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Toxics
Special Issues
Forensic and Post-Mortem Toxicology
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Forensic and Post-Mortem Toxicology

A special issue of Toxics (ISSN 2305-6304). This special issue belongs to the section "Drugs Toxicity".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2026 | Viewed by 5235

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Ivan Šoša

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Anatomy, University of Rijeka, Faculty of Medicine, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia
Interests: injury; bone biology; BMPs; digital transformation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Antonina Argo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Pro.Mi.Se. Department, University of Palermo, 90133 Palermo, Italy
Interests: legal medicine, forensic toxicology; DFSA; forensic pathology; victims of sexual abuse and violent crime; diagnostic and medico legal assessment; ethics in research
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The aim of this Special Issue of Toxics aims to promote innovation in forensic and post-mortem toxicology by showcasing new, validated methods that greatly improve accuracy, speed, or sustainability in toxicology. This innovation should refer to ethically sound practices and solutions focused on sustainability. We welcome contributions that address flagship themes like omics-integrated forensic workflows (investigations informed by genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic analyses), emerging analytical and AI-enhanced technologies (new laboratory or portable tools and artificial intelligence models applied to toxicological data), and  ethical and sustainable best practices (methods that protect privacy, promote fairness, and reduce environmental impact). Furthermore, we welcome submissions focused on validated techniques that are suitable for on-site use, such as Orbitrap-based high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS), ambient ionization methods (e.g., direct analysis in real-time mass spectrometry—DART-MS), and portable toxicology devices.

The captivating issues of molecular autopsy and customizing investigative methods to the unique biological and contextual profiles of each case (precision forensics) will also be highly regarded, especially in terms of their ability to integrate multi-omics data to clarify ambiguous deaths, particularly in young or healthy individuals.

We also invite submissions addressing traceable data protocols (systems that log data handling from collection to analysis) and anonymization standards in forensic casework. Comparative studies from conflict zones, emerging economies, or humanitarian settings are especially encouraged.

Dr. Ivan Šoša
Prof. Dr. Antonina Argo
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Toxics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • omics-integrated forensic workflows
  • high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS)
  • ambient ionization techniques (DART-MS)
  • AI-enhanced toxicological analysis
  • portable field-deployable devices
  • molecular autopsy
  • precision forensic investigations
  • ethical and sustainable practices
  • traceable data protocols
  • anonymization standards

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 862 KB  
Article
Prevalence of Psychoactive Substance Use and Violent Death: Toxicological and Geospatial Evidence from a Four-Metropolitan-Area Cross-Sectional Study in Brazil
by Henrique Silva Bombana, Vanderlei Carneiro da Silva, Ivan Dieb Miziara, Heráclito Barbosa Carvalho, Mauricio Yonamine and Vilma Leyton
Toxics 2026, 14(1), 103; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics14010103 - 22 Jan 2026
Viewed by 749
Abstract
External causes account for over four million deaths globally each year, with psychoactive substance use being a major risk factor. However, the true impact and regional patterns of psychoactive substance use in these deaths remains undefined in Brazil. To address this critical knowledge [...] Read more.
External causes account for over four million deaths globally each year, with psychoactive substance use being a major risk factor. However, the true impact and regional patterns of psychoactive substance use in these deaths remains undefined in Brazil. To address this critical knowledge gap, this pioneering four-city study sought to elucidate the prevalence of alcohol and drug use by external cause victims. We collected postmortem blood from 3577 victims of violent death across four distinct Brazilian cities (Belém, Recife, Vitória, and Curitiba), representing the North, Northeast, Southeast, and South regions, respectively, using a standardized protocol to identify alcohol, illicit drugs, and psychoactive medicines. Analysis revealed a predominantly male cohort (89.7%; 56.0% aged 30 years or more), with homicide as the primary manner of death (67.3%). Over half of the victims (53.0%) tested positive for at least one psychoactive substance prior to death; cocaine (29.6%) and alcohol (27.7%) were most common. Substance use was highest among homicide victims (55.7%), especially cocaine (36.0%), and among self-harm cases (54.6%), which showed elevated benzodiazepine prevalence (20.0%). Substance use patterns varied regionally: alcohol-related deaths were more common in Recife (Northeast), drug-only deaths concentrated in Vitória (Southeast) and Belém (North), and Curitiba (South) showed a higher prevalence of alcohol use versus drug use. This widespread, regionally heterogeneous prevalence underscores the urgent need for targeted, region-specific interventions. By critically linking psychoactive substance use to various modes of violent death, these data provide crucial forensic and public health insights to inform tailored preventive strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forensic and Post-Mortem Toxicology)
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18 pages, 1629 KB  
Article
Validated Matrix Matched Quantification of Ethyl Chloride in Postmortem Biological Samples Using HS-GC-FID: Lung as the Optimal Tissue and Temporal Detection Dynamics
by Halit Canberk Aydogan, Ali Rıza Tümer, Ramazan Akçan, Mahmut Şerif Yıldırım and Mukaddes Gürler
Toxics 2025, 13(12), 1024; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics13121024 - 27 Nov 2025
Viewed by 797
Abstract
Ethyl chloride, a volatile anesthetic with high abuse potential, remains forensically undercharacterized postmortem. In an inhalation model (n = 30), male Wistar rats were exposed to 86,000 ppm ethyl chloride under real-time PID monitoring; blood, lung, liver and brain (plus exploratory adipose, [...] Read more.
Ethyl chloride, a volatile anesthetic with high abuse potential, remains forensically undercharacterized postmortem. In an inhalation model (n = 30), male Wistar rats were exposed to 86,000 ppm ethyl chloride under real-time PID monitoring; blood, lung, liver and brain (plus exploratory adipose, kidney, muscle) were sampled at 0, 2, 4, 6 and 12 h postmortem. A matrix-matched HS-GC-FID method was validated (Eurochem): linearity (R2 = 0.9947–0.9965), LOD 0.01–0.02 ng/μL, LOQ 0.04–0.06 ng/μL, precision RSD 3.9–5.1%, recovery 90–104%, full selectivity against common volatiles. Lung yielded the highest concentrations overall; a significant decline occurred in lung between 2 h and 4 h (Pillai’s Trace p = 0.034). Concentrations became increasingly irregular ≥6 h across tissues. Early autopsy sampling, preferably within ≤6 h, optimizes ethyl chloride detectability. The validated matrix-matched HS-GC-FID protocol provides a cost-effective, robust alternative to MS platforms for volatile screening in routine forensic practice and supports prioritizing lung for analysis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forensic and Post-Mortem Toxicology)
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Review

