학술논문
Investigating gunshot wounds in charred bone with XRF spectroscopy: a technical note.
Document Type
Academic Journal
Author
Bonizzoni L; Department of Physics Aldo Pontremoli, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.; Mazzarelli D; LABANOF, Laboratory of Forensic Anthropology and Odontology, Institute of Legal Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.; Franceschetti L; LABANOF, Laboratory of Forensic Anthropology and Odontology, Institute of Legal Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy. lorenzo.franceschetti@unimi.it.; Institute of Legal Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy. lorenzo.franceschetti@unimi.it.; Vitali C; Institute of Legal Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.; Amadasi A; Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Turmstr21 (Haus M), 10559, Berlin, Germany.; Cattaneo C; LABANOF, Laboratory of Forensic Anthropology and Odontology, Institute of Legal Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.; Institute of Legal Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
Source
Publisher: Springer International Country of Publication: Germany NLM ID: 9101456 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1437-1596 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 09379827 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Int J Legal Med Subsets: MEDLINE
Subject
Language
English
Abstract
The analysis of traces of injuries can be difficult in cases of charred human remains since the alteration and fragmentation are high. The aim of this study is to explore the use of X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) technique as a screening tool for detecting and analyzing gunshot residues (GSR) on cremated and highly fragmented materials, as it is a technique that allows for fast qualitative investigations without altering the sample or requiring sample preparation. The study was carried out on two steps: firstly, on completed skeletonized bones to verify if GSR survive to burning; secondly, we considered a more realistic situation, in which soft tissues were present before the shooting. To this aim, nine adult bovine ribs, four retaining soft tissue, five completely skeletonized, were subjected to a shooting test using two types of 9 mm projectiles (jacketed and unjacketed bullets). The ribs were then burnt until complete calcination in an electric furnace. The entry wound of each rib was analyzed using XRF, revealing traces of GSR. The XRF analysis showed that all samples, except for one, contain Pb and/or Sb near the lesion. Furthermore, the samples hit by unjacketed bullets had a more significant presence of Pb in macroscopic yellow areas, which persisted when moving away from the gunshot. These findings could pave the way for the use of XRF technology, mostly when a fast and immediate scan must be done on osteologic materials by a conservative method.
(© 2024. The Author(s).)
(© 2024. The Author(s).)