The transfer and persistence of metals in latent fingermarks
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...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
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ROYAL SOC CHEMISTRY
2022
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/FT190100017 http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/92985 |
| _version_ | 1848765683775569920 |
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| author | Boseley, Rhiannon Howard, D.L. Hackett, Mark Lewis, Simon |
| author_facet | Boseley, Rhiannon Howard, D.L. Hackett, Mark Lewis, Simon |
| author_sort | Boseley, Rhiannon |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | 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 |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T11:39:09Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-92985 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T11:39:09Z |
| publishDate | 2022 |
| publisher | ROYAL SOC CHEMISTRY |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-929852023-08-28T00:42:14Z The transfer and persistence of metals in latent fingermarks Boseley, Rhiannon Howard, D.L. Hackett, Mark Lewis, Simon Science & Technology Physical Sciences Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry LA-ICP-MS SIMULATED CONTACTS CLOTHING MATERIALS FIBERS LEVEL WEAR DNA PROPOSITIONS COORDINATION RESIDUE Dermatoglyphics Explosive Agents Forensic Sciences Metals Microscopy Metals Microscopy Dermatoglyphics Forensic Sciences Explosive Agents 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 2022 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/92985 10.1039/d1an01951a English http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/FT190100017 ROYAL SOC CHEMISTRY restricted |
| spellingShingle | Science & Technology Physical Sciences Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry LA-ICP-MS SIMULATED CONTACTS CLOTHING MATERIALS FIBERS LEVEL WEAR DNA PROPOSITIONS COORDINATION RESIDUE Dermatoglyphics Explosive Agents Forensic Sciences Metals Microscopy Metals Microscopy Dermatoglyphics Forensic Sciences Explosive Agents Boseley, Rhiannon Howard, D.L. Hackett, Mark Lewis, Simon The transfer and persistence of metals in latent fingermarks |
| title | The transfer and persistence of metals in latent fingermarks |
| title_full | The transfer and persistence of metals in latent fingermarks |
| title_fullStr | The transfer and persistence of metals in latent fingermarks |
| title_full_unstemmed | The transfer and persistence of metals in latent fingermarks |
| title_short | The transfer and persistence of metals in latent fingermarks |
| title_sort | transfer and persistence of metals in latent fingermarks |
| topic | Science & Technology Physical Sciences Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry LA-ICP-MS SIMULATED CONTACTS CLOTHING MATERIALS FIBERS LEVEL WEAR DNA PROPOSITIONS COORDINATION RESIDUE Dermatoglyphics Explosive Agents Forensic Sciences Metals Microscopy Metals Microscopy Dermatoglyphics Forensic Sciences Explosive Agents |
| url | http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/FT190100017 http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/92985 |