Whispers of Danger :- The Shadows of Poisoning

As we all know, forensic toxicology is the field of forensic science which helps to determine that, whether there is any kind of poison or toxic substances in the biological samples (blood, urine, hairs, nails, stomach wash etc.) or not. The analysis of these poisons and toxic substances shows the role of those poisons or toxic substances in a particular crime. Toxicology is “the science of poisons.” Paracelsus said that, “all things are poison and nothing is without poison.” Poison can be harmful or even cause death and not only for humans, but also for animals and plants. There are various routes of administration of poison into the body such as ingestion, inhalation, injection etc.

What is poison ?

• A poison is any substance (solid, liquid, gas) which, if comes into contact with a living body or any part of the living body then it impairs health or ultimately leads to death through its effects.
• Each agent can be harmful if acted upon in sufficient quantities by the organism.
• It is a naturally occurring or manufactured substances that can cause harm or death.

What is poisoning ?

• Poisoning is when a person takes any substance that causes serious illness or death by injection, absorption, inhalation or ingestion.
• Poisoning can be an accidental, homicidal or suicidal.
• The symptoms and treatments of poisoning are depending on the type of poison. Different poisons cause different signs and symptoms.

Causes of poisoning

Poisoning occurs due to:

• Chemical substances
• Food poisoning
• Medicine: a medicine in a toxic dose is a poison.
• Toxic plants
• Skin contacts with plants, animals etc.
• Criminal purpose
• Addiction of drugs or alcohol
• Accidental poisoning
• Self-medication
• Improper formulation of medicine

Routes of administration

    Administration route is often classified by the location at which the drug is applied, such as enteral route, parental route or any other route. It is also known as the route of exposure. A path by which any substance taken into the body of an individual.

    Enteral route :- Enteral administration is food or drugs are taken orally and swallowed. They move through the gastrointestinal tract and are mostly absorbed in the small intestine. This route is convenient and frequently results in slow and extended drug release, but it can be influenced by factors such as first-pass metabolism in the liver. Enteral administration of poisons typically comprises both oral and rectal administration.

    Oral (in the mouth) :- The pH of the buccal cavity and mouth is between 4-5. The gums and the tongue are the most absorbent areas in the mouth and can be used as a medication delivery route intake. Sublingual absorption is quick because it changes the medicine or poison straight through the route of the heart. Although this may take some time, it is a better method of transporting the poison directly through the heart.

    The rectal :- Some medication can be converted into suppository and placed into the anus. They are absorbed directly into the bloodstream via the mucosal membranes. The mucosal membranes are extremely fragile, and administration of extremely acidic or extremely alkaline. Alkaline medications have a tendency to burn the tissue and cause damage. Just because these are internal, it is frequently difficult to determine how much damage has been done to membranes.

    Parenteral routes :- This route involves giving medications directly into the body via injection. Parenteral administration bypasses the digestive system and allows medications to be absorbed directly into the bloodstream resulting in a quick start of effect. Parental poison administration encompasses the following poison administration methods:

• Intradermal
• Intravenous
• Intraosseous
• Intra-arterial
• Intramuscular
• Subcutaneous
• Inhalation

    Intradermal :- Intradermal injection is not a typical method of intentional poisoning since people prefer to swallow or inhale poisonous substances. However, chemicals may be intentionally introduced into the body through intramuscular injections in some situations, particularly in the context of illicit drug use or in laboratories. This approach enables for the substance’s fast absorption into the circulation of blood.

    Intravenous :- The injection or introduction of a chemical directly into the bloodstream via a vein is referred to as intravenous administration. This route of administration is frequently linked to deliberate drug usage, medical procedures, or in certain cases of poisoning.

    Intraosseous :- Intraosseous administration is a method of introducing chemicals directly into the bone marrow space. This approach is frequently utilized in emergency medicine when establishing intravenous access is difficult or impossible. Fluids, drugs, or other substances can be delivered directly into the systemic circulation via the intraosseous route.

    Intra-arterial :- The delivery or introduction of chemicals directly into an artery is referred to as intra-arterial. Typically, this method is utilized for medical purposes, such as administering drugs, or therapeutic interventions. Intra-arterial administration permits the introduction of drugs to a particular part of the body provided by an artery.

    Intramuscular :- The delivery or injection of chemicals directly into muscle tissue is referred to as intramuscular. In medical practice, this technique is routinely employed to provide drugs, vaccinations, or other therapeutic substances. In forensic toxicology, the study of chemicals in muscle tissue may be useful in cases where drugs or toxins were administered intramuscularly.

    Subcutaneous :- Subcutaneous administration or introduction refers to the administration or introduction of chemicals directly into the subcutaneous tissue, which is the layer of tissue just beneath the skin.

    Inhalation :- Inhalation is the process of breathing in, and it especially refers to the entrance of chemicals into the body via the respiratory toxicology. Inhalation is a popular and efficient technique for people to be exposed to many chemicals such as medications, poisons, and chemicals.

References :-

1. https://www.ojp.gov
2. http://www.emedicinehealth.com
3. https://www.msdmanuals.com
4. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org
5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov