forensic toxicology
helps determine the cause-and-effect relationships between exposure to a drug or other substances an the toxic or lethal effects from that exposure
deliberate exposure
treating an illness or relieving pain
accidental exposure
by harmful combos or overdose
intentional exposure
by harming or killing others, or by suicide
tetanus
produced by the clostridium tetani bacteria, causes violent muscle spasms
Botulism
produced by clostridium botulinum, paralyzes muscles, causes irreversible damage to nerve endings, extremely deadly in small amounts, most poisonous biological substance
Pesticides (DDT)
interferes with nervous system preventing nerve impulses and voluntary muscle contractions: seizures, rapid heart beat, sweating, salivation
Lead
Chemical element that cannot be absorbed by the body. Acutely impacts the brain: blue discoloration along gum line, headaches, irritability, memory problems
mercury
chemical element that impacts the nervous system, cardiovascular, and immune system: flu like symptoms, personality changes, irritability
Arsenic
chemical element that causes multisystem failure and bleeding out: abdominal pain, kidney failure, convulsions, delirium, skin lesions, personality changes, flu like symptoms
cyanide
rapidly acting potentially deadly chemical that can exist in various forms: pink skin, almond like odor, spasms, confusion, coma, death
Radium
naturally occurring radioactive metal formed from the decay of uranium and thorium in the environment: flu like symptoms, hair loss, internal bleeding, damages bone marrow
methanol
toxic, volatile, colorless, highly flammable liquid with a distinct odor like alcohol: weakness, disorientation, headache, vomiting, loss of vision, paralysis, coma, death
Carbon Monoxide
colorless, odorless, tasteless, flammable gas that is slightly less dense than air: flu like, chest pain, confusion, unconsciousness, death
Sarin
extremely toxic nerve agent known to be colorless, odorless liquid: paralysis, convulsions, death
Agent Orange
potent chemical herbicide used as a defoliant chemical: birth defects, cancer, skin lesions, numbness, tingling, muscles weakness
Ricin
a poisonous protein in the castor bean, lethal in extremely small amounts, enters body through inhalation, ingestion, or injection, causes death within a few hours