FORENSIC TOXICOLOGY

TOXICOLOGY Science that deals with poisons and their effect and with the problems
involved (such as clinical, industrial, or legal problems)
FORENSIC TOXICOLOGY A discipline of forensic science concerned with the study and
investigation of toxic substances or poisons.
TOXICANT A poison that is made by humans or that is put into the environment by
human activities (pesticides).
POISON A substance that is capable of causing the illness or death of a living
organism when introduced or absorbed.
CHAIN OF CUSTODY The chronological documentation and/or paper trail showing the seizure,
custody, control, transfer, analysis, and disposition of evidence, physical
or electronic for evidence to be legally defensible.
DERIVIATION The obtaining or developing of something from a source or origin.
DRUG OR TOXIN The amount of a drug in a given volume of blood plasma, measured as
CONCENTRATION the number of micrograms per milliliter.
FORENSIC Crime scene investigators and forensic science technicians, examine
PRACTITIONER evidence in order to provide support in criminal investigations, including
giving testimonies during criminal trials.
HAZARD An unavoidable danger or risk, even though often foreseeable.
HISTOGICAL The study of the form of structures seen under the microscope (light,
electron, infrared), (microscopic anatomy).
HOMOGETINIZATION Act or process of homogenizing (uniform or similar).
MEDICO- LEGAL DEATH Responsible for conducting death investigations and certifying the cause
INVESTIGATION (MLDI) and manner of unnatural and unexplained deaths.
METABOLISM The chemical and physical processes by which a living thing uses food
for energy and growth.
METABOLITE A product of metabolism, essential to the metabolism of a particular
organism or to a particular metabolic process.
POST- MORTEM Changes that occur in drug concentrations after death. It involves
REDISTRIBUTION the redistribution of drugs into blood from solid organs such as the lungs,
liver, and myocardium.
SPECIMEN A small amount of something, such as urine or blood, taken for testing.
TOXIC Containing or being poisonous material especially when capable of
causing serious injury or death. Toxic drugs.
TOXICITY A measurement of the dosage needed of a particular substance to
damage a living organism.