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Forensic toxicology studies toxins in the body, animals, and the environment. Forensic toxicologists analyze samples for traces of toxins and their effects on the body. They can be involved in criminal cases and require a degree in chemistry and additional training.
Forensic toxicology is a branch of the field of chemistry that focuses on the study of toxins and their applications in forensic science. Forensic toxicologists can examine tissue and fluid samples from the human body to look for toxins and also check for toxins in animals and the natural environment. They may be involved in a variety of criminal cases, from suspected racehorse poisonings to investigations of chemical pollution allegations.
Like other chemists, forensic toxicologists can use a variety of tools to analyze samples and see what they contain. An additional layer of complexity is involved in forensic toxicology, because plants and animals metabolize toxins when ingested, and it is unusual to find a toxin in its original form in the body. Forensic toxicologists sometimes look primarily for traces that indicate a chemical was once present in the body, rather than trying to identify the chemical itself, because the chemical may be long gone.
Humans have studied poisons and their effects for thousands of years, concerned with many of the same issues involved in modern forensic toxicology, such as how toxins are derived, what they do to the body, and how the body tries to metabolize or eliminate them. . Understanding this information can help analysts look for specific toxins.
Toxicology screens, routinely performed on deceased individuals, are performed by a forensic toxicologist looking for unusual substances or materials in the body. Sometimes a toxicology screen will reveal an unusual increase in a substance that is not necessarily toxic but can provide information about the crime. Forensic toxicology can also involve examining animal remains, along with evidence found at a scene that may indicate the presence of toxins. For example, people might find dead plants near a waterway and have a forensic toxicologist examine the plants and nearby water to see if there are toxins in the water that are causing the plants to die.
To become a forensic toxicologist, someone generally must become a forensic chemist and focus specifically on toxins during their study. Some colleges specifically offer degrees in forensic toxicology to their students. Typically, a bachelor’s degree in chemistry is required to work as a forensic chemist or toxicologist, along with additional training and work experience in forensics. Initially, graduates can work under the supervision of someone with more experience while learning the nature of their work and being able to work independently on assigned tasks.
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