Which poison has been used as a terrorist weapon?
A.
arsenic
B.
ricin
C.
thallium
D.
cyanide
B. Ricin
A person’s blood alcohol content (BAC) depends ONLY on how much alcohol they’ve consumed.
A.
True
B.
False
B. False.
A person's blood alcohol content (BAC) does not only depend on how much alcohol they have consumed but also on various other factors such as their weight, gender, age, metabolism, food intake, medication, and health conditions.
Which poison is NOT a heavy metal?
A.
arsenic
B.
thallium
C.
cyanide
D.
mercury
C. Cyanide.
What education and/or experience does a forensic toxicologist MOST likely need to investigate poisonings?
A.
a doctorate
B.
at least 10 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry
C.
a high level of background knowledge and expertise about poisons
D.
a personal experience with poison
A. A doctorate.
A forensic toxicologist would typically need a doctoral degree in toxicology, pharmacology, chemistry, or a related field. They would also need to have specialized training and knowledge in poisons and their effects on the body, as well as experience analyzing biological samples and interpreting laboratory results.
Why do people exposed to carbon monoxide (CO) become poisoned?
A.
The CO combines with hemoglobin in red blood cells and quickly reduces the amount of oxygen in the blood.
B.
The CO targets the muscles of the heart, causing spasms and cardiac arrest.
C.
The CO transforms into carbon dioxide (CO2) which removes all the oxygen from the blood.
D.
The CO causes the blood to become too thick to travel throughout the body.
A. The CO combines with hemoglobin in red blood cells and quickly reduces the amount of oxygen in the blood.
Carbon monoxide binds with hemoglobin in red blood cells more readily than oxygen, forming carboxyhemoglobin and reducing the amount of oxygen that can be transported in the blood. This leads to a decrease in oxygen supply to the body's tissues and organs, causing symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning.
When might the BAC of a dead body be misleading or unhelpful?
A.
if the victim was submerged in water
B.
if the victim was doing other drugs
C.
if the victim was over the age of 40
D.
if the victim had a heart attack