1
|
Simon A, Barradas NP, Jeynes C, Romolo FS. Addressing forensic science challenges with nuclear analytical techniques - A review. Forensic Sci Int 2024; 358:111767. [PMID: 37385904 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2023.111767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
We review the application of Nuclear Analytical Techniques (NATs) to forensic problems for the first time. NATs include neutron activation analysis (NAA), carried out in nuclear reactors for elemental analysis; accelerator-based techniques, mainly Ion Beam Analysis (IBA) for elemental and molecular analysis; and Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) for dating of traces of forensic interest by "radiocarbon dating" and other related methods. Applications include analysis of drugs of abuse, food fraud, counterfeit medicine, gunshot residue, glass fragments, forgery of art objects and documents, and human material. In some applications only the NATs are able to provide relevant information for forensic purposes. This review not only includes a wide collection of forensic applications, but also illustrates the wide availability worldwide of NATs, opening up opportunities for an increased use of NATs in routine forensic casework.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A Simon
- International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria.
| | | | - C Jeynes
- University of Surrey Ion Beam Centre, Guildford, England, UK
| | - F S Romolo
- Università degli Studi di Bergamo, Bergamo, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Festa G, Mamede AP, Gonçalves D, Cunha E, Kockelmann W, Parker SF, Batista de Carvalho LE, Marques MPM. In-Situ Anaerobic Heating of Human Bones Probed by Neutron Diffraction. Anal Chem 2023; 95:2469-2477. [PMID: 36638233 PMCID: PMC9893223 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.2c04721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
The first neutron diffraction study of in-situ anaerobic burning of human bones is reported, aiming at an interpretation of heat-induced changes in bone, which were previously detected by vibrational spectroscopy, including inelastic neutron scattering techniques. Structural and crystallinity variations were monitored in samples of the human femur and tibia, as well as a reference hydroxyapatite, upon heating under anaerobic conditions. Information on the structural reorganization of the bone matrix as a function of temperature, from room temperature to 1000 °C, was achieved. Noticeable crystallographic and domain size variations, together with O-H bond lengths and background variations, were detected. Above 700 °C, the inorganic bone matrix became highly symmetric, devoid of carbonates and organic constituents, while for the lower temperature range (<700 °C), a considerably lower crystallinity was observed. The present pilot study is expected to contribute to a better understanding of the heat-prompted changes in bone, which can be taken as biomarkers of the burning temperature. This information is paramount for bone analysis in forensic science as well as in archeology and may also have useful applications in other biomaterial studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Festa
- CREF
- Museo Storico della Fisica e Centro Studi e Ricerche “Enrico
Fermi”, Via Panisperna 89a, Rome00184, Italy
| | - Adriana P. Mamede
- Molecular
Physical Chemistry R&D Unit, Department of Chemistry, University of Coimbra, Coimbra3004-535, Portugal
| | - David Gonçalves
- Centre
for Functional Ecology, Lab Forensic Anthropology, Department of Life
Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra3000-456, Portugal,Research
Centre for Anthropology and Health (CIAS), University of Coimbra, Coimbra3000-456, Portugal,Archaeosciences
Lab, Directorate General Cultural Heritage (LARC/CIBIO/InBIO), Lisbon1300-418, Portugal
| | - Eugénia Cunha
- Centre
for Functional Ecology, Lab Forensic Anthropology, Department of Life
Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra3000-456, Portugal,Department
of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra3000-456, Portugal
| | - Winfried Kockelmann
- ISIS
Pulsed Neutron and Muon Source, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Chilton, DidcotOX11 0QX, United
Kingdom
| | - Stewart F. Parker
- ISIS
Pulsed Neutron and Muon Source, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Chilton, DidcotOX11 0QX, United
Kingdom,
| | | | - Maria Paula M. Marques
- Molecular
Physical Chemistry R&D Unit, Department of Chemistry, University of Coimbra, Coimbra3004-535, Portugal,Department
of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra3000-456, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Baptista A, Pedrosa M, Curate F, Ferreira MT, Marques MPM. Estimation of the post-mortem interval in human bones by infrared spectroscopy. Int J Legal Med 2021; 136:309-317. [PMID: 34613463 DOI: 10.1007/s00414-021-02641-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
In forensic anthropology, there is an inherent difficulty in estimating the post-mortem interval (PMI). This study aimed to assess whether there is a correlation between changes in the bone mineral component and the PMI estimation. Samples of femur and humerus from 80 identified individuals with known post-mortem interval were analyzed. Infrared spectroscopy in attenuated total reflectance mode (FTIR-ATR) was applied for this analysis, several indices having been obtained from the infrared bands most representative of the bone's relative contents in carbonate and phosphate. Specific relationships between sex/age and PMI were attained: for larger PMIs, there was an increase in the amount of B-type carbonate (BPI), A-type carbonates (API), and in the carbonate/phosphate (C/P) ratio, and a decrease of the crystallinity index (CI) and in the carbonate ratio (C/C). Two particular infrared indices (CI and C/C) were identified as the most suitable for post-mortem interval estimation, especially in females, controlling the effects of sex and age (in the statistical analysis).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andreia Baptista
- Laboratory of Forensic Anthropology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal.
| | - Mariana Pedrosa
- Laboratory of Forensic Anthropology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Francisco Curate
- Laboratory of Forensic Anthropology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal.,Research Centre for Anthropology and Health, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Maria Teresa Ferreira
- Laboratory of Forensic Anthropology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal.,Research Centre for Anthropology and Health, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal.,Centre for Functional