Toxicology
TOXIC AGENTS
- Alcohol
- Ethanol (grain alcohol): most commonly abused chemical substance
- Ethanol (grain alcohol): most commonly abused chemical substance
| STAGES OF IMPAIRMENT | |
| BLOOD ALCOHOL (% w/v) | SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS |
| 0.01 – 0. 05 | No obvious impairment, some changes observable on performance testing |
| 0.03 – 0.12 | Mild euphoria, decreased inhibitions, some impairment of motor skills |
| 0.09 – 0.25 | Decreased inhibitions, loss of critical judgment, memory impairment, diminished reaction time |
| 0.18 – 0.30 | Mental confusion, dizziness, strongly impaired motor skills (staggering, slurred speech) |
| 0.27 – 0.40 | Unable to stand or walk, vomiting, impaired consciousness |
| 0.35 – 0.50 | Coma and possible death |
0.10 – PRESUMPTIVE EVIDENCE OF DRIVING UNDER ALCOHOL INFLUENCE
Cyanide
- Odor of bitter almonds
Arsenic
- Odor of garlic;
- keratinophilic
Carbon monoxide
- Odorless, colorless and tasteless gas
- Binds to hemoglobin 250 times (in terms of affinity) as compared to oxygen
- Makes blood cherry-red in color
Mercury
- Nephrotoxic and can bind myelin (in neurons)
Lead
- Specimen of choice: whole blood
- Inhibits enzymes D-ALA synthetase & pyrimidine-5’-nucleotidase
Organophosphates
- Found in insecticides and pesticides
- Hepatotoxic
- Can inhibit enzyme acetylcholinesterase
| DRUGS OF ABUSE | |
| DRUG | METABOLITE |
| Amitriptyline | Nortryltyline |
| Cocaine | Benzoylecgonine |
| Heroin | Morphine |
| Marijuana | Tetrahydrocannabinol |
| Primodine | Phenobarbital |
| Procainamide | NAPA |