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13 pages, 571 KB  
Review
Trace Elements in Post-Mortem Tissues: A Review of Current Evidence and Forensic Challenges
by Claudia Trignano, Angela Sabalic, Andrea Pisano, Davide Tutedde, Pablo Hernández-Camarero, Raffaele La Russa, Macarena Perán and Roberto Madeddu
Toxics 2025, 13(9), 743; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics13090743 - 31 Aug 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1888
Abstract
Background: Trace elements and heavy metals can provide valuable forensic information for individual identification, lifestyle reconstruction, and association with the scene or time of death and may also assist in linking objects to criminal activities. However, the lack of standardized guidelines and post-mortem [...] Read more.
Background: Trace elements and heavy metals can provide valuable forensic information for individual identification, lifestyle reconstruction, and association with the scene or time of death and may also assist in linking objects to criminal activities. However, the lack of standardized guidelines and post-mortem reference values represents a significant limitation in forensic investigations. Methods: This review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA statement. We performed a comprehensive literature study over the last ten years focusing on the analysis of trace elements and heavy metals in post-mortem tissues. Results: The search results from the databases yielded 247 records. The screening, according to PRISMA criteria, allowed us to select and include 19 articles. The results showed the need for standardized guidelines and reference values. Although post-mortem trace element analysis shows high potential for forensic applications, substantial methodological heterogeneity persists. Some studies have proposed preliminary reference values for cadmium (Cd) in kidneys and mercury (Hg) in hair but validated post-mortem reference ranges remain largely unavailable. Conclusions: The current literature demonstrates the forensic potential of trace element and heavy metals analysis including Cd, Hg, lead (Pb), Manganese (Mn), Aluminum (Al), Copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn), Iron (Fe), Thallium (Tl), Polonium (210Po) but also underlines the urgent need for standardized protocols and validated post-mortem reference values to improve interpretability and reliability in forensic contexts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forensic and Post-Mortem Toxicology)
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Other

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12 pages, 3480 KB  
Case Report
Unusual Case of Fatal Virtual Chemsex Session Involving 3-Chloromethcathinone (3-CMC)
by Anne-Laure Pélissier-Alicot, Nicolas Fabresse, Antoine Petitcollin, Rémi Costagliola, Camille Dubertrand, Valérie Baillif-Couniou, Caroline Sastre, Marie-Dominique Piercecchi and Georges Leonetti
Toxics 2026, 14(2), 131; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics14020131 - 29 Jan 2026
Viewed by 1133
Abstract
Synthetic cathinones, frequently used in chemsex, are difficult to identify in postmortem blood due to their short half-life and in vitro degradation. This unusual case of chemsex involving 3-CMC highlights the importance of freezing a blood aliquot and testing for metabolites. A 62-year-old [...] Read more.
Synthetic cathinones, frequently used in chemsex, are difficult to identify in postmortem blood due to their short half-life and in vitro degradation. This unusual case of chemsex involving 3-CMC highlights the importance of freezing a blood aliquot and testing for metabolites. A 62-year-old man was found dead with chemsex paraphernalia beside him. Peripheral blood with sodium fluoride (PB), cardiac blood (CB) and urine were collected at autopsy. A PB sample was frozen at −20 °C for cathinone testing. In PB at +4 °C, alcohols were measured by HS-GC/FID, drugs and narcotics by LC-HRMS, GHB by GC-MS and cannabinoids by LC-MS/MS. Analysis of PB at +4 °C revealed a toxic concentration of GHB (330 µg/mL). Determination of cathinones in frozen PB revealed the presence of 3-CMC (17 ng/mL), dihydro-3-CMC and N-desmethyldihydro-3-CMC, while no cathinones or metabolites were identified in samples stored at +4 °C. Only metabolites were detected in urine. This case confirms the need to systematically screen for cathinones in suspected chemsex cases and, due to their instability, to screen for different metabolites and to freeze a blood sample after autopsy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forensic and Post-Mortem Toxicology)
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