NCJ Number
156772
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 40 Issue: 4 Dated: (July 1995) Pages: 659-661
Date Published
1995
Length
3 pages
Annotation
An extraction/concentration technique has been developed to recover the airborne gunshot residue (AGSR) retained in human nasal mucus.
Abstract
In this study, a shooter was exposed to AGSR from a single round of 38 Special caliber, nylon jacketed 158 grain Federal Register ammunition. The shooter was exposed to the AGSR for 1 minute under "normal" breathing conditions. The shooter then exited the room and washed his/her hands and face. The room was closed and evacuated, using exhaust fans vented to the roof outside to ensure a complete air exchange. The air quality of the room was monitored for AGSR before, during, and after shooting, using standard air sampling techniques. After a recorded post- firing time, the nasal mucus samples was collected onto a piece of substrate by normal nose blowing. All samples were submitted as a blind study. The technique has successfully recovered abundant AGSR from 48 hours post-firing sample collection times. The AGSR particles were characterized by a JEOL 6400 scanning electron microscope coupled with a Noran Voyager energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer. 1 table and 8 references