...Forensic Toxicology- Post Mortem Death Investigation Forensic Toxicology is a discipline of forensic science dealing with the negative effects of chemicals, drugs, poisons or any toxic substance on a living system. Forensic Toxicology also has a more specific area of forensics designated to determine if chemicals or drugs contributed to a person’s death called Post Mortem Death Investigation. A Forensic toxicologist specializing in post mortem death investigations usually works with a forensic pathologist during an autopsy to help determine the cause of death. Toxicologists also rely on the help of crime scene detectives to aid in providing information about what was observed during the time the body was found. Physical evidence such as pill bottles, trace residues or drug paraphernalia can aid in determining what chemicals will be found. While performing an autopsy, the forensic toxicologists’ role is to obtain samples of body fluid and tissue from the pathologists and perform tests seeking to find any traces of chemicals. Urine, blood, hair and oral fluids are the most common samples taken from the body to be sent for analysis. Gastric contents from the stomach of the body can also be extracted to test for undigested pills, food or liquids digested prior to death. The vitreous humor found in the eye (ocular fluid) can also be used to estimate the time of death and can help signify renal disease and calcium status. Initially, toxicologists are looking...
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...Forensic Toxicology It was during the years of 1998 and 2001 that a very demure and innocent looking woman named Van le Thahn began her killing spree. Thahn was 49 years old at the time and was from the city of Ho Chi Minh in Vietnam. Van le Thahn successfully poisoned 13 people with cyanide. Named the Vietnamese Black Widow, Van would intentionally place herself in situations that would allow her to interact with people who were rich and affluent. After gaining access to the circle, Van would befriend those that she thought would be easy targets and victims to her scheme. She would cook for her new found “friends” and provide drinks that contained cyanide which ultimately ended their lives. Van did not discriminate when it came to her targets in some cases. It is estimated that Van killed thirteen people during the years of her killing spree, among the thirteen people she killed included was her mother-in-law, brother-in-law, and two ex-husbands. It is speculated that the killing of the members of Van’s extended family was due to ongoing family problems. Van’s main goal for the selection of her targets and killing them was to take their most valuables items for her possession or sell them for the money. It is estimated that Van was able to steal more than twenty thousand US dollars from her victims. Because of the nature of these killings it made finding out that Van was the killer hard. It is without a doubt that had it not been for the expertise of a Forensic Toxicologist...
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...Knowledge of a foreign language is important for exchanging information in our global society. These are very important for toxicologist and need to be prepared during high school and college. * Responsibly and Daily Activities Toxicology combines the elements of many scientific disciplines to help us understand the harmful effects of chemicals on living organisms. Basically, toxicology is the study of the toxic or harmful effects of chemicals. Chemicals make up everything around us like pesticides in the food we eat, pollutants in the air we breathe, chemicals in the water we drink, toxic dump sites near our homes. Usually, toxicologists work in contact with an analytical lab because they do a lot of chemical analytical work. Toxicologists are responsible for a lot of things including our lives. There are three types and they are forensic, veterinary, and environmental toxicologist. Forensic toxicology is a discipline of forensic science concerned with the study of toxic substances or poisons, of which there are many thousands. Currently, forensic toxicology is the study of alcohol, drugs, and poisons, including their chemical composition, preparations and identification. Veterinary toxicology relates to the health of animals. Environmental toxicology, also known as...
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...Case Study Internal Final Case Briefing Introduction to Case As a medico-legal investigator I have been assigned the task to prepare and finalize the internal final case briefing for the Medical Examiner (ME). This final case briefing report will be attached to the case report and the autopsy report. The information obtained in this report will help determine the cause of death. This case involves the victim who has been identified as 23 year old Sharon Jane Miller (DOB 10/07/1987). The victim was found by her sister Valerie Edith Anderson (DOB 08/22/1985) on June 17, 2011. A 911 call was made via the sister and recorded at 1138 Evidence leans towards the murderer being ex-boyfriend Todd Nathan Hughes (DOB 02/14/1980. Discussion At 11:38 AM a phone call was made and recorded to 911 by sister, Valerie Anderson when she discovered her sister, Sharon Miller deceased at her apartment located at 16B East Locust Street, Virtual, MD. According to sister as well as corresponding text messages (made with consent) made between the victim and the sister they were going to attend lunch together for the day. When arrival to her home she discovered her sisters body and proceeded to call the authorities. Further information was given by sister, Valerie Anderson that the deceased had disclosed that she had broken up with her boyfriend Todd Hughes whom she had been dating for four years. It was made known that Todd was an abusive boyfriend and had an extensive criminal record...
