FORENSIC
CHEMISTRY AND
TOXICOLOGY
REPORTER: ADANA A. CASTRO
INTRODUCTION TO
CHEMISTRY
WHO IS THE FATHER OF CHEMISTRY?
ANS: ANTOINE LAURENT LAVOISIER
• French chemist and leading
figure in the 18th-century who
developed an experimentally
based theory of the chemical
reactivity of oxygen.
FOUNDERS OF FORENSIC
TOXICOLOGY
PARACELSUS
•FATHER OF MODERN
TOXICOLOGY.
•The “ Luther of Medicine”
•The founder of medicinal
chemistry
MATHIEU JOSEPH BONAVENTURE
ORFILA
• “Father of Toxicology”
• He worked to improve public
health systems and medical
training.
• He systematized the
classification of toxins.
Forensic Chemistry
• Is the use of scientific methods
or expertise to investigate crimes
or examine evidence that might
be presented in a court of law.
FORENSIC SCIENCE
• Is the use of science and
technology to enforce civil and
criminal laws.
FORENSIC
CHEMIST- a person
that practices
Forensic Chemistry
to aid in an
investigation.
FORENSIC
FORENSICTOXICOLOGY
TOXICOLOGY- deals
with the medical and legal aspects
of the harmful effects of chemicals
on human beings.
TOXICOLOGY- from the Greek word
toxicos- “poisonous” and “logos” to
study.
TOXICOLOGICAL EXAMINATION-
medical inspection of an individual
who is, or suspected of being,
SIX GOLDEN RULES IN THE
PRACTICE OF FORENSIC
CHEMISTRY:
1. Go slowly
2. Be thorough
3. Take notes
4. Consult others
5. Use imagination
6. Avoid complicated theories
FACTORS THAT MUST BE
CONSIDERED WHEN
COLLECTING SPECIMEN FOR
EXAMINATION:
1.SUFFICIENCY OF SAMPLES
2.STANDARD FOR
COMPARISON
3.MAINTENANCE OF
INDIVIDUALITY
4.LABELING AND SEALING
EQUIPMENTS USED IN FORENSIC
EXAMINATION:
SPECTROPHOTOMETER
• instrument used to aide in
the identification of
compound.
• it measure the amount of
chemical substance.
EQUIPMENTS USED IN FORENSIC
EXAMINATION
GAS CHROMATOGRAPH-MASS
SPECTROMETER
•confirmatory test in drug
testing.
• can detect any drug.
FORMS OF
SCIENTIFIC
EVIDENCE
REAL OR AUTOPTIC
EVIDENCE
TESTIMONIAL EVIDENCE
DOCUMENTARY
EVIDENCE
TYPES OF
WITNESSES
ORDINARY WITNESS
• Can only state what his senses
perceived
• May not be skilled in the line which
he is testifying
EXPERT WITNESS
• State what he has perceived
and give his opinion,
deductions and conclusions to
his perception.
DRUG TEST
It
is the determining the
presence of a drug and its
metabolites in the human body.
SPECIMENS THAT CAN BE USED IN A
DRUG TEST:
BLOOD
FINGERNAILS
HAIR
SALIVA
TWO PHASES IN THE
EXAMINATION OF THE
ALLEGED DANGEROUS
DRUGS
1. SCREENING TEST OR
PRELIMINARY TEST- positive
results of these tests are NOT
CONCLUSIVE
2.CONFIRMATORY TEST- to
confirm the results of the
preliminary test.
POISON
when introduced to
the body, may cause
changes that will
result to injury and
death.
TYPES OF
POISONS
1.CORROSIVE
POISONS
2.TRUE POISON
3.CUMULATIVE
POISONS
WHAT IS BLOOD?
An adult human has about 4-6 liters
of blood circulating in the body and
is made up four elements namely;
Red blood cells- contain
hemoglobin.
White blood cells- fight infection
Platelets- help the blood to clot, if
you get a wound for example.
Plasma- contains salt and various
kinds of proteins.
THE DISCOVERY OF
BLOOD GROUPS
KARL LANDSTEINER
DISCOVERED ABO BLOOD
GROUP SYSTEM IN THE
YEAR 1901.
He identified three types,
called A, B, and O.
What is meant by the term universal
donor and universal recipient?
Type O- they are called
“universal donors” because
their blood can be given to
all 4 blood types.
Type AB- persons are
called “universal recipients”
Observations and
Interpretation
Blood typing is a crucial tool in
forensic investigations for the
following reasons:
IDENTIFICATION
PATERNITY TESTING
SCENE RECONSTRUCTION
COLD CASE INVESTIGATIONS
HAIR AND TEXTILE
FIBERS
hair evidence is one
of the most common
types of evidence
encountered in
criminal
investigations.
SOURCES OF HUMAN
HAIR
1.Head Hairs
2.Pubic Hairs
3.Facial Hairs
4.Limb Hairs
5.Fringe Hairs
6.Other Body Area
Hairs
Significance of Hair
Evidence
Recovered hairs can hold
important clues.
The involvement of other
within a victim’s social
circle who may have logical
contact with or access to
the victim or crime scene.
VALUE OF FIBER AS
EVIDENCE
1.Fiber evidence is seldom
and conclusive to itself
2.Can help locate a suspect
3.Can be interchanged
between the victim and
the suspect
SEARCHING FOR
FIBER EVIDENCE
Collection of fiber evidence
can be a difficult task.
Pay particular attention to
pocket, cuffs, and linings.
Crime scene area should
should be carefully searched.
THANK YOU
FOR
LISTENING!
