Expert Tox News Archive: Case Studies in Toxicology

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		Expert Tox Issue No. 16: Case Studies in Toxicology: Carbon Monoxide Turns Camping Event Deadly
		(published May 16, 2017) This case study summarizes a matter in which a group of campers were overcome by carbon monoxide poisoning. It illustrates the importance of taking the initiative to acquire necessary objective evidence... (more) View case study on our website

		Expert Tox Issue No. 15: Case Studies in Toxicology: Window Washer's Deadly Fall Due to Heroin Abuse?
		(published Mar 10, 2017) This case study summarizes a matter in which a window worker was killed while on the job, resulting in the filing of a lawsuit for negligence. It illustrates how toxicological interpretation of historical factors and application of... (more) View case study on our website

		Expert Tox Issue No. 14: Case Studies in Toxicology: Workmen's Compensation Benefits Denied for Presumed Drug Use?
		(published Jan 24, 2017) This case study summarizes a recent matter in which a worker was injured while on the job, then later denied Workmen's Compensation benefits when drug use was alleged by the employer... (more) View case study on our website

		Expert Tox Issue No. 13: Case Studies in Toxicology: Cass Lake: Mass Toxic Tort
		(published Dec 15, 2016) This case study summarizes the events leading up to and following a widespread contamination case involving local residents and a company disclaiming responsibility for damages. It illustrates the role of weight-of-evidence (WOE) in a toxicological analysis and demonstrates how meticulous attention to detail... (more) View case study on our website

		Expert Tox Issue No. 12: Case Studies in Toxicology: Fatal Accident Caused by Long-Term Drug Use?
		(published Nov 10, 2016) This case study summarizes the events following the death of an elderly man involved in a motor vehicle accident and demonstrates how pharmacological factors and behavior on the part of the defendant can be considered as evidential in a toxicological analysis... (more) View case study on our website

		Expert Tox Issue No. 11: Case Studies in Toxicology: Acute Marijuana Intoxication
		(published Jan 5, 2016) This case study illustrates how circumstantial evidence can be misinterpreted and how drug-impaired judgment and behavior can be regarded as evidential in a toxicological causation assessment. A motorcyclist was fatally injured when he collided with a city bus in a business district... (more) View case study on our website

		Expert Tox Issue No. 10: Case Studies in Toxicology: Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) and Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) Create Residential Hazard
		(published Dec 7, 2015) This case study reviews a residential contamination case involving local residents exposed to water contaminated with PAHs and PCBs flooding their properties. It illustrates the importance of applying generally-accepted, peer-reviewed toxicological assessment methods and the steps to present scientifically credible findings... (more) View case study on our website

		Expert Tox Issue No. 9: Case Studies in Toxicology: Polypharmacology Induces "Sleep Driving"
		(published Oct 15, 2015) This case study illustrates the role of toxicological weight-of-evidence (WOE) in a motor vehicle accident case involving polypharmacology and antidepressants. It also illustrates how drug interactions can be considered evidential in a toxicological causation assessment... (more) View case study on our website

		Expert Tox Issue No. 7: Case Studies in Toxicology: Mold in Motor Home Causes Aspergilloma
		(published Oct 31, 2014) This case study illustrates the role of toxicological weight-of-evidence (WOE) in a case involving exposure to mold inside a motor home. It also illustrates how analytical measurements and medical history can be considered as evidential in a toxicological analysis. Shortly after purchasing a new motor home, the owner noticed... (more) View case study on our website

		Expert Tox Issue No. 6: Case Studies in Toxicology: Alcohol Intoxication Leads to Fatal Boating Accident
		(published Jul 15, 2014) This case study summarizes the events leading up to and following a fatal boating accident on Florida's intracoastal waterway. It illustrates the role of back-extrapolation and weight-of-evidence (WOE) in an alcoholic impairment assessment and demonstrates how behavior and judgment on the part of the defendant can be considered as evidential in a toxicological analysis... (more) View case study on our website

		Expert Tox Issue No. 5: Special Edition: Causation Evaluation in Toxicology
		(published Apr 14, 2014) Causation is at the very heart of the toxicological world. Causation in toxicology is defined as the action of causing or producing an effect as a result of ingestion, inhalation, dermal absorption or other exposure routes to a toxic substance.... (more) View on our website

		Expert Tox Issue No. 4: Case Studies in Toxicology: High-Level Petroleum Hydrocarbon Vapor Exposures Induce Toxic Encephalopathy
		(published Feb 21, 2014) This case study demonstrates how causation can be demonstrated by weight-of-evidence (WOE) and how objective investigation of contributing factors can play a pivitol role in formulating an expert opinion to reasonable toxicological certainty... (more) View on our website

		Expert Tox Issue No. 3: Case Studies in Toxicology: Pesticide Exposure Leads to Sudden Death; Hair Samples Yield Incorrect Cocaine Use Conclusion
		(published Dec 19, 2013) Two Case Studies: (1) A man with a history of seizure disorder was fatally exposed to pesticides in his unventilated basement apartment; (2) a teacher was faced with pending dismissal for alleged drug use based on erroneous interpretation of cocaine in hair samples... (more) View on our website: Case Study 1 Case Study 2

		Expert Tox Issue No. 2: Case Studies in Toxicology: Trichloroethylene in Residential Water Supply; Toxicological Assessment of Phosphoric Acid
		(published Nov 22, 2013) Two Case Studies: (1) residents file a lawsuit against a company for allegedly contaminating the local water supply with trichloroethylene; (2) a woman files a lawsuit against her employer for alleged exposure to a toxic cleaning chemical... (more) View on our website: Case Study 1 Case Study 2

		Expert Tox Issue No. 1: Case Studies in Toxicology: Postmortem Alcohol Formation; Munchausen Syndrome or Toxic Exposure?
		(published Nov 14, 2013) Two Case Studies: (1) a lawsuit filed by a passenger severely injured in a motor vehicle rested on a little known but well-documented fact concerning endogenous alcohol; (2) a woman claimed that exposure to a chemical stripping agent caused burns, infection and damage to her immune system... (more) View on our website: Case Study 1 Case Study 2

This newsletter archive contains informational and instructional publications devoted to toxicology, compiled as a useful educational resource. Footnotes, image sources and references are cited where appropriate. Copyrighted material may only be reproduced and/or distributed with prior permission from TCAS, LLC.