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...Module 7, Course 2, Session 18 Growth Strategies - External March 9, 2013 Discussion Topics Section Introductions and Segment Objectives The Acquisition Process – Target Research and Process Execution Case Studies Concluding Thoughts – Keys to Success Background Information on John Dickinson Page 2 3 7 15 17 CONFIDENTIAL 1 Introductions and Segment Objectives Introductions: • • John Dickinson – Session Leader Participants – Goals, objectives, questions, and backgrounds CONFIDENTIAL Session Objectives: • Why pursue external strategies? • • • Limited organic growth versus strategic goals New products / services, end markets, technologies, and customers, as well as sourcing synergies What are some of the strategies? • • • Joint ventures – private and public / governmental Acquisitions Divestitures and re-investing in the core business The Acquisition Process: • • Strategic goals and target identification / research Deal execution – the team, valuation / structure, and culture / integration 2 CONFIDENTIAL The Acquisition Process – Target Research and Deal Execution 3 Developing the Optimal Acquisition Process CONFIDENTIAL Optimizing the process begins with analyzing the unique dynamics of the Buyer’s situation, and then developing an appropriate and flexible strategy for achieving the Buyer’s goals. Process Considerations Current End Market Dynamics & Outlook Parent Company Objectives & Resource Commitment Management Team Objectives...
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...Rebecca Walker Forensic Toxicology CRJ 311 Dawn George 4/22/2013 History Forensic science is defined as the application of science to the law. There are different types of forensic science, and each plays an integral part in the criminal justice system. Forensic biology usually involved DNA testing and its results. Forensic anthropologists examine human remains that have become skeletons in an attempt to determine how long the remains have been in a location and to try to determine a possible cause of death. Forensic toxicology falls into the category of forensic chemistry. Forensic toxicologists study toxins, drugs, poisons, alcohol, and other things found in the blood or tissues of crime victims or perpetrators. Forensic toxicologists study the blood and tissues of living people as well as deceased persons. The rapid advancement of technology in the last century and, in particular, the last three decades, has helped forensic scientists solve many crimes, even those that had been cold for decades. Technology is quickly changing and improving the methods by which crimes can be solved. The first evidence of scientific methods being used to identify people occurred in China in 700BC. Chinese artists used fingerprints to identify pieces of art they had produced. Of course, there was not computerized system to file or categorize these fingerprints. However, this is the first known instance of fingerprints being used for identification purposes. Clearly, things...
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...Risk Assessment Hazard Identification Risk assessment begins with hazard identification. Malathion is a wide spectrum, non-systemic organophosphate insecticide commonly used to control ectoparasites, household insects, sucking and chewing insects in agriculture, and mosquito populations (Pmep.cce.cornell.edu 2012). It is also sold over the counter as a medicine used to kill lice and their eggs. Toxicity in animals depends on product purity and the method it is administered. Dose-Response Assessment Dose responses in humans and animals differ from species to species and according to dose concentration. Malathion exposure occurs through ingestion, inhalation, and absorption. Human exposure usually results in nausea, headache, and tightness in the chest. Although Malathion is classified as a slightly toxic, lethal doses have been recorded for humans. The lowest lethal dose of Malathion recorded is three times higher for men than women (Pmep.cce.cornell.edu 2012). Alergic reaction to Malathion causes severe dizziness and trouble breathing. Lab tests indicate that rats do not normally have adverse reproductive and development effects from Malathion exposure at low doses and prolonged exposure. High doses can cause teratogenic effects when fed to rats through a stomach tube. Malathion can, however, pass through the placenta of pregnant goats and cause birth defects and increased newborn mortality rates. Chronic toxicity may cause mutagenic risks to humans. Lab test results...
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...THE RESEARCH QUESTION The study should be based on finding out the effects of toxins on living organism. This research will try to find out the positive and negative effects of enzyme toxin in plants and animals. The excessive use of toxins can be harmful to the environment while the use of controlled amounts of this same enzyme can be useful to the environment. Toxins are said to be any poisonous substances that are produced in the living cells. Organic chemist Ludwig Brieger is said to be the first chemist to use the word toxins in the 19th century. Small molecules, proteins and peptides are all said to be toxins. These organisms are capable of causing diseases on the contact with any contact or absorption by body issues. Toxins greatly vary in the degree of severity from the minors such as bee stings to majors such as botulinum toxins Toxins are also constituents that are made by plants and are harmful to humans. But some toxins can be used in small doses and help in medication but become poisonous when used in large amounts DESCRIPTION OF IDENTIFIED PERSPECTIVE (natural sciences) In the natural science subjects such as biology and chemistry, toxins are well described and experimented on by scientists. In chemistry toxins are said to be chemical agent depending on their method of production. On the other hand, toxins that disturb organisms may be said to be biologically produced. Toxins can be either biologically or chemically produced depending on the mode of production...
