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FORENSIC SCIENCEToxicology

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Today’s agenda:

Notes Watching Poison Video- you fill out your

organizer Complete the lab When you finish you can work on your

project with your partner Csae study for HW

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POISONERS in HISTORY Olympias—a famous Greek poisoner Locusta—personal poisoner of Emperor Nero Lucretia Borgia—father was Pope Alexander VI Madame Giulia Toffana—committed over 600 successful

poisonings, including two Popes. Hieronyma Spara—formed a society to teach women how

to murder their husbands Madame de Brinvilliers and Catherine Deshayes—French

poisoners.

AND many others through modern times.

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Things to consider about poison: Chemical form (solid, liquid, crystal, etc.) How enters body (shot versus swallowed) Body weight and condition of victim Age of victim (infants/elderly are more

susceptible) Time period of exposure

Symptoms of VariousTypes of Poisoning

Type of Poison Symptom/Evidence• Caustic Poison (lye) Characteristic burns around the lips

and mouth of the victim• Sulfuric acid Black vomit• Hydrochloric acid Greenish-brown vomit• Nitric acid Yellow vomit• Phosphorous Coffee brown vomit. Onion or garlic

odor• Cyanide Burnt almond odor• Arsenic, Mercury Pronounced diarrhea• Methyl (wood) or Nausea and vomiting,

Isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol unconsciousness, possibly blindness

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Things to know about Poisons People can be exposed to toxic substances by: intentionally- by treating illness or relieving pain Accidentally- by harmful combinations or

overdoses Deliberately- by harming or killing others or by

committing suicide Acute- large dose of poison all at once Chronic- small doses over a long period of time

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Bacterial Toxins Tetanus- lockjaw as it is sometimes called, is

produced by the bacterium, Clostridum tetani. It’s poison can cause violent muscle spasms

Botulism- produced by the bacteria Clostridium botulinum, botulism paralyzes muscles. It causes irreversible damage to nerve endings. Very small amounts are extremely deadly. Botulism is the most poisonous biological substance.

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Pesticides and Heavy Metals Pesticides are mostly used to protect plants or food crops. Heavy metal compounds can damage many organs in the

body. Heavy metals are typically found in rat poisons, paint, etc.

Ex: of metals- arsenic, bismuth, antimony, mercury, thallium

Screening for these metals would be done by dissolving body fluids in HCl & insert a copper strip, a silvery coat on copper indicates heavy metal

Called the Reinsch test

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Bioterrorism Agents Ricin- poisonous protein in the castor bean. Is lethal in

extremely small amounts. Can enter the body by being inhaled as a mist/powder or may be ingested as food/drink or injected. Ricin can cause death within a few hours

Anthrax- is caused by the bacteria Bacillus anthracis, which forms spores. Can be spread to humans from infected animals. Can enter the human body through:

Inhalation- causing breathing problems that usually result in death

Ingestion- becoming fatal in 25-60% of cases Absorption in skin- leading to death in about 20% of

untreated cases

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Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Can result in accidental death from heating

systems, space heaters Also a very common form of suicide by

inhaling the auto fumes Carbon monoxide, CO, combines with the

hemoglobin in blood resulting in oxygen insufficiency resulting in death by asphyxiation

Signs of CO poisoning- red/pink patches on skin

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