Determining the effects of routine fingermark detection techniques on the subsequent recovery and analysis of explosive residues on various substrates

Abstract An offender who has recently handled bulk explosives would be expected to deposit latent fingermarks that are contaminated with explosive residues. However, fingermark detection techniques need to be applied in order for these fingermarks to be detected and recorded. Little information is a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Forensic science international 2013-12, Vol.233 (1), p.257-264
Main Authors: King, Sam, Benson, Sarah, Kelly, Tamsin, Lennard, Chris
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aluminum
Bags
Bombings
Bombs
Chlorate
Chlorates
Contamination
Cyanoacrylates
Dermatoglyphics
Experiments
Explosions
Explosive Agents
Explosive devices
Explosive residues
Explosives
Fingermark detection
Fingerprints
Fluorescent Dyes
Food Packaging
Forensic science
Forensic sciences
Fourier transforms
Glass
Humans
Impact analysis
Indans
Mass spectrometry
Methods
Multivariate analysis
Ninhydrin
Nitrate
Nitrates
Organic explosives
Pathology
Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate
Plastics
Potassium
Powders
Recovery
Residues
Rhodamines
Routines
Triazines
Trinitrotoluene
Volatilization
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Summary:Abstract An offender who has recently handled bulk explosives would be expected to deposit latent fingermarks that are contaminated with explosive residues. However, fingermark detection techniques need to be applied in order for these fingermarks to be detected and recorded. Little information is available in terms of how routine fingermark detection methods impact on the subsequent recovery and analysis of any explosive residues that may be present. If an identifiable fingermark is obtained and that fingermark is found to be contaminated with a particular explosive then that may be crucial evidence in a criminal investigation (including acts of terrorism involving improvised explosive devices). The principal aims of this project were to investigate: (i) the typical quantities of explosive material deposited in fingermarks by someone who has recently handled bulk explosives; and (ii) the effects of routine fingermark detection methods on the subsequent recovery and analysis of explosive residues in such fingermarks. Four common substrates were studied: paper, glass, plastic (polyethylene plastic bags), and metal (aluminium foil). The target explosive compounds were 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN), and hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX), as well as chlorate and nitrate ions. Recommendations are provided in terms of the application of fingermark detection methods on surfaces that may contain explosive residues.
ISSN:0379-0738
1872-6283
DOI:10.1016/j.forsciint.2013.09.018