Forensic Toxicology: Principles and Concepts

by Nicholas T. Lappas, Courtney M. Lappas

Overview

Forensic Toxicology: Principles and Concepts takes the reader back to the origins of forensic toxicology providing an overview of the largely unchanging principles of the discipline. The text focuses on the major tenets in forensic toxicology, including an introduction to the discipline, fundamentals of forensic toxicology analysis, types of interpretations based on analytical forensic toxicology results, and reporting from the laboratory to the courtroom. Forensic Toxicology also contains appendices covering the principles of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, immunology and immunological assays, toxicogenomics, and case studies.

• Significant emphasis on the fundamental principles and concepts of forensic toxicology
• Provides students with an introduction to the core tenets of the discipline, focusing on the concepts, strategies, and methodologies utilized by professionals in the field
• Coauthored by a forensic toxicologist with over 40 years of experience as a professor who has taught graduate courses in forensic and analytical toxicology and who has served as a consultant and expert witness in civil and criminal cases
• The book's companion website, http://textbooks.elsevier.com/web/Manuals.aspx?isbn=9780127999678 features exclusive web-based content

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780127999678
Publisher:	Elsevier Science
Publication date:	01/15/2016
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	376
Product dimensions:	7.50(w) x 9.25(h) x (d)

About the Author

Dr. Nicholas T. Lappas, an Associate Professor Emeritus in the Department of Forensic Sciences at the George Washington University, has extensive experience and demonstrated expertise in both the teaching and practice of forensic toxicology. In 1975, Dr. Lappas, was one of the first two full time faculty members appointed to the faculty of the Department of Forensic Sciences at the George Washington University. Prior to this appointment, he was a forensic toxicologist in the Allegheny Coroner’s Office in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. At GWU, he developed the MFS program in forensic toxicology, through which he has mentored hundreds of students and taught several graduate courses, including Forensic Toxicology, Analytical Toxicology, Medicinal Chemistry and Forensic Serology. Dr. Lappas’ research interests have been focused on the development of analytical toxicology methods and the evaluation of factors that influence the interpretation of analytical toxicology results. His professional activities include serving as a forensic toxicology consultant in more than 500 criminal and civil cases and as an expert witness in more than 100 cases.

Dr. Courtney Lappas, Professor of Biology and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Lebanon Valley College is a Molecular Pharmacologist who has extensive experience teaching and conducting biomedical research. Previously a Fellow at the National Institutes of Health, Dr. Lappas’ research interests focus on the utilization of novel pharmacological tools in the treatment and/or prevention of immunological pathologies. Dr. Lappas incorporates her experience in translational research into her teaching and mentoring in courses including Pharmacology, Immunology, Molecular Biology and Drugs and Society.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: The Development of Forensic Toxicology Chapter 2: The Duties and Responsibilities of Forensic Toxicologists Chapter 3: Forensic Toxicology Resources Chapter 4: The Laboratory Chapter 5: Analytical Strategy Chapter 6: Sample Handling Chapter 7: Storage Stability of Analytes Chapter 8: Analytical Samples Chapter 9: Sample Preparation Chapter 10: Methods of Detection, Identification and Quantitation Chapter 11: Quality Assurance and Quality Control Chapter 12: Types of Interpretations Chapter 13: Reports Chapter 14: Testifying

APPENDICES Appendix A: Principles of Pharmacokinetics Appendix B: Principles of Pharmacodynamics Appendix C: Immunoassays Appendix D: Toxicogenomics Appendix E: Famous Cases in Forensic Toxicology

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

A foundational text for courses in forensic toxicology

Editorial Reviews

Reviewer: Udayan Apte, PhD, DABT (University of Kansas Medical Center)
Description: This foundational overview of the discipline of forensic toxicology includes a historical perspective, basic methods, and practical strategies for the implementation and application of these principles in the laboratory and legal setting.
Purpose: The purpose is to provide an introduction to the basic tenets of forensic toxicology. The book begins with the historical origins and responsibilities of the field as a necessary contextual framework. With that framework in mind, it then describes how a forensic toxicology laboratory is established and basic strategies for sample preparation, storage, and analysis. Finally, it explains how results are interpreted and presented in a legal framework. This is an approachable and interesting primer that helps students build upon previous studies and incorporate new information, and guides them in the application of these techniques and strategies to address what would otherwise be intractable problems.
Audience: Upper-level undergraduate and beginning graduate students are the primary audience for this book. Additional audiences include technicians, scientists, and leaders of analytical forensic toxicology laboratories. Lawyers and instructors also will find this book useful.
Features: This book is well organized, beginning with two chapters that build a contextual framework by summarizing the history and ethics of forensic toxicology. The third chapter provides a list of available resources for detailed information beyond the scope of this book. Chapters 4 and 5 introduce the establishment of forensic toxicology laboratories and strategies used in them. Chapters 6 to 10 provide practical information about the inner workings of these laboratories and cover topics ranging from sample handling, storage, and preparation to methods of analysis. Chapters 11 and 12 discuss the administrative responsibilities of forensic toxicology laboratories such as QA/QC and interpretation of results. The last two chapters explain how forensic toxicologists generate official reports of findings and testify in legal proceedings. Four appendixes provide additional basic scientific principles underlying the field, such as pharmacokinetics, and a final appendix describes some famous cases.
Assessment: This is a very useful reference for students, professionals, and instructors. It provides a synthesis of scientific and ethical methods as they apply to the field of forensic toxicology. This book appears to be unique in this regard.

Doody's Review Service

"...the text certainly meets its aim and I would recommend students studying forensic toxicology to view this as a useful reference book." —Interfaces

"...a very useful reference for students, professionals, and instructors. It provides a synthesis of scientific and ethical methods as they apply to the field of forensic toxicology. This book appears to be unique in this regard. Score: 83 - 3 Stars" —Doody's

From the Publisher