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Muzzle‐to‐target distance determination by X‐ray fluorescence spectrometry
Author(s) -
Fonseca J. F.,
Cruz M. M.,
Carvalho M. L.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
x‐ray spectrometry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.447
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1097-4539
pISSN - 0049-8246
DOI - 10.1002/xrs.2497
Subject(s) - muzzle , small arms , analytical chemistry (journal) , x ray fluorescence , fluorescence , materials science , chemistry , barrel (horology) , optics , physics , chromatography , composite material , international trade , business
One of the most important aspects of the criminal investigation of a shooting incident is the target‐to‐muzzle distance determination. This determination can establish the relative positions of the shooter and the victim or even help to establish the shooters' intent. Forensic laboratories use chemographic tests as the standard procedure for this kind of analysis. These tests require the preparation of several chemical reactions and imply the partial destruction of the tested samples. This work demonstrates that energy‐dispersive X‐ray fluorescence (XRF) can constitute an alternative for the chemographic methodology with the big advantage of being fast, non‐destructive and without the need of chemical preparation. Using plain white cotton tissue as target material, Glocks 17, 19 and 26 and FN Browning High Power MKIIIS handguns, several samples were prepared by shooting pieces of cloth at different distances. Lead was found to be the element present in higher concentration, reaching 1000 µg/g in some cases, followed by Sb, Ba, Zn and Cu. Four squares (4 × 3 cm 2 ) of each target were cut and analysed directly by XRF to obtain the concentrations of Cu, Zn, Sb, Ba and Pb as a function of the shooting distance. As expected, the concentration decreases with the distance for all elements. This behaviour was studied, and its dependence with barrel length and rifling (polygonal vs conventional) was characterized. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.