Ch 9 Flashcards
What are the four stages following exposure to toxins, poisons, and drugs?
Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion or elimination.
What is absorption in toxicology?
Ingestion into the digestive tract, Inhalation into the lungs, Injection into the bloodstream, Absorbing through the skin.
What is distribution in toxicology?
Carried throughout the body by the circulatory system to organs like the brain, liver, and kidneys.
What happens during metabolism of a toxin?
The substance is broken down; toxins are removed by the liver and metabolized into less toxic forms.
What is excretion or elimination in toxicology?
Kidneys filter toxins as urine, Ingested substances passed as feces, Released through sweat glands, Exhaled through lungs.
How does acetaminophen affect the body?
Destroys liver cells and impairs detoxification ability.
What effect does cyanide have on the body?
Binds to hemoglobin, reducing oxygen availability, leading to loss of consciousness and death.
What is the effect of fentanyl?
Fifty times stronger than heroin, can cause overdoses and accidental deaths.
What does botulinum toxin cause?
Paralysis of muscles affecting breathing and heart, potentially leading to death.
What are the effects of cocaine on the body?
Causes high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke.
What are the categories of drugs based on body reactions?
Stimulants, Narcotics, Depressants, Hallucinogens, Anabolic steroids.
What is dosage in toxicology?
The amount of substance taken.
What does potency refer to in drugs?
Drugs with high potency may be lethal in very small amounts.
What is the duration in toxicology?
The frequency and length of exposure to a substance.
What are symptoms of poisoning?
Death with no trauma, Sudden unexpected death, Recurring unexplained illness, Similar symptoms in many people, Unexplained loss of consciousness.
What are the dangers of heavy metals?
Causes suicides, homicides, and accidental deaths, exposure through ingestion, inhalation, or skin absorption.
What is a common source of arsenic exposure?
Contaminates drinking water for millions globally.
How can children suffer from lead poisoning?
By eating old lead paint chips or drinking water from corroded lead pipes.
What is a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning?
Can lead to severe health issues or death due to lack of oxygen.
What is Carbon monoxide used for historically?
Used in Nazi gas chambers.
Where is cyanide naturally found?
In many seeds, inhaled when smoking cigarettes.
What type of poison is cyanide?
A quick-acting poison that interferes with oxygen use.
What are the sources of lead exposure?
Naturally occurring, found in gas, paints, weights, bullets.
What are the symptoms of lead overexposure?
Nausea, Abdominal pain, Insomnia, Headache, Weight loss, Constipation, Anemia, Kidney problems, Vomiting, Seizure, Coma, Death, Blue discoloration along gum line.
What is mercury exposure linked to?
Ingested in fish, Pollutant from coal-fired power plants.
What is mad hatter’s disease?
A progressive disorder caused by mercury exposure.
What are the acute symptoms of mercury poisoning?
Muscle aches, Stomach upset.
What are the chronic symptoms of mercury poisoning?
Irritability, Personality changes, Headache, Memory problems, Abdominal pain, Nausea, Vomiting, Salivation, Gum damage.
What is the source of arsenic exposure?
Naturally occurring in groundwater.
What are the symptoms of acute arsenic exposure?
Severe gastrointestinal symptoms, Difficulty speaking, Muscle cramps, Convulsions, Kidney failure, Delirium, Death.
What are the symptoms of chronic arsenic exposure?
Skin lesions, Changes in pigment, Headache, Personality changes, Coma.
What happens with carbon monoxide exposure?
Interferes with blood’s ability to absorb oxygen.
What are the effects of potassium chloride injections?
Affects the heart’s ability to send electrical signals.
What does sodium pentothal do?
Acts as a depressant, slowing down the CNS.
What can lethal injections be confused with?
Death by natural causes if no injection evidence.
What are the effects of pesticides and herbicides?
Longer exposure leads to more severe symptoms.
What are the symptoms of aldrin and dieldrin exposure?
Anxiety, Seizures, Twitching, Rapid heartbeat, Muscle weakness, Sweating, Excessive salivation, Diarrhea, Coma, Death.
What are the symptoms of glyphosate exposure?
Gastrointestinal problems, Skin irritation, Kidney malfunction, Death.
What are toxins?
Substances produced by plants, animals, or fungi that are poisonous to humans.
What is ricin?
A toxin lethal in quantities as small as 500 micrograms.
How quickly can death occur from ricin exposure?
Death can occur within 6-8 hours.
What are the issues related to toxins?
Improper disposal, Failure to alert public, Failure to remove poisonous materials.
What are drug schedules based on?
Based on abuse or dependence potential.
What defines Schedule 1 drugs?
No medical use, High potential for abuse (e.g., Heroin, LSD, Marijuana).
What defines Schedule 2 drugs?
Severely restricted medical use, High potential for abuse (e.g., Cocaine, Fentanyl).
What defines Schedule 3 drugs?
Accepted medical use, Moderate potential for abuse (e.g., Anabolic steroids, Ketamine).
What defines Schedule 4 drugs?
Medical use, Low potential for abuse (e.g., Xanax, Valium).
What defines Schedule 5 drugs?
Widely used for medical purposes, Low potential for abuse (e.g., Robitussin, CBD).
What reactions do hallucinogens cause?
Increased heart rate, Increased blood pressure, Dilated pupils.
What are narcotics derived from?
Derived from natural opium that depresses the CNS.
What are the symptoms of mescaline overdose?
Dizziness, Vomiting, Headaches, Diarrhea.
What are the symptoms of bath salts overdose?
Paranoia, Panic attacks, Aggressive behavior, Agitation, Hallucinations.
What are the symptoms of LSD overdose?
Dilated pupils, Loss of appetite, Sleeplessness, Increased body temperature.
What are the symptoms of psilocybin overdose?
Altered perceptions, Panic, Paranoia, Confusion.
What are the effects of marijuana?
Heightened sensory perception.
What are the symptoms of acute poisoning?
Irritated pupils, Loss of appetite, Sleepless nights, Increased body temperature.
What are the effects of Psilocybin?
Altered perceptions, Panic, Paranoia, Confusion.
What does Marijuana cause?
Heightened sensory perceptions, Impaired memory, Impaired judgment.
What is synthetic marijuana?
Herbs sprayed with synthetic THC.
What are the effects of PCP?
Feelings of invulnerability, Exaggerated strength, Seizure, Coma, Hyperthermia.
What are the effects of MDMA (Ecstasy)?
Euphoria, Increased energy, Empathy, Sweating, Impaired cognition.
What schedule do controlled substances belong to?
Schedule 2.
What do anabolic steroids promote?
Cell and tissue growth.
What is the first test a police officer can conduct?
Breathalyzer test to measure blood alcohol levels.
What is rapid preliminary testing used for?
Testing saliva for substances.
What does microscopic examination test for?
Plant matter.
What does the microcrystalline test examine?
Crystalline shape under UV spectroscopy.
What is gas chromatography used for?
Visually distinguish components prior to confirmatory testing.
What is the purpose of confirmatory testing?
To find chemical compounds in a drug sample.
What methods are used for drug testing?
Gas chromatography, Mass spectrometry, Capillary electrophoresis, Wet chemistry, Raman spectroscopy, Liquid chromatography.
What is acute poisoning caused by?
High doses over a short period, e.g., cyanide ingestion.
What is chronic poisoning?
Lower doses over long periods, e.g., mercury and lead poisoning.
