FORENSIC TOXICOLOGY:

Forensic toxicology is essentially a specialty area of analytical chemistry. Toxicology is the science of adverse effects of chemicals on living organisms. In general, a toxicologist detects and identifies foreign chemicals in the body, with a particular emphasis upon toxic or hazardous substances. A descriptive toxicologist performs toxicity tests to evaluate the risk that exposure poses to humans. A mechanistic toxicologist attempts to determine how substances exert deleterious effects on living organisms. A regulatory toxicologist judges whether or not a substance has low enough risk to justify making it available to the public.

A toxin is any material exerting a life threatening effect upon a living organism. Poisons are a subgroup of toxins. Toxic materials exist in many forms (gaseous, liquid, solid, animal, mineral, and vegetable), and may be ingested, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin. Poisons generally enter the body in a single massive dose, or accumulate to a massive dose over time. Toxins work in minute quantities or low levels, requiring sensitive analytical instruments for detection. Some toxins have medicinal value, but many produce irreparable damage. Some toxins have antidotes and others do not. Poisons can be combated by prompt treatment, and most organ damage (except for serious CNS injury) may be repairable. Whereas poisons are somewhat easily identifiable by their symptoms, many toxins tend to disguise or mask themselves.