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    The transfer and persistence of metals in latent fingermarks

    Access Status
    Fulltext not available
    Authors
    Boseley, Rhiannon
    Howard, D.L.
    Hackett, Mark
    Lewis, Simon
    Date
    2022
    Type
    Journal Article
    
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Citation
    Boseley, R.E. and Howard, D.L. and Hackett, M.J. and Lewis, S.W. 2022. The transfer and persistence of metals in latent fingermarks. Analyst. 147 (3): pp. 387-397.
    Source Title
    Analyst
    DOI
    10.1039/d1an01951a
    ISSN
    0003-2654
    Faculty
    Faculty of Science and Engineering
    School
    School of Molecular and Life Sciences (MLS)
    Funding and Sponsorship
    http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/FT190100017
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/92985
    Collection
    • Curtin Research Publications
    Abstract

    In forensic science, knowledge and understanding of material transfer and persistence is inherent to the interpretation of trace evidence and can provide vital information on the activity level surrounding a crime. Detecting metal ions in fingermark residue has long been of interest in the field of forensic science, due to the possibility of linking trace metal ion profiles to prior activity with specific metal objects (e.g. gun or explosive handling). Unfortunately, the imaging capability to visualise trace metal ions at sufficient spatial resolution to determine their distribution within a fingermark (micron level) was not previously available. Here, we demonstrate for the first time transfer and persistence of metals in fingermarks, at micron spatial resolution, using synchrotron sourced X-ray fluorescence microscopy. Such information may form a critical baseline for future metal-based detection strategies. Fingermarks were taken before and after brief handling of a gun barrel, ammunition cartridge case and party sparkler to demonstrate the transfer of metals. The results reveal increased metal content after contact with these objects, and critically, a differential pattern of metal ion increase was observed after handling different objects. Persistence studies indicate that these metals are removed as easily as they are transferred, with a brief period of hand washing appearing to successfully remove metallic residue from subsequent fingermarks. Preliminary work using X-ray absorption near edge structure spectroscopic mapping highlighted the potential use of this technique to differentiate between different chemical forms of metals and metal ions in latent fingermarks. It is anticipated that these findings can now be used to assist future work for the advancement of trace metal detection tests and fingermark development procedures. This journal is

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