A Study on the correlation of the physico-chemical properties of Gunshot Residue (GSR) particles with distance using a 9×19 mm Indian ammunition

• Published in: Forensic science, medicine, and pathology medicine, and pathology, 2024-06
• Main Authors: Krishna, Sreelakshmi, Ahuja, Pooja
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1556-2891
• DOI: 10.1007/s12024-024-00826-3

The trio elements found in Gunshot Residue (GSR) are considered the key elements that are characteristic of GSR. To date, most forensic laboratories have mainly concentrated on employing carbon stubs analyzed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) coupled with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) to find IGSR on the hands and clothing of a person. A little elevated from the normal practice, this work is focused on the evaluation of compositional and morphological variations of GSR collected from muzzle end, trajectory, and target obtained by firing the ammunition of choice (9×19 mm Indian ammunition). Even though there may be variations in IGSR compositions within various locations of a weapon, this hasn't been investigated or documented up to this point. To ascertain whether it is possible to identify any variation in GSR particles gathered from these three different locations, the objective of this study is to investigate the structural characteristics and elemental composition of GSR to identify the distinctive parameters that allow for comparison and to establish the composition of the primer. The study also focuses on assessing any possible surface modification that may occur to GSR upon striking the target and establishing a correlation between GSR particles and propellant powder. The collected GSR samples were analyzed using a digital microscope, SEM/EDS, and EDXRF. It was discovered that the primer type showed a strong correlation to the elemental composition and morphology of GSR. By analyzing the GSR particles collected from the various sites as mentioned above, it was possible to identify the primer mixture used in the ammunition and its diversity in elemental concentration. The obtained GSR samples were not spherical but showed an elongated structure and possessed a diameter ranging from 695.4 µm-1.640 mm, 536.2 µm-1.412 mm, and 775.8 µm-1.772 mm respectively. However, the morphology and the size distribution of the particles collected from all three different points showed slight deviation as moving from ME towards TG. The obtained results could identify the primer mixture and diversity in its elemental concentration. The morphology and size distribution of GSR collected from three different points showed deviations.