Characterisation of gunshot residues from non-toxic ammunition and their persistence on the shooter’s hands

The aim of this work was to characterise three non-toxic ammunition (NTA) from the GECO and Fiocchi brands, which are available in the Italian market. Characterisation was carried out by considering both the elemental chemical composition and morphology, using scanning electron microscopy coupled wi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of legal medicine 2020-05, Vol.134 (3), p.1083-1094
Main Authors: Romanò, Sabrina, De-Giorgio, Fabio, D’Onofrio, Carlo, Gravina, Luciano, Abate, Sergio, Romolo, Francesco Saverio
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aluminum
Ammunition
Cartridges
Chemical composition
Firearm discharge residue
Firearms
Forensic ballistics
Forensic Ballistics - methods
Forensic Medicine
Forensic sciences
Forensic toxicology
Hand
Humans
Legal medicine
Medical Law
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Metalloids - analysis
Metals, Light - analysis
Morphology
Original Article
Residues
Shootings
Skin - chemistry
Surgical implants
Test firing
Time Factors
X ray analysis
Zinc - analysis
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Summary:The aim of this work was to characterise three non-toxic ammunition (NTA) from the GECO and Fiocchi brands, which are available in the Italian market. Characterisation was carried out by considering both the elemental chemical composition and morphology, using scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM-EDS). Particles were collected from both the cartridge cases and the shooters’ hands after shooting tests. Six volunteers fired two shots for each ammunition. Several elements, such as aluminium, potassium, silicon, sulphur, titanium and zinc were found in gunshot residue (GSR) particles from different ammunition. We also studied the persistence of these types of GSR on the hands of the shooters in a range between 1 and 6 h after shooting. The GSR particles from the three NTA tested were found on the hands of shooters until 6 h after the shots. The characterisations undertaken in this work will be useful for specialists in forensic science and legal medicine to evaluate trace evidence from these new NTA in casework, as such formulations are in growth.
ISSN:0937-9827
1437-1596
DOI:10.1007/s00414-020-02261-9