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...Mung Beans A mung beans experiment for the subject I toxicology. Find a toxicant to be applied on the plant. We have 5 days to observe. It’s not just dead or alive. Mung Beans A mung beans experiment for the subject I toxicology. Find a toxicant to be applied on the plant. We have 5 days to observe. It’s not just dead or alive. Mung Beans A mung beans experiment for the subject I toxicology. Find a toxicant to be applied on the plant. We have 5 days to observe. It’s not just dead or alive. Mung Beans A mung beans experiment for the subject I toxicology. Find a toxicant to be applied on the plant. We have 5 days to observe. It’s not just dead or alive. Mung Beans A mung beans experiment for the subject I toxicology. Find a toxicant to be applied on the plant. We have 5 days to observe. It’s not just dead or alive. Mung Beans A mung beans experiment for the subject I toxicology. Find a toxicant to be applied on the plant. We have 5 days to observe. It’s not just dead or alive. Mung Beans A mung beans experiment for the subject I toxicology. Find a toxicant to be applied on the plant. We have 5 days to observe. It’s not just dead or alive. Mung Beans A mung beans experiment for the subject I toxicology. Find a toxicant to be applied on the plant. We have 5 days to observe. It’s not just dead or alive. Mung Beans A mung beans experiment for the subject I toxicology. Find a toxicant to be applied on the plant. We have 5 days to observe. It’s not just dead or alive....
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...Toxicology Student’s Name Affiliation Date 1. Snakebites are often treated by administering specific “anti-venom”. Explain how “anti-venom” may work. Snakes are cold blooded animals that are found in tropical and subtropical countries. Snakes have some glands in their mouth that produce very poisonous substance and its even worst through their bites. The seriousness or extend of the poison depends on various factors. One is the body tissue where the venom is injected. It’s more serious when the poison is injected directly to the blood vessels meaning it spreads very quickly through blood transmission in the rest of the body. The extent of the poison also depends on the part of the body where the snake bites. Snake bites that occur on parts of the body with a lot of adipose tissue are less poisonous than in the parts with less adipose tissue. This is because these tissues are low in blood supply hence they end up delaying transmission or the spread of poison to the rest of the body (Timbrell, 2009) Specific anti-venom is used in treating snake bite since the severity of the poison depends on the snake type and other factors. Since the venom is injected in the blood the anti-venom should also be administered to the blood In order to neutralize the poison. This means that it might have some side effects if not well used since its injected directly to the blood. The anti-venom neutralizes the poisonous venom injected...
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...Environmental Toxicology Paper ENV/410 Environmental Toxicology Paper I will first explain the difference between toxicokinetics and toxicodynamics. Toxicants interact with living organisms in a series of five time-dependent processes. The study of these processes is called toxicokinetics. These processes are absorption, distribution storage, biotransformation and elimination. There are unique cellular effects within the organism when they come in contact with the toxicant. Toxicodynamics is an examination of the way these effects happen. There are many similarities as well as important differences between the toxicokinetics and pharmacokinetics of most substances. The same applies to pharmacodynamics and toxicodynamics (Olson, n.d.). The approach for conducting toxicokinetics studies that is recommended by most scholars generally involves three steps. Goehl (1997), "Step 1 is a preliminary study, which uses a minimum number of animals to estimate the range of blood/tissue concentrations, the required quantitation limit for the analytical method, and the optimal sampling times for the definitive toxicokinetic studies. Step 2 is the definitive study and generates blood and/or tissue concentration data for calculating the toxicokinetic parameters. Step 3 is the toxicokinetic study conducted in conjunction with the toxicology study to determine the internal dose and the effects of age and continuous exposure on kinetic parameters” (Toxicokinetics in the National Toxicology Program)...
