Forensic Technique To Crime Detection - Toxicology

Toxicology:
toxicology, study of poisons and their effects, particularly on living systems. Because many
substances are known to be poisonous to life (whether plant, animal, or microbial),
toxicology is a broad field, overlapping with biochemistry, histology, pharmacology,
pathology, and many other disciplines.
Technological and scientific advancements have been responsible for the creation of
thousands of new chemical compounds, many of which have the potential to pose a threat to
human health. Toxicology, a field that shifted from an empirical science to a volumetric
science with the emergence of chemistry in the nineteenth century, seeks to understand the
effects these compounds have on the world around us — in the environment, human body,
and beyond.
Toxicology is the study of the effects of chemical, biological, and physical agents on living
organisms, particularly humans. Scientists and researchers working in this field measure and
analyze substances, particles, pollutants, and bacterium to determine the potential threats they
pose to humans and other living organisms. Public health practitioners rely on toxicologists to
measures what we cannot see and inform us of the hidden dangers that pose serious threats to
health and well-being.
Toxicology is critical in determining the materials, substances, and ingredients that can and
cannot be used across a variety of sectors, including medicine, construction, and air and water
quality control. Toxicologists can determine the proper dosage and safe exposure limits of
any questionable substances exposed to the living world.
Through combining chemistry, biology, environmental science, and pharmacology,

toxicology is truly multi-disciplinary and a critical area of public health that works to combat
negative health outcomes across large swaths of populations.
The study and classification of toxic substances was first systematized by Matthieu Orfila
(1787–1853) in the 19th century. Traditionally, the toxicologist’s functions have been to
identify poisons and to search for antidotes and other means of treating toxic injuries. An area
related to the ancient practice of toxicology, forensic toxicology, dealing with the criminal
use of poisons, also has a long history. With the proliferation of new, potentially toxic
substances, however, the practical applications of toxicology have multiplied. In the
ecological sciences, toxicologists play a part in the identification and elimination of
environmental contaminants. Evaluation of occupational exposure to toxic substances is
another aspect of the toxicologist’s work. In the United States, toxicologists work with the
federal government’s Food and Drug Administration, attempting to identify potential dangers
to public health posed by chemical additives in food and cosmetics; along with
pharmacologists, toxicologists also participate in the safety testing of new drugs.
Perhaps the area of largest expansion is the study of toxic waste. Environmental toxicology
has taken on great importance as toxic wastes from a variety of industrial processes foul the
air, water, and soil, creating many hitherto unknown, and often (to the average citizen)
undetectable, hazards. Among the concerns of toxicologists and scientists worldwide are the
use of chlorofluorocarbons (which affect the ozone layer in the atmosphere), the effects of
acid rain on the world’s forests, and the release of harmful radioactive substances into the
soil, groundwater, oceans, and air.
Types of Toxicology Sciences

There are multiple concentrations that exist under the broader umbrella of toxicology. A few
types include:
1. Forensic Toxicology: By bringing the scientific methods of toxicology together with
research in legal contexts, forensic toxicologists play an integral role in criminal cases
and are often used to help determine a cause of death or more generally to examine the
role that substances played in a crime or death.
In addition, forensic toxicology is also used to drug-test individuals, whether it's in office
settings, legal cases, or sports leagues. Forensic toxicologists not only conduct research
and take tests, but they also use their findings to interpret results and collaborate with
larger forensic teams and law enforcement agencies.
2. Environmental Toxicology:
Environmental toxicology relates to how substances—man-made and/or natural—interact
with the world and our surrounding environment, which includes interpreting possible
adverse human health effects due to exposure to environmental toxicants.
Those who specialize in this area can be found working in environmental regulation,
management, and hazardous waste. They also cover emerging trends in environmental
hazards, such as micro-plastics or increased mercury levels in fish.
3. Medical Toxicology:
Through exploring the effects that drugs and medical procedures have on humans,
medical toxicologists uncover the adverse effects of medical treatments and establish
proper dosage and exposure guidelines for substances. They typically work in areas such
as drug abuse, chemical exposures, poison or envenomations (venom from an animal bite
or sting), and more.

Forensic Technique To Crime Detection - Toxicology

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Forensic Technique To Crime Detection - Toxicology

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Forensic Technique To Crime Detection - Toxicology

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Toxicology:

Through combining chemistry, biology, environmental science, and pharmacology,

Types of Toxicology Sciences

You might also like