, all prospects of the advancement of the scientific laboratories were paralyzed as
a result of the revolution in 1896.
1899
 The first scientific laboratory was established in a small building on the bank of Pasig
River with Lt. R>P> Strong of the US army in charge.
1901
 Actual scientific work began under the initiative of Dean C. Worcester by virtue of act No.
156 approved by the Civil Commission.
JULY 1, 1901
 The Bureau of Government Laboratories was created for the purpose of performing
biological and chemical examinations as well as for production of vaccines and sera.
MARCH 11, 1915
 The Department of Legal Medicine was created pursuant to the resolution of the Board of
Regents.
 The Department took charge of the coarses of legal medicines and its branches in the College
of Medicine and Law.
OCTOBER 14, 1926
 Through the passage of Act. No. 3043 by the Philippin Legislature, the same department of
Legal Medicine became a branch of the department of Justice and at the same time an integral
part of the University of the Philippines.
DECEMBER 1, 1937
 The “Division of Investigation” was created under Commonwealth Act. No. 181 with two
medico-legal officers and a chemist.
 The Medico-Legal Section of the Division of Investigation started the definite movement
towards the creation of scientific crimw detection laboratory.
SEPTEMBER 1945
 The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) was organized with the Division of Investigation as
the nucleus.
 The chemical laboratory of the Medico- Legal Section was expended into a Forensic
Chemistry Division.
....At the present there are four (4) distinct laboratories in the Philippine performing
forensic chemical analysis namely:
1. Forensic Chemistry Division of the NBI
2. The Criminal Investigation Laboratory of the manila Police department
3. The criminal Investigation and Detection Laboratory of the Philippine Constabulary
4. Manila Investigation Service Laboratory
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