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...Environmental Hazards Tammy Winfrey 12/14/2014 Robert Davie A toxicant is any chemical that can injure or kill humans, animals or plants; a poison. A toxicant is usually used when referring to a toxic substance that is produced by, or a by-product of, man-made activities. Small amounts of chemical exposure (especially at vulnerable developmental stages) can have long term health impacts. Chemicals, such as heavy metals, Dioxin, and Bisphenol A; have been linked to cancer, developmental disabilities, Alzheimer’s disease and more (Peeples 2012). . Ninety-nine percent of pregnant American women carry multiple man-made chemicals in their bodies, sharing them through the umbilical cord (Peeples 2012). Disease causing agents are toxic chemicals that persist in the environment and accumulate within food chains. They transfer easily among air, water, and land, and span boundaries of programs, geography, and generations (epa.gov, 2012). Common toxicants include antimicrobials and biocides, and heavy metals like mercury, lead, antimony, arsenic and cadmium. Antimicrobial and biocides are used in plastics and textiles to kill microorganisms. These are aquatic toxins; some cause bacteria and fungi to mutate. Utilization of these compounds can expedite the evolutionary process leading to superbugs. The long-term effects of antimicrobials and biocides are unknown. Heavy metals are usually associated with wire insulation, solder, dyes and pigments. Toxins released...
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...Environmental Toxicology Paper Joshua Brechtel ENV/410 September 14, 2014 Jennifer Ott Environmental Toxicology Paper Environmental toxicology deals with the toxicology of environmental chemicals. This can relate to toxic chemicals found naturally but usually man-made chemicals are predominately studied. The effect of these chemicals on the environment and subsequent ecosystems are of great importance in understanding human impact on our planet. Ecotoxicology is a type of environmental toxicology that deals with the effects of environmental toxins on ecosystems, habitats and the organisms that live in those ecosystems. The wide range of organisms and environmental factors requires detailed analysis from multiple scientific disciplines. Toxicokinetics and Toxicodynamics Toxicokinetics is a branch of toxicology that can be viewed as the study of how the body deals with toxicants at different stages after exposure. These stages are absorption, distribution, and elimination. Toxicokinetics studies the ever changing processes that occur within the body during and after absorption of a toxicant. This includes where and how absorption takes place, how the body distributes the toxicant, the effects of metabolism, the toxic effects rendered and the excretion of the toxicant. “In other words, toxicokinetics is a reflection of how the body handles toxicants as indicated by the plasma concentration of that xenobiotic at various time points.” (Michael A. Trush, 2008, p...
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...Blood agents are poisons that act on the body by being consumed into the blood (http://emergency.cdc.gov/agent/blood/). There are three known blood agents as identified by the Center for Disease Control: Arsine (SA), Carbon Monoxide (CO), Cyanide, and Sodium monofluoroacetate (compound 1080). I will attempt to discuss in detail how each blood agent enters the body and effects the human body. Blood agents extract from its effect on exposed victims. Blood agents generally enters the body by way of inhalation. It paralyzes the ability of the blood cells to harness and transfer oxygen to the blood. Because the blood agent prevents the transfer of oxygen to the blood, it causes the body to suffocate within. Arsine By definition, arsine is has no color, flammable, non-irritating lethal gas with a benign garlic odor. It is generated when arsenic comes in unity with an acid (http://emergency.cdc.gov/agent/arsine/facts.asp). It has been reported that a half-hour exposure to 25-50 ppm can be lethal (Blackwell and Robins, 1979). Clinical signs of arsine present in the body are: abdominal pain, blood in urine, and jaundice. Symptoms that follow showing signs of acute exposure are: headaches, weakness, inability to release bowel, which usually causes vomiting and nausea due to stress on the body. Arsine was investigated as a warfare agent during World War II, but was never used on the battlefield (http://emergency.cdc.gov/agent/arsine/facts.asp). Certain industrial processes...
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...Application Assignment #3 – Equilibrium and Electrochemistry According to Chemicool chelation is the “formation or presence of bonds between two or more separate binding sites within the same ligand and a single central atom” (chemicool). Chelation therapy is a process in which reduction of toxic effects of metals within the human body take place. The agents often bind to the toxic ions and form structures that are then easily excreted. Most agents are made up of atoms like Sulphur, Nitrogen and Oxygen functioning as ligand atoms. As metals release toxic substances into the human body the need for an agent to try and reduce the toxicity for our well being is necessary. Most of the heavy are toxic such as lead, copper and zinc which accumulate in the human body. The process of chelation causes a chemical reaction involving a shift of equilibrium to remove the metals before the organs get permanently damaged. The shift in equilibrium occurs because when the agent is introduced to the body to try and reduce the effects, with the body being the system it tries to re-establish equilibrium by shifting from left to right. Barium sulphate is usually made by a combination of a solution of the ions and salts of barium and sulphate. Barium being a heavy metal is highly toxic. In colour it is a white solid with a crystal structure. The reason that Barium sulphate salt is used is that the ions of Barium are opaque to x-rays and can absorb the rays much better than other compounds. Without...
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