| Forensic chemistry | |
| Unit Code | ASC 13 |
| Credits | 5 |
| Prerequisites | ASC 1 to 5 |
| TEACHING STAFF | Prof. Wojciech Piekoszewski, Prof. Paweł Kościelniak, Dr Katarzyna Madej, Dr Renata Wietecha-Posłuszny, Dr Michał Woźniakiewicz |
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
PART I: Forensic toxicology: Prof. W. Piekoszewski, Dr K. Madej, Dr R. Wietecha Posłuszny
History of forensic toxicology. Trends in the modern toxicology. Basic terms in toxicology. Migration of xenobiotics in human body. Factors of toxicity. Mechanism of
toxic activity. Interactions of poisons. Toxicology of medicines. Selected drugs of toxicological interest. Toxicology of poisons of natural origin. Toxicity of drugs
of abuse and narcotics. Toxicology of pesticides. Toxicity of organic solvents. Toxicological problems of selected metals (metalloids) and nonmetals
(their inorganic connection). Sample preparation techniques. Methods for determination of xenobiotics in biological material and interpretation of the obtained results.
Determination of psychotropic drugs in body fluids. Determination of selenium and arsenic in biological materials.
PART II: Criminalistics: Prof. P. Kościelniak, Dr. M. Woźniakiewicz
Fundamentals of criminalistics. Definition of criminalistic traces. Characterization of criminalistic traces and microtraces (ink, glass, oil, paint, fiber, GSR, etc.),
Principle of criminalistic expertise. Role and tasks of chemists in criminalistic investigations. Physicochemical methods used in criminalistic examinations.
Analytical approach to criminalistic problems. Selected examples of analytical examinations of criminalistic traces. Analysis of questioned documents:
discrimination of inks.
OBJECTIVE OF THE COURSE:
The aims of this unit are:
- To highlight the most important issues of forensic chemistry and to develop the competence of the students in this field
- To introduce the analytical problems in forensic toxicology and criminalistics
- To train students in selected analytical techniques used in forensic chemistry
INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES:
After completing this unit students should be able to cope with
- Main problems related to the forensic chemistry
- Different methods and techniques used for analysis of biological tissues and criminalistic traces
- Description of the role and tasks of a chemist as a forensic expert
TEACHING AND LEARNING ACTIVITIES:
| TERM | NAME | L | S/E | P |
| 2 | Forensic chemistry | 30 | 5 | 24 |
| Part I : Part I : Forensic toxicology | 18 | 0 | 16 | |
| Part II : Part II : Criminalistics | 12 | 0 | 8 |
Student centered learning: 71 hours; Total student effort: 130 hours
LANGUAGE OF INSTRUCTION: English
RECOMMENDED READING:
D.M. Osselton, Forensic Toxicology, Taylor & Francis, 2004
Forensic Toxicology Methods, edited by B.A. Goldberger and D.S. Isenschmid, , Taylor & Francis, 2005
L.J. Ling, R.F. Clark, T.B. Erickson and J.H. ,Toxicology Secrets, Hanley & Belfus, Medical Publishers, 2000
S.R., Criminalistics: An Introduction to Forensic Science, 8th edition, Prentice Hall, 2003
S. Bell, Forensic Chemistry, Prentice Hall, 2005
RECOMMENDED WEBSITES:
http://forensic.to/forensic.html
http://www.forensic-science-society.org.uk ; http://www.forensica.com,
SCHEDULE AND LEARNING METHOD:
Forensic toxicology:
| Weeks | Type | Duration | Course description |
| 1 | L | 3 | Introduction to forensic toxicology |
| 2 | L | 3 | Main issues of forensic toxicology |
| 3 | L | 3 | Analytical problems related to forensic toxicology |
| 4 | P | 8 | Determination of psychotropic drugs in body fluids |
| 5 | L | 3 | Areas of toxicological examinations in forensic chemistry |
| 6 | L | 3 | Sample preparation techniques |
| 7 | L | 3 | Chemist as an forensic expert in toxicology |
| 8 | P | 8 | Determination of selenium and arsenic in biological materials |
Criminaistics:
| Weeks | Type | Duration | Course description |
| 1 | L | 3 | Introduction to criminalistics |
| 2 | L | 3 | Areas of criminalistic examinations |
| 3 | L | 3 | Analytical problems related to criminalistics |
| 4 | L | 3 | Chemist as an forensic expert in criminalistics |
| 5 | P | 8 | Analysis of questioned documents: discrimination of inks |
ASSESSMENT:
Oral examination on 2 topics (60%); oral presentation of one topic (15%) and practicals evaluation (25%)