Doesn't the "half life" refer to the metabolic rate of consumption?
So once his metabolism stops at death the amount in his system stays the same (or at least none is metabolized by his body). I'm sure there's another pathway of decay that is slower and more based on tissue decomposition, but that's another story.
That is a genuine interesting thought. I guess I applied my physics sloppily. Considering the flow of blood stopped with the arrest of respiratory functions, it must have had an effect on the circulation and rates of depletion of those substances.
I'd wager you're correct, but I cannot tell what's the relation between those rates. I suppose the digestion goes on for hours, but maybe it is not absorbed into the bloodstream and the report gives a fairer idea of the amount in the bloodstream, maybe it underestimates the amount not absorbed in the intestines. Also there would likely be an excess of products of the reaction in other tissues.
I guess my math would only work if he hadn't died.
It's getting outside of my wheelhouse, as I'm not a doctor, but drugs don't have a 'half life", that I'm aware of - and if he was deceased, his body would have stopped processing it, in his bloodstream or his digestive system.
Having said that, 11 ng/ml is death for anyone. I recall reading an article that most fentanyl deaths occur between 11-14 ng/ml. And, Floyd was not in good health to begin with. He was a long time drug abuser with heart problems, who was also smoking cigarettes (or smoking pot via blunts.) (he tested positive for both).
Not necessarily. Chemicals can still be absorbed into the tissue and taken out of the blood stream. Look into succinylcholine. It's a popular way to kill people via OD, because it burns through the blood stream so fast, it can be hard to pick up during an autopsy.
Doesn't the "half life" refer to the metabolic rate of consumption?
So once his metabolism stops at death the amount in his system stays the same (or at least none is metabolized by his body). I'm sure there's another pathway of decay that is slower and more based on tissue decomposition, but that's another story.
That is a genuine interesting thought. I guess I applied my physics sloppily. Considering the flow of blood stopped with the arrest of respiratory functions, it must have had an effect on the circulation and rates of depletion of those substances.
I'd wager you're correct, but I cannot tell what's the relation between those rates. I suppose the digestion goes on for hours, but maybe it is not absorbed into the bloodstream and the report gives a fairer idea of the amount in the bloodstream, maybe it underestimates the amount not absorbed in the intestines. Also there would likely be an excess of products of the reaction in other tissues.
I guess my math would only work if he hadn't died.
It's getting outside of my wheelhouse, as I'm not a doctor, but drugs don't have a 'half life", that I'm aware of - and if he was deceased, his body would have stopped processing it, in his bloodstream or his digestive system.
Having said that, 11 ng/ml is death for anyone. I recall reading an article that most fentanyl deaths occur between 11-14 ng/ml. And, Floyd was not in good health to begin with. He was a long time drug abuser with heart problems, who was also smoking cigarettes (or smoking pot via blunts.) (he tested positive for both).
Not necessarily. Chemicals can still be absorbed into the tissue and taken out of the blood stream. Look into succinylcholine. It's a popular way to kill people via OD, because it burns through the blood stream so fast, it can be hard to pick up during an autopsy.
Source : I watch too much forensic files. Lol
I've seen that episode at least twice! Excellent reference on decay.
There's multiple episodes where it's used, or they at least talk about it. See previous source. Lol