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Determination of Firing Distance. Lead Analysis on the Target by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) *
Author(s) -
GaglianoCandela Roberto,
Colucci Anna P.,
Napoli Salvatore
Publication year - 2008
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/j.1556-4029.2008.00668.x
Subject(s) - atomic absorption spectroscopy , analytical chemistry (journal) , graphite furnace atomic absorption , spectroscopy , lead (geology) , graphite , polystyrene , absorption (acoustics) , chemistry , absorption spectroscopy , materials science , chromatography , physics , optics , metallurgy , organic chemistry , quantum mechanics , geomorphology , geology , polymer , composite material
This paper reports a method for the determination of the firing distance. Atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) was used to determine the lead (Pb) pattern around bullet holes produced by shots on test targets from the gun. Test shots were made with a Colt 38 Special at 5, 10, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 60, 80, and 100 cm target distance. The target was created with sheets of Whatman no. 1 paper on a polystyrene support. The target was subdivided into three carefully cut out rings (1, 2, and 3; with external diameters of 1.4 cm; 5 cm; 10.2 cm, respectively). Each sample was analyzed with graphite furnace AAS. Lead values analysis performed for each ring yielded a linear relation between the firing distance (cm) and the logarithm of lead amounts (μg/cm 2 ) in definite target areas (areas 2 + 3): [ln d Pb 2+3 = a 0 + a 1 l]; where d Pb 2+3 = lead μg/cm 2 of area 2 + 3; a 0 and a 1 are experimentally calculated; l = distance in cm.