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Forensic Toxicology

Principles and Concepts

  • 2nd Edition - October 22, 2021
  • Latest edition
  • Authors: Nicholas T. Lappas, Courtney M. Lappas
  • Language: English

**Selected for Doody’s Core Titles® 2024 in Toxicology**The second edition of Forensic Toxicology: Principles and Concepts takes the reader back to the origins of forensic toxi… Read more

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Description

**Selected for Doody’s Core Titles® 2024 in Toxicology**

The second edition of 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, principles of forensic toxicology including pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, drug interactions and toxicogenomics, fundamentals of forensic toxicology analysis, types of interpretations based on analytical forensic toxicology results, and reporting from the laboratory to the courtroom. Also included in the second edition is a Unit focused on the forensic toxicology of individual drugs of abuse.

Key features

  • Includes 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

Readership

Upper Level Undergraduate Students and beginning Graduate Students studying Forensic Toxicology and/or Forensic Chemistry

Table of contents

UNIT I: PRINCIPLES OF TOXICOLOGY

1. Principles of Pharmacokinetics

2. Principles of Pharmacodynamics

3. Drug Interactions

4. Toxicogenomics

UNIT II: INTRODUCTION TO FORENSIC TOXICOLOGY

5. The development of forensic toxicology

6. The Duties and Responsibilities of Forensic Toxicologists

7. Forensic Toxicology Resources

8. The Laboratory

UNIT III: ANALYSIS

9. Analytical Strategy

10. Sample Handling

11. Storage Stability of Analytes

12. Analytical Samples

13. Sample Preparation

14. Methods of Detection, Identification, and Quantitation

15. Quality Assurance and Quality Control

16. Analytical Errors

UNIT IV: INTERPRETATION

17. Types of Interpretations

18. Factors that Influence the Interpretations of Analyte Concentration

UNIT V: REPORTING

19. Reports

20. Testifying

UNIT VI: DRUGS OF ABUSE

21. Ethanol

22. Opioids

23. Morphine

24. Heroin

25. Fentanyls

26. Cannabinoids

UNIT VII: Cases in Toxicology

27. The Case of William Palmer

28. The Case of Marie Bernard

29. The Case of Claus von Bulow

30. Physician Poisoners

Appendix A. Glossary

Product details

  • Edition: 2
  • Latest edition
  • Published: December 27, 2021
  • Language: English

About the authors

NL

Nicholas T. Lappas

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.
Affiliations and expertise
The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA

CL

Courtney M. Lappas

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.
Affiliations and expertise
Lebanon Valley College, Annville, PA, USA

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