poison and forensic importance

Type of poisons.

1. POION AND TYPES OF POISON Department of Forensic Science i Presented By ANU PRIYA SINGH

2. PRESENTATION OVERVIEW Abstract History Forensic toxicology Legal implication Characteristic of ideal poison Criminal offence Type of poison Sign and symptom Rout of poison Management of poison most common type of poison in India case study 2

3. POISON TYPES OF POISONS 3

4. POISON   poisons are substances that cause disturbances in organisms, usually by chemical reaction or other activity on the molecular scale, when an organism absorbs a sufficient quantity 4

5. HISTORY OF POISON Throughout human history, intentional application of poison has been used as a method of murder, suicide etc poison has been ingested, as the ancient Athenians, inhaled, as with carbon monoxide or hydrogen cyanide  or injected. indian surgeon  Sushruta  defined the stages of slow poisoning and the remedies of slow poisoning. He also mentions antidotes and the use of traditional substances to counter the effects of poisoning. 5

6. FORENSIC TOXICOLOGY The first comprehensive work on forensic toxicology was published in 1813 by Mathieu Orifila . He was a respected Spanish chemist and the physician who is often given the distinction of "father of toxicology." His work emphasized the need for adequate proof of identification and the need for quality assurance. It also recognized the application of forensic toxicology in pharmaceutical, clinical, industrial and environmental fields. Forensic toxicology is the use of toxicology and other disciplines such as analytical chemistry, pharmacology and clinical chemistry to aid medical or legal investigation of death, poisoning, and drug use. 6

7. LEGAL IMPLICATION OF POISON As per Section 284 IPC lays down the punishment for careless handling Of poisonous substance , while section 299, 302, 304A ,306,309,324, 326, 328 and 498A deal with offences relating to adminstration of such substance. The poison act [12 of 1919] is designed to regulate the importation,Possession , and sale of poisons. 7

8. CHARACTERISTICS OF “IDEAL” POISONS It should be odorless, tasteless, and colorless It should be readily soluble, preferably in water It should have a low-dose lethality It should be chemically stable. This makes it easy to store without loss of potency It should be easily obtained 8

9. CRIMINAL OFFENCE It is with intent to kill. With intent to cause serious injury For stupefying to facilitate a crime e.g robbery or rape To throw poison at another poison with intension to injury 9

10. POISONING Poisoning occurs when any substance interferes with normal body functions after it is swallowed, inhaled, injected, or absorbed . The branch of medicine that deals with the detection and treatment of poisons is known as toxicology. 10

11. NATURE OF POISONING IN INDIA Human poisoning classified as suicidal, Homicidal,and accidental. T hese type of poisoning are common in india . SUICIDAL POISONING Poison like potassium cyanide ,hydrocyanic ,opium, barbiturates, organophosphorus , organochloro and carbamate insecticides ,oxalic acid, and oleander,are commonly used for suicidal purpoes . 11

12. HOMICIDAL PURPOSES Poisons like arsenic ,antimony ,aconite , thalium , organophosphorus , organochloro , and carbamate compounds, oleander, madar , strychnine, powdered glass, rarely insulin and other drugs ,are used for homicidal purposes. ACCIDENTAL PURPOSES Accidental poisoning commonly occur due the carelessnes in handling and storing non poisonous materials with the poisonous materials.A number of cases of accidental poisoning have been reported from the greater use of chemicals in industry and for household purposes. 12

13. TYPES OF POISON AND THEIR EFFECT 13

14. CLASSIFICATION OF POISON Classification of poison can be done in number of way ,one depending on its general chemical properties ,other depending on its action on the body and so on.However,the clasification commonly done is based on the mode of action of poisons on the body.Accordingly , poison are classified in six groups. CORROSIVES IRRITANTS NEUROTICS CARDIAC ASPHYXIANTS MISCELLANEOUS 14

15. CORROSIVES A corrosives poison is a highly active irritant and produces inflammation and ulceration of the tissues. Corrosives poisons consists of : STRONG ACIDS Such as sulphuric acid,nitric acid,hydrochloric acids; organic acids, such as oxalic acid,carbolic acids, acetic acids. STRONG ALKALIS Such as caustic soda caustic potash and carbonates of ammonium, sodium, and potassium. 15

