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The Effect of Environmental Conditions on the Persistence of Common Lubricants on Skin for Cases of Sexual Assault Investigation
Author(s) -
Tonkin Megan,
Yeap Li Foong,
Bartle Emma K.,
Reeder Anthony
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of forensic sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.715
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1556-4029
pISSN - 0022-1198
DOI - 10.1111/1556-4029.12028
Subject(s) - lubricant , persistence (discontinuity) , context (archaeology) , mineral oil , chromatography , gas chromatography , glycerol , gas chromatography–mass spectrometry , derivatization , sexual assault , mass spectrometry , environmental chemistry , chemistry , poison control , biology , medicine , environmental health , injury prevention , organic chemistry , engineering , paleontology , geotechnical engineering
The potential for lubricant trace evidence to be used as associative evidence is often overlooked in forensic investigations. Published studies in this area have focused on the identification of analytical techniques suitable for the detection of this evidence type. However, detection of trace lubricant is also dependent on the length of time it persists on skin and mucosal surfaces. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of environmental conditions on the persistence of oil‐ and glycerol‐based lubricants on skin surfaces. Lubricated skin samples exposed to three different test environments were swabbed at regular intervals over a 24‐h period. Compounds of interest were extracted from the swabs and analyzed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry ( GC ‐ MS ). The effect of glycerol derivatization prior to GC ‐ MS analysis was also investigated. In general, oil‐based lubricants persisted longer than glycerol‐based. Persistence on skin was greatest in lower temperature conditions away from direct sunlight exposure. The results of this investigation are relevant in the context of sexual assault investigations given the possible detection of lubricant on the skin of the external genitalia.