Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Characterisation of gunshot residues from non-toxic ammunition and their persistence on the shooter’s hands

  • Original Article
  • Published:
International Journal of Legal Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The aim of this work was to characterise three non-toxic ammunition (NTA) from the GECO and Fiocchi brands, which are available in the Italian market. Characterisation was carried out by considering both the elemental chemical composition and morphology, using scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM-EDS). Particles were collected from both the cartridge cases and the shooters’ hands after shooting tests. Six volunteers fired two shots for each ammunition. Several elements, such as aluminium, potassium, silicon, sulphur, titanium and zinc were found in gunshot residue (GSR) particles from different ammunition. We also studied the persistence of these types of GSR on the hands of the shooters in a range between 1 and 6 h after shooting. The GSR particles from the three NTA tested were found on the hands of shooters until 6 h after the shots. The characterisations undertaken in this work will be useful for specialists in forensic science and legal medicine to evaluate trace evidence from these new NTA in casework, as such formulations are in growth.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Karger B, Stehmann B, Hohoff C, Brinkmann B (2011) Trajectory reconstruction from trace evidence on spent bullets. II. Are tissue deposits eliminated by subsequent impacts? Int J Legal Med 114(6):343–345

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Rutty GN, Boyce P, Robinson CE, Jeffery AJ, Morgan B (2008) The role of computed tomography in terminal ballistic analysis. Int J Legal Med 122(1):1–5

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. De Giorgio F, Rainio J (2007) Two entrances, one exit—an atypical shotgun injury: a case report. Med Sci Law 47(4):353–356

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Ditrich H (2012) Distribution of gunshot residues—the influence of weapon type. Forensic Sci Int 220(1–3):85–90

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. ASTM Standard E1588–17 (2018) Standard guide for gunshot residue analysis by scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry

  6. Shaw A (2019) The role of the gunshot residue expert in case review—a case study. Forensic Sci Int 300:28–31

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Dalby O, Butler D, Birkett JW (2010) Analysis of gunshot residue and associated materials—a review. J Forens Sci 55:938–940

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Basu S (1982) Formation of gunshot residues. J Forensic Sci 27(1):72–91

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Romolo FS, Margot P (2001) Identification of gunshot residue: a critical review. Forensic Sci Int 119(2):195–211

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Gunaratnam L, Himberg K (1994) The identification of gunshot residue particles from lead-free Sintox ammunition. J Forensic Sci 39(2):532–536. https://doi.org/10.1520/JFS13626J ISSN 0022-1198

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Oommen Z, Pierce SM (2006) Lead-free primer residues: a qualitative characterization of Winchester WinClean, Remington/UMC LeadLess, federal BallistiClean, and Speer lawman CleanFire handgun ammunition. J Forensic Sci 51(3):509–519

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Martiny A, Campos AP, Sader MS, Pinto AL (2008) SEM/EDS analysis and characterization of gunshot residues from Brazilian lead-free ammunition. Forensic Sci Int 177(1):9–17

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Brożek-Mucha Z (2015) Chemical and physical characterisation of welding fume particles for distinguishing from gunshot residue. Forensic Sci Int 254:51–58. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2015.06.033

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Romolo FS, Christopher ME, Donghi M, Ripani L, Jeynes C, Webb RP, Ward NI (2013) Integrated ion beam analysis (IBA) in gunshot residue (GSR) characterisation. Forensic Sci Int 231:219–228

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Costa RA, Motta LC, Destefani CA, Rodrigues RRT, Do Espírito Santo KS, Aquije GMFV, Boldrini R, Athayde GPB, Carneiro MTWD, Romão W (2016) Gunshot residues (GSR) analysis of clean range ammunition using SEM/EDX, colorimetric test and ICP-MS: a comparative approach between the analytical techniques. Microchem J 129:339–347

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Terry M, Fookes B, Bridge CM (2017) Determining the effect of cartridge case coatings on GSR using post-fire priming cup residue. Forensic Sci Int 276:51–63. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2017.04.015

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Fambro LA, Vandenbos DD, Rosenberg MB, Dockery CR (2017) Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy for the rapid characterization of lead-free gunshot residues. Appl Spectrosc 71(4):699–708. https://doi.org/10.1177/0003702816689099

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Hogg SR, Hunter BC, Waddell Smith R (2016) Elemental characterization and discrimination of nontoxic ammunition using scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray analysis and principal components analysis. J Forensic Sci 61(1):35–42. https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.12881

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Donghi M, Mason K, Romolo FS (2019) Detecting gunshot residue from Sellier & Bellot nontox heavy metal-free primer by in situ cathodoluminescence. J Forensic Sci 64:1658–1667. https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.14110

