**6. Conclusion**

relationship between salivary and blood concentrations, depending on the variability of the salivary pH, in turn dependent on the speed of saliva production; the possibility of oral contamination as a result of endonasal or inhalatory intake (smoking) of a substance, with a consequent increase of the salivary concentration, independent of the blood concentration. In light of such criticality, analyses on saliva specimen introduce prospects of controversy

The problem with the consumption of psychoactive substances in the workplace has been the object of multiple studies, characterized by investigations on diverse populations of workers (deceased or hurt in a work related injury or subjects recruited with random criteria or for a toxicological control duty) and different methodologies of research (survey, chemicaltoxicological analyses on biological matrices, integrated approach) [18]. Despite the limitations

**•** cannabis is generally the most diffuse narcotic substance in workers subject to random and

**•** alcohol, opiates and cannabis are the most frequently detected substances in injured and

Given that such evidence does not patently allow for establishing the significance of the role of psychoactive substances, in the genesis of accidents at work, the need to implement systematic, international and national studies, including comparative analysis of anamnestic/ cathamnestic, clinical/autoptic and chemical-toxicological data, extended to multiple biologi‐

There are guidelines elaborated by International Scientific Societies and statuary legislations that provide instructions for authorized laboratories to perform toxicological analyses in the work place frame. Such indications regard: the method of specimen collection and analysis; interpretation of results, also dependent on predetermined cut-off statutory values; internal

Organization of toxicological controls on workers presumes therefore the application of uniform and standardised toxicological assessment, aimed at safeguarding the security of

Doping urges for an institutional and collective attention as an underground phenomenon in rapid growth in the sporting world and social reality. Changing and refinement of substances and doping methods, their growing pharmacodynamic effectiveness, lacking or problematic

of comparative interpretation, the results of the highlighted studies reveal that:

deceased workers subject to sporadic toxicological checks.

and external monitoring of analytical quality; the manner of reporting.

work places, also through acquisition of scientific epidemiological evidence.

connected to analytical, kinetic and evaluative problems.

**4. Workplace Drug Testing (WDT)**

94 Toxicology Studies - Cells, Drugs and Environment

cal matrices (blood, urine and hair), exists.

mandatory checks;

**5. Doping**

Activity in the field of Forensic Toxicology is identified with the detection, identification and quantification of xenobiotics in *biological* and *non biological* matter. A synopsis of such analytical phases leads to the interpretation of results through a rigorous *evaluative criteriology* in relation to different regulatory areas.

The two main areas where the analysis of biological material applies are «forensic Toxicology of the dead» and «forensic Toxicology of the living person».

Forensic Toxicology of the dead is devoted to determine the presence of xenobiotics in liquids and tissues and evaluate the possible causal or concausal role in the determination and dynamics of the death.

Forensic Toxicology of the living person is committed to determine the presence of xenobiotics in the biological specimen (blood, urine, air inhaled, hair, etc.) and in evaluating the possible causal or concausal role of incapacity and/or deviations in behaviour (see suitability to drive, WDT, doping, etc.), or rather harm to the person.

Obligation in the above-mentioned areas is complex because of «pre-analytical» and «analyt‐ ical» variables. Among the pre-analytical variables are: quantity of dose ingested, frequency and means of ingestion, interval between intake and sample taking, the sample collection procedure, the interval between sample taking and analysis.

Among the analytical variables are: elevated number of analytes, large variety of chemical structures, of volatility, functional groups, hydrophilic/lipophilic ratios, values of pKa or pKb; wide ranges of concentration in liquids and biological tissues, dependent on dose intake; the way the specimens are stored; the possible lack of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies; the diversity of biological matrices and potential analytical interferences produced by exogenous, endogenic and putrefactive substances.

The complexity of those variables ensures that *every analysis may be given as an individual case for which there are no rules applicable to all xenobiotics and all situations*.

With the diffusion of environmental toxins and the clandestine drug market, the forensic toxicology laboratory is also committed to the analysis of non-biological material. In this context, Forensic Toxicology can provide to institutions and society information and aware‐ ness on the appearance of new drugs; identification of the major channels of drug distribution in the local and national black market; identification of the means adopted by traffickers to bypass systems of control; information on substances used in the cutting or treatment of the drug; suggestions for timely legislative adaptations.

With the main objective of providing scientifically based *evidence*, the complexity of all the above outlined roles of forensic toxicology entails the need for the adoption of quality assurance systems, ascertainement methodologies and evaluation criteriologies.
