The teaching of Forensic Toxicology provides the basic knowledge for the understanding of the mechanisms underlying the poisonings and acute poisoning induced by drugs, illegal drugs, volatile organic compounds (for example ethyl alcohol) and, in general, by xenobiotics. More specifically are studied the analytical techniques to identify and quantify the toxic substances in biological matrices.
The course will provide the knowledge of morphological and functional features of human organs in order to allow the microscopical analysis of bioptic fragments. Furthermore, the students will acquire the ability to indentify organs molecular markers through immunohistochemistry and immunofluorecence analysis.
Frontal lessons:
- concept of poison
- diagnosis of poisoning
- brief description of the pharmacokinetics (absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of drugs)
- methodology of chemical-toxicological survey
- carbon monoxide
- drugs of abuse, ethyl alcohol, opiates and derivatives, cannabis, cocaine, amphetamines, hallucinogens, drugs, volatile substances
- legal aspects of drugs
- ethyl alcohol and driving
- research for drugs in biological and non-organic samples
Laboratory exercises
Bertol E, Mari F, Lodi F, Marozzi E. Trattato di tossicologia forense. CEDAM, Padova, 2000.
Bertol E. Analitica tossicologia. Aspetti tecnici interpretativi, giuridici e deontologici, Esculapio, 2011.