Drugs from Unusual Matrices: Using Bone Tissue as a Forensic Toxicology Specimen

A forensic toxicologist looks at toxics in the body. Due to biochemistry, bones can be looked upon for historical and recent drug history, many animals’ bones have been tested upon but there are few humans have been studied.  They are many techniques have been used to identify drugs within bones, including ELISA (Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) and liquid gas chromatography. Vitro studies have shown that drugs that were found in the blood were detected in the bone; however, there are different concentrations. A case study in 2005 shown that higher concentration were found when slivers of the bone was incubated in methanol rather than incubating the whole bone in water.  Unfortunately there is little evidence to indicate the reactivity of the drugs that were extracted by the ELISA.

            Whilst using anima models, vitro experiments have shown that most drug detections have a variation with bone type and concentration found. Higher levels of drugs are commonly found in spongy bone. Decomposition could also effect the concentration of drugs.

            There is little research on drug detection in skeletal tissues after burial except for one case were it was impossible to tell weather the drugs were pharmaceutical or from heroin. ELIZA has been investigating the detection in bone tissue rather than bone.

            Looking forward more research is needed if the class of drug impacts the timing for it to be absorbed by the bone. When the bones are buried does the surrounding factors alter the concentration of drugs with in the bone?

            Testing whether drugs are found in bones will help solve many crimes and indicated if the cause of death was drug related even if a skeleton remains.  If more research is conducted, then there is a greater chance of identifying a skeleton by looking at the concentration of drugs that remain in their bones. Also, if environmental influences affect the levels of toxicology then examining the bones can report can help determine time of death.

Overall I thought the article was well written but I wished there was more evidence to support some of the facts. The article could have been improved if the authors conducted their own experiments rather then just saying there is little evidence or no evidence.

Gautam, Lata, Claire Newland, and Michael D. Cole. "Forensic Magazine." Forensic Magazine. N.p., 07 Mar. 2013. Web. 12 Oct. 2013.

http://www.forensicmag.com/articles/2013/07/drugs-unusual-matrices-using-bone-tissue-forensic-toxicology-specimen#.Ullrkj17Tao