Introduction:
A forensic toxicologist is extremely advantageous in some criminal and scientific investigations. They typically work with the police, the coroner’s office, and in litigation cases. It is also capable of identifying necessary scientific information on the environment, agriculture, health and natural resources for government and law enforcement agencies, particularly in toxic situations likely to result from terrorism, chemical spills , health and environment, and food safety issues.
Work description:
Forensic toxicologists are responsible for determining the presence of drugs, alcohol, and analyzing urine and blood samples for suspected sexual assaults, traffic violations, criminal activity, and workplace evidence. They are also experts in identifying the exact cause of death of the victim. This is why forensic toxicologists are often subpoenaed to testify at court hearings and trials; because the court’s decision is greatly affected by the evidence they show and the truths they reveal.
Laws often require the expert opinion of forensic toxicologists for a wide range of identifications and determinations, such as blood alcohol levels, pesticide poisoning, oral fluids such as blood, semen, urine, drug interactions, and any other contamination that may be detected. be within these limits. They also assist in medical investigations of poisoning, drug use, and death. They put together every little piece of the puzzle starting with the evidence that could have been gathered from the scene.
Educational requirements:
Since the responsibilities of a forensic toxicologist require specific knowledge, a combination of toxicology and analytical chemistry is a basic educational requirement for this job. However, this basic educational requirement must be followed by further training and experience. Today, there are board certification programs available for forensic toxicology laboratories and individual professionals. While no strict guarantees are given, proper certification demonstrates satisfactory compliance in terms of the principles and knowledge necessary to function as a forensic toxicology laboratory and forensic toxicologist.
Forensic Toxicologist Salaries:
The salary of a forensic toxicologist commensurate with the qualifications; Depending on the area, experience, sector and company in which the person works, salaries range between $80,000 and $120,000. The median annual salary for a forensic toxicologist is $77,336.