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Abrego Z, Grijalba N, Unceta N, Maguregui M, Sanchez A, Fernández-Isla A, Goicolea MA, Barrio RJ (2014) A novel method for the identification of inorganic and organic gunshot residue particles of lead-free ammunitions from the hands of shooters using scanning laser ablation-ICPMS and Raman micro-spectroscopy. Analyst 139(23):6232–6241. https://doi.org/10.1039/c4an01051e

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Steffen S, Otto M, Niewoehner L, Barth M, Brożek-Mucha Z, Biegstraaten J, Horváth R (2007) Chemometric classification of gunshot residues based on energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis and inductively coupled plasma analysis with mass-spectrometric detection. Spectrochim Acta B At Spectrosc 62(9):1028–1036

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Maitre M, Kirkbride KP, Horder M, Roux C, Beavis A (2017) Current perspectives in the interpretation of gunshot residues in forensic science: a review. Forensic Sci Int 270:1–11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2016.09.003

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Kilty JW (1995) Activity after shooting and its effect on the retention of primer residue. J Forensic Sci 20(2):219–230

    Google Scholar 

  24. Andrasko J, Maehly AC (1977) Detection of gunshot residue on hands by scanning electron microscopy. J Forensic Sci 22:279–287

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Nesbitt RS, Wessel JE, Jones PF (1976) Detection of gunshot residue by use of the scanning electron microscope. J Forensic Sci 21:595–610

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Tillman L (1987) Automated gunshot residue particle search and characterization. J Forensic Sci 32:62–71

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Jalanti T, Henchoz P, Gallusser A, Bonfanti MS (1999) The persistence of gunshot residue on shooters’ hands. Sci Justice 39(1):48–52

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Brożek-Mucha Z (2011) Chemical and morphological study of gunshot residue persisting on the shooter by means of scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry. Microsc Microanal 17(6):972–982. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1431927611012141

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Cardinetti B, Ciampini C, Abate S, Marchetti C, Ferrari F, Di Tullio D, D’Onofrio C, Orlando G, Gravina L, Torresi L, Saporita G (2006) A proposal for statistical evaluation of the detection of gunshot residues on a suspect. Scanning 28:142–147

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Lauren S, Blakey B, George P, Kal S, Chana GRSC, Biekett JW (2017) Fate and behavior of gunshot residue—a review. J Forensic Sci 63(1):9–19

    Google Scholar 

  31. Cardinetti B, Ciampini C, D’Onofrio C, Orlando G, Gravina L, Ferrari F, Di Tullio D, Torresi L (2004) X-ray mapping technique: a preliminary study in discriminating gunshot residue particles from aggregates of environmental occupational origin. Forensic Sci Int 143(1):1–19

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Wallace JS, McQuillan J (1984) Discharge residues from cartridge-operated industrial tools. J Forensic Sci Soc 24(5):495–508

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Rijnders MR, Stamouli A, Bolck A (2010) Comparison of GSR composition occurring at different locations around the firing position. J Forensic Sci 55(3):616–623. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1556-4029.2009.01292.x

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Charles S, Nys B, Geusens N (2011) Primer composition and memory effect of weapons—some trends from a systematic approach in casework. Forensic Sci Int 212(1–3):22–26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2011.05.001

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Ten. Col. Abate, all “shooter’s people” and all employed at Italian Scientific Investigation Department (Carabinieri RIS) (Rome 00191), Italy, for the scientific collaboration. The authors thank Fiocchi and Geco brands for providing cartridges.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy

    Sabrina Romanò & Fabio De-Giorgio

  2. Institute of Public Health, Section of Legal Medicine, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy

    Sabrina Romanò & Fabio De-Giorgio

  3. Reparto Carabinieri Investigazioni Scientifiche di Roma, Rome, Italy

    Sabrina Romanò, Carlo D’Onofrio, Luciano Gravina & Sergio Abate

  4. Department of Law, University of Bergamo, Bergamo, Italy

    Francesco Saverio Romolo

Authors
  1. Sabrina Romanò
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Fabio De-Giorgio
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Carlo D’Onofrio
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Luciano Gravina
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Sergio Abate
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Francesco Saverio Romolo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Fabio De-Giorgio.

Ethics declarations

Complete anonymity was achieved in all cases.

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Electronic supplementary material

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Romanò, S., De-Giorgio, F., D’Onofrio, C. et al. Characterisation of gunshot residues from non-toxic ammunition and their persistence on the shooter’s hands. Int J Legal Med 134, 1083–1094 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-020-02261-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-020-02261-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation