Crime scene investigations using portable, non-destructive space exploration technology

Frequently in forensic cases, unknown substances must be identified. Automated databases can ease the burden of comparison as materials may be compared against many known standards in a relatively short period of time. It has been shown that dental resins can be named according to brand or brand group even in conditions as harsh as cremation. Databases are already in use for many materials, but no such database exists for dental resins. Thus, two databases were generated. One utilized a laboratory-based method, scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDS), in conjunction with the Spectral Library Identification and Classification Explorer (SLICE) software. The other was based on portable X-ray fluorescence (XRF). The ability to perform database comparison with portable instrumentation can thus be brought directly to the field. Both the SLICE and XRF databases were evaluated by testing unknown resins. EDS is a well-established technique and the SLICE program was demonstrated to be a good tool for unknown resin identification. Portable XRF is a relatively new instrument in this regard and its databases have been constructed mostly for metal alloy comparison and environmental soil testing. However, by creation of a custom spectral library, it was possible to distinguish resin brand and bone and tooth from other substances.

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“…Therefore, the detection limit for XRF is around 10 part per million (p.p.m.) and EDS is around 1% (6,7). …”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Analytical Survey of Restorative Resins by SEM/EDS and XRF: Databases for Forensic Purposes*

Bush

Miller

Norrlander

et al. 2008

Journal of Forensic Sciences

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“…(8 -12) Collaboration between the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has resulted in the production of portable XRF instruments incorporating space technology for crime scene applications such as the analysis of GSRs and body fluids. (9,10) …”

Section: Elemental Analysis and X-ray Fluorescence In Forensic Protocolsmentioning

confidence: 99%

X‐Ray Fluorescence in Forensic ScienceUpdate based on the original article by Claude Roux and Chris Lennard,Encyclopedia of Analytical Chemistry, © 2000, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Roux

Taudte

Lennard

2013

Encyclopedia of Analytical Chemistry

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This article describes the applications of X‐ray fluorescence (XRF) as an analytical tool in forensic science, including its limitations and practical aspects. The use of XRF is specifically discussed for the analysis of materials of forensic interest such as metals, gunshot residues (GSRs), paint, glass, soil, fibers, plastic and general polymers, documents, and miscellaneous types of evidence. Developments such as biological tissues micro‐XRF, 3‐D micro‐XRF — an adaptation of micro‐XRF — and total XRF are also described. These specialized techniques have highly desirable characteristics for the elemental profiling of a wide range of forensic samples, and hence we can anticipate that they will find significant use in forensic laboratories in the future.

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“…Additionally the staining process may interfere with subsequent recovery of DNA material from the fingerprint. Considerable previous research has explored the detection and identification of blood stains using a variety of techniques, including RNA analysis [7,8]; microscopy techniques [9], and spectroscopic methods [10][11][12][13]. Recent research has explored the use of non-contact reflectance spectroscopy to detect blood stains with high levels of specificity [1].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A comparison of visible wavelength reflectance hyperspectral imaging and Acid Black 1 for the detection and identification of blood stained fingerprints

Cadd

Beveridge

et al. 2016

Science & Justice

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Bloodstains are often encountered at scenes of violent crime and have significant forensic value for criminal investigations. Blood is one of the most commonly encountered types of biological evidence and is the most commonly observed fingerprint contaminant. Presumptive tests are used to test blood stain and blood stained fingerprints are targeted with chemical enhancement methods, such as acid stains, including Acid Black 1, Acid Violet 17 or Acid Yellow 7. Although these techniques successfully visualise ridge detail, they are destructive, do not confirm the presence of blood and can have a negative impact on DNA sampling. A novel application of visible wavelength hyperspectral imaging (HSI) is used for the noncontact, non-destructive detection and identification of blood stained fingerprints on white tiles both before and after wet chemical enhancement using Acid Black 1. The identification was obtained in a non-contact and non-destructive manner, based on the unique visible absorption spectrum of haemoglobin between 400 and 680 nm. Results from the exploration of the selectivity of the setup to detect blood against ten other non-blood protein contaminants are also presented. A direct comparison of the effectiveness of HSI with chemical enhancement using Acid Black 1 on white tiles is also presented.

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Crime scene investigations using portable, non-destructive space exploration technology

Cited by 46 publications

References 6 publications

Analytical Survey of Restorative Resins by SEM/EDS and XRF: Databases for Forensic Purposes*

Analytical Survey of Restorative Resins by SEM/EDS and XRF: Databases for Forensic Purposes*

X‐Ray Fluorescence in Forensic ScienceUpdate based on the original article by Claude Roux and Chris Lennard,Encyclopedia of Analytical Chemistry, © 2000, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A comparison of visible wavelength reflectance hyperspectral imaging and Acid Black 1 for the detection and identification of blood stained fingerprints

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