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: 28 February 2026 | Viewed by 1049

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Anatomy, University of Rijeka, Faculty of Medicine, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia
Interests: injury; bone biology; BMPs; digital transformation
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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

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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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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

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
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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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