16. IRRITANTS Irritant poison produce symptoms like pain in the abdomen ,vomiting and purging. The postmortem is indicative of ulceration of the gatrointestional tract. The group conists of inorganic, organic, and mechanical substances. INORGANIC : The inorganic poisons consists of non metallic and metallic poison. NON METALLIC POISON : Such as phosphorus,chlorine , bromine,iodine ,and boron. METALLIC POISONS : Such as arsenic, antimony, mercury, lead, copper, thalium,zinc manganese. 16

17. ORGANIC: The organic poisons consists of vegetable and animal poisons. The vegetable poisons include castor oil seeds, croton oil, abrus , Precatorius , ergot, capicum , marking nut, madar , etc. The Animal Poison include catharides , snakes, scropians , spider, poisonous Insects. MECHANICAL: The mechanical subgroup include powdered glass, dried sponge, and diamond dust. 17

18. NEUROTICS Neurotic poison act mainly on the nervous system. All alkaloidal poisons Fall into this group, the poisonous effect Is due to the absorption ,and Effects even when greatly diluted with water. This group conists of poisons which have specific action on cerebrum, Spinal cord, and peripheral nerves. CEREBRAL: The poison mainly act on the cerebral ,they include narcotics like opium and its alkaloids, the inebriant include intoxicant Like alcohol, anaesthetics and sedative like chloral hydrate, barbiturate , fuel like petroleum, kerosene and insecticide like organophosphorus , Compounds such a malathion , parathion, and chloro compounds such as DDT and endrin : while deliriant include dhatura , belladonna, hyoscyamus ,cannabis. 18

19. SPINAL: The poisons acting on the spinal cord include nux vomica and its Alkaloids,and gelsemium . PERIPHERAL: The poions acting on the peripheral nerves include curare, and Conium. CARDIAC These are poisons acting on the heart and include digitalis, oleander ,aconite and tob . ASPHYXIANTS These poions act on lungs and include irrespirable gases, such as coal gas ,carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, sewar gas,and war gases. 19

20. MISCELLANEOUS Poisons having widely different action are put together in this group.It includes analgesics and antipyretics ,such as aspirin, Phenacetin , paracetamol ,and quinine ; antithistaminics ; tranquiliser such as chlorpromazine, meprobamate and reserpine ; antidepressants, such as tricylic compounds; stimulants such as amphetamines: and hallucinogens such as amphetamines; and hallucinogens such as LSD, peyote and Mescaline. 20

21. SIGN AND SYMPTOM OF POISON 21

22. SIGN AND SYMPTOMS OF POISONING Low level of consciousnes . ALTERED MOOD : lethargic,voilent , or hostile. Different breething rate Increased or lowered heart rate. Dilated or shrunken pupils. Change of colour around mouth. Cramps. Nausea. Vomiting Diarrhoea 22

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24. ROUTES OF ADMINISTRATION Poisons may be administered by different route: ENTERAL : By mouth. PARENTERAL: By injection. INHALATION: Through air passages. EXTERNAL APPLICATION: On wounds or even unbroken skin. INTRODUCTION INTO NATURAL ORIFICES: Eyes, nose,rectum etc SUBLINGUAL ROUTE 24

25. ACTION OF POISON ON ORGAN SYSTEM 25

26. ACTION OF POISONS LOCAL ACTION : Means its direct action on tissues. 1. Local Action, as seen in (a) corrosive poisons; (b) irritant poisons, causing congestion and inflammation of the mucous membranes--e.g., metallic and vegetable irritants; (c) stimulants or sedatives to the nerve endings. REMOTE ACTION : Result from absorption of the poisons into the system, for e.g alcohol, alkalod It may be of reflex character, as seen in the shock produced by the pain caused by corrosive poison, as belladonna on the cells of the brain, strychnine on the motor nerve cells of the spinal cord. 26

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28. MANAGEMENT OF POISONS Treatment of a recently ingested poison may involve gastric decontamination to decrease absorption. Gastric decontamination can involve  activated charcoal, gastric lavage , whole bowel irrigation, or  nasogastric aspiration Activated charcoal is the treatment of choice to prevent poison absorption Gastric  lavage , also commonly called  stomach pumping  or  gastric irrigation , It is the process of cleaning out the contents of the stomach. They may also be used before surgery, to clear the contents of the digestive tract. Emesis  produce vomiting It produce vomiting by emetic agent like 15 gm of musterd mixed with 200 ml of water, 30 gm of common salt into 200 ml of water 28

