Journal of Forensic Chemistry and Toxicology

Over-The-Counter (OTC) analgesics are very commonly used in our country and sometimes taken without the doctor’s prescription. Though generally these medicines are considered safe, but they can produce complications when taken in excess doses. The authors report a case of an adolescent girl who consumed acetaminophen-ibuprofen combination pills present in her home for headache, which proved fatal. The authors aim to highlight and increase awareness about the hidden dangers in careless and unsupervised use of these medicines. The possibility of death with overdose of even commonly prescribed drugs should be understood, studied well and should be taught to patients to keep such medications away from their children. Accessibility and availability of OTC drugs should be restricted in accordance with the recommended daily usage.

It’s popular Myth among medical professionals that All Poisonings are unpredictable, unpreventable and unsalvageable. But the Fact is we can predict the Seasons of Poisons, Environmental hazards, Toxic Disasters. And prepare our Emergency Medical Services for better management by stocking the relevant antidotes, thus preventing mortality and morbidity by public awareness prior to the season of poisons. And based on Toxic Calendar, we can Promote Safety Precautions for safely storing Household Poisons, Toxins, and Chemicals.

The present review article discusses the advances in electrochemical sensing for applications in forensic science to solve criminal conspiracy and cases. The basic principle involved in electrochemical sensing has been discussed along with their technical features and limitations. Furthermore, the significance of electrochemical sensing in the analysis of forensic samples i.e heavy metals, drugs, illicit compounds, biological weapons with suitable illustrations have been presented. The advances in electrochemical sensors have so far documented tremendous findings to assist forensic experts in correlating crime incidents with documents with some drawbacks. This linkage between the success and failure of electrochemical sensing in forensic sciences has tried to establish in interest in the safety and security of a society.

Scopolamine, named also hyoscine, is a tropane alkaloid drug with antimuscarinic effects. It is also a tertiary ammonium compound, so it can be easily absorbed by the gut and the most important thing is that it crosses the hematoencephalic barrier (blood-brain barrier). This substance has many effects on the human body and it is produces effects on a range of micrograms. Scopolamine itself is used as a treatment for some diseases in low doses (like kinetosis), but when it comes to use it as a weapon, it’s mixed up with some other substances to produce the compost called burundanga. Burundanga is the cocktail and scopolamine is the main active principle. Regarding to its physical appearance, burundanga is a white thin dust similar to cocaine, tasteless and odourless. Scopolamine can be find almost in all the species of the Solenaceae family. The drug is stored in the plant’s flowers, leaves, and stems. Scopolamine is obtained principally from Datura stramonium, Brugmansia candida, and Hyoscyamus albus. There are many ways to commit a crime, but the perfect crime is not a concept easily achieved. Scopolamine is the ideal example. This substance has been utilised for a long time by humans and has been considered a gate to extra sensorial experiences with spirits. Nowadays though, it has turned into a majestic crime weapon or tool.

The term Toxic alcohol include as a proper name Methanol, and is applied both to the absolute substance further specified by chemists as methyl alcohol, and to its mixtures with smaller proportions of water and slight proportions of other substances. In chemistry, the word alcohol is used as a common or generic name to designate several series of substances containing Ethanol in different percentages. Alcohol consumption has existed in India for many centuries. The quantity of toxicity problem has undergone substantial changes over the past twenty years. In India many deaths are related to intake of toxic alcohol. These are liquors made in India under government license and the maximum Ethanol content allowed is 42.8%. Besides licensed distilleries, a number of small production units operate clandestinely. The toxic alcohol is industrial methylated sprits which regularly cause mass toxicity to humans, who lose their lives or suffer irreversible eye damage and overdose of methanol is death results in this research survey showed that maximum youth are not aware about the toxic alcohols. There is an urgent need to make people aware about methanol toxicity.

Hair is an important piece of evidence in forensic investigations. Analysis of the morphological features (medulla) of hair has been reported since the early 1800’s. However, many questions still remain unanswered especially as to, how local populations could be analysed and separated from each other based on the morphology (medulla) of their hair. In the Present Study medulla types of hair have been examined among the Ashanti and Dagomba, two important populations of Ghana by using the Comparison and Compound microscope together with Computer imaging. Statistical analysis has been performed on the data to determine the variability and relationships between the two populations. Medulla have been found to be absent in 51.5% of the Ashanti population examined while among the Dagomba it has been observed to be 33%. The difference between the two populations for their medulla types have been found to be statistically insignificant.

Background: Knowledge, attitudes and practice of road traffic regulations and safe driving have an important impact on RTA, few studies of India. Aims: To study and analyse data of the current status of knowledge, awareness and practice about Road traffic safety among the students of age group between 18-25 years. Materials and Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among medical students of, Krishna Institute of medical sciences, Karad for a period of 2 months. 214 subjects were selected from students between the age group of 18-25 years. Results: All 214 subjects in the study are medical students participated in study in the age group 18 – 25 years. Nearly 80% of the students said that they had adequate knowledge of road traffic regulations and more than one third (36%) mentioned that high speed was the most important cause of RTAs. 39.9 % students are aware of Good Samratian Law. Importance of the use of seat belts, about 90% were strongly convinced of its importance, using seat belts, 38.7% felt convinced of its use. More than half of the students thought that the use of seat belts reduced the disabilities caused by RTAs. 98.1% students know it is compulsory to wear helmet but only 43.9% students actually wear it. 97.6% know it is against the law and safety to use mobile phones while driving but only 51% of students avoid it. Conclusion: The knowledge and attitude of the members does not necessarily reflect into their practice. Hence, laws should be made more stringent and public should follow them in good faith.