Fate and Behavior of Gunshot Residue—A Review

A review of the literature concerning the fate and behavior of gunshot residue (GSR) is presented. A number of concomitant parameters including firearm and ammunition type, plume and GSR material characteristics, travel distances, chemical composition and GSR morphology are critically discussed in r...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of forensic sciences 2018-01, Vol.63 (1), p.9-19
Main Authors: Blakey, Lauren S., Sharples, George P., Chana, Kal, Birkett, Jason W.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Ammunition
Antimony - analysis
ballistics
Barium - analysis
distribution
Equipment and Supplies
fate and behavior
Firearm discharge residue
Firearms
Forensic Ballistics
Forensic engineering
forensic science
gunshot residue
Hand
Humans
Lead - analysis
Literature reviews
persistence
Shootings
Skin - chemistry
transfer
Wounds, Gunshot
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Summary:A review of the literature concerning the fate and behavior of gunshot residue (GSR) is presented. A number of concomitant parameters including firearm and ammunition type, plume and GSR material characteristics, travel distances, chemical composition and GSR morphology are critically discussed in relation to their effects on the distribution and deposition, transfer and persistence processes of GSR. The underlying mechanisms associated with such processes are also considered. Knowledge of these processes on GSR materials could provide valuable information concerning scene preservation and subsequent forensic sampling. The number of GSR particles deposited can vary significantly with each firearm discharge, highlighting the potential to produce distinctive data in each individual case. With the continual development and compositional changes of new ammunition types, further evaluation of the effect these processes may have on GSR evidence and their possible influence on the interpretation of the analytical results should be given due consideration.
ISSN:0022-1198
1556-4029
DOI:10.1111/1556-4029.13555