Principles of Forensic Toxicology

Abstract

Edited by Barry Levine, 370 pp, with illus, Washington, DC, American Association for Clinical Chemistry, 1999.The back cover of Principles of Forensic Toxicology describes the book as “a comprehensive textbook for students taking a one-semester course in forensic toxicology,” and it is exactly that. It is an excellent reference, useful not only for students but also for forensic pathologists and laboratory personnel. The text is a compilation of topics written by experts in their fields. Each topic is written in a clear, straightforward manner using simple language, but the book assumes a basic knowledge of physiology and chemistry on the part of the reader. Although specific studies are not referenced within the body of the text, the end of each chapter includes both general and more specialized references to the primary literature. The concepts discussed are clearly illustrated with figures and tables.The book is divided into 3 sections. The first section is dedicated to the fundamental principles of toxicology, including chapters on postmortem forensic toxicology, performance toxicology, forensic drug testing, and pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. These chapters give a well-rounded overview of these fields and include historical perspectives that are not only interesting to read but also important for understanding the development of the field.The second section is devoted to methods of toxicology, including specimen preparation and specific techniques such as spectrophotometry, chromatography, immunoassay, and mass spectrometry. Although not intended as instructional manuals, these chapters are comprehensive in explaining both the theory and mechanics of techniques used in toxicology. The schematic diagrams explaining the principles of complex pieces of equipment are impressively clear.The third and most extensive section of the book focuses on specific analytes. Each chapter includes sections on effects, mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics, methods of analysis, and interpretation of results. The covered families of analytes include alcohol, central nervous system depressants, opioids, cocaine, marijuana, amphetamines, hallucinogens, antidepressants, carbon monoxide and cyanide, inhalants, and metals.One of the most noticeable strengths of the book is its evenness. Although it contains 20 chapters and almost as many authors, the organization and presentation of the material in each chapter are remarkably uniform. As a result, the book flows easily from chapter to chapter as if written by a single author. This uniformity, combined with the detailed index, enables the reader to rapidly and efficiently locate specific information.Overall, Principles of Forensic Toxicology is an impressive textbook with a wealth of information covering a broad spectrum of topics. The material is very well presented, and this should be an excellent textbook for students.