Forensic Toxicology

The most popular choice of weapon for a female serial killer is poison. At least 45 percent of female serial killers used poison on some of their victims. 35 percent of female serial killers only used poison on their victims (Vronsky, 43). So why is this method of killing so popular? The first reason is because most natural substances in the correct amount can be poisonous to humans. The second reason is that many poisons can copy common life threatening diseases, which leave physicians to assume that the victims died from natural causes (Ramsland, 2). To prevent this possible assumption from happening Forensic Toxicology was invented. 

What is Forensic Toxicology?

"Technically speaking, John Brenners Forensic Science Glossary defines toxicology as the study of poisons, but it also covers the detection of foreign substances in the body that can have a toxic effect, such as alcohol, industrial chemicals, poisonous gas, illegal drugs, or drug overdoses"(Ramsland, 2).  

The toxicology tests that are performed on a person that has passed away is called forensic toxicology or postmortem drug testing (Doheny, 1). Forensic toxicology isn't just important in determining if a case is foul play. Just as important it determines if a case is the result of suicide or accidental deaths (Ramsland, 2). 

How Forensic Toxicology Works: 

Getting a complete toxicology report can take time, in some cases four to six weeks, and in others even longer. The reason it can take a lengthy amount of time is because there may be a lot of specimens that need to be tested. During this process the toxicologist waits for information on the victims history and symptoms in hopes of narrowing down the testing of specimens (Ramsland, 2). The specimens could be blood, urine, tissue, or even stomach contents. If any specimens are positive it then has to be tested again in a more specialized test (Doheny, 3). An example of a specialized test is mass spectrometry, which can identify chemicals in substances by their mass and charge (Doheny, 2). Experts have to determine if in fact the drug or substance in the specimens are a therapeutic dose, a toxic dose, or a lethal dose. Lastly, this will answer the question if the certain doses contributed to the death or caused the death (Doheny, 3). 

Considering that a huge percentage of female serial killers use poison, it seems imperative to have forensic toxicology. This could be the evidence that will make or break a case that has not yet been solved. Advances in technology have proven helpful in the field of forensic toxicology. For example, you can now get hand held breathalyzers  to measure alcohol levels instead of testing the persons blood. As a result, in shorter time spans a case can be one step closer to finding an answer. As time goes by my hopes are that the field of forensic toxicology continues to grow. Even more so in the results of the tests. In some cases time is of the essence and the answers can't wait for weeks. Thankfully, in some cases the toxicology report solved the case. Proving to be beneficial to police and a curse to female serial killers. 

Works cited:

Doheny, Kathleen. "The Truth About Toxicology Test." WedMD. N.p. n.d. Web. 25 Mar.       2013.

Ramsland, Katherine. "Forensic Toxicology." . N.p. n.d. Web. 25 Mar.       2013.

Vronsky, Peter. "Female Serial Killers: How and Why Women Become Monsters." N.p. n.d. Web. 25 Mar.