29. 29 Gastric  lavage

30. MOST COMMON TYPE OF POISON USED IN INDIA TO KILLED PEOPLE 30

31. CYANIDE 31

32. CYANIDE it is found in a great variety of substances like fatal dose of cyanide for humans is 1.5 mg per kilogram of body weight. Secondly, it’s a rapid killer: depending on the dose, death occurs within 1 to 15 minutes. Also, in its gaseous form – hydrogen cyanide – it was the agent used by Nazi Germany for mass murders in gas chambers during the apple seeds, apricot kernel, tobacco smoke, insecticides, pesticides and the list goes on. Murder in this case can be blamed on a household accident, such as ingestion of pesticide . EFFECTS: Headache, dizziness, fast heart rate, shortness of breath,and vomiting,cardiac arrest 32

33. ARSENIC Arsenic has been called “The King of Poisons”, for its discreetness and potency – it was virtually undetectable, so it was very often used either as a murder weapon or as a mystery story element. But that’s until the Marsh test came and signalled the presence of this poison in water, food and the like. However, this king of poisons has taken many famous lives. EFFECT: If arsenic poisoning occurs over a brief period of time symptoms may include vomiting, abdominal pain, encephalopathy, and watery diarrhea that contains blood. Long-term exposure can result in thickening of the skin, darker skin, abdominal pain, diarrhea, heart disease, numbness, and cancer 33

34. MERCURY Mercury poisoning is a type of metal poisoning due to mercury exposure. Symptoms depend upon the type, dose, method, and duration of exposure.They may include muscle weakness, poor coordination, numbness in the hands and feet, skin rashes, anxiety, memory problems, trouble speaking, trouble hearing, or trouble seeing.High level exposure to methylmercury is known as Minamata disease. Methylmercury exposure in children may result in acrodynia (pink's disease) in which the skin becomes pink and peels Long-term complications may include kidney problems and decreased intelligence. 34

35. BOTULINUM TOXIN Botulinum toxin (BTX) is a neurotoxic protein produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum and related species. It prevents the release of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine from axon endings at the neuromuscular junction and thus causes flaccid paralysis. Infection with the bacterium causes the disease botulism. The toxin is also used commercially in medicine, cosmetics, and research. It involves muscle paralysis, eventually leading to the paralysis of the respiratory system and, consequently, death. The bacteria enter the body through open wounds or by ingesting contaminated food. 35

36. ACONITE Aconite comes from the plant monkshood. Also known as wolfsbane , aconite leaves only one post-mortem sign, that of asphyxia, as it causes arrhythmic heart function which leads to suffocation. Poisoning can occur even after touching the leaves of the plant without wearing gloves as it is very rapidly and easily absorbed. Because of its untraceable nature it has been a popular one with the “get away with murder” crowd. Reportedly, it has a particularly famous casualty. 36

37. CRIME SCENE MANAGEMENT IN POISON CASES ROLE OF THE INVESTIGATION OFFICER AND MEDICAL OFFICER In cae of death due to poisoning ,it is the duty of the prosecution to prove the Nature of death , weather the death is homicidal, accidental, or suicidal Death. The articles to be collected in poison cases for analysis normally comprise of biological articles like viscera consisting of stomach, intestine,kidney , spleen,lungs , brain, etc.And all the articles from the crime scene like remnant of poison, the glass and other vessels used by the victim. The investigating officer should record the detail about the condition of the victim and also make arrangement for postmortem in case of death. PRESEVATION OF EVIDENCES: A through examination of the scene of death ,source of poison container like cups,bottle , jars,powder , food material should be done. 37

38. ANALYTICAL TECHNIUES IN ISOLATION OF POISON The inorganic poison from tissue ,stomach contents and other material are isolated by a number of methods and identified by chemical Tests and instrumental analysis .volatile poison are extracted by Steam distillation and identified by chemical tests and supplemented By gas chromatography.The non volatile organic poison are extracted By suitable solvent and identified by the TLC, GAS CHROMATOGRAPH. The visceral material including stomach ,intestine with their content Liver, spleen kidney , blood , urine and other biological fluids are Subjected to chemical analysis. 38

39. THANK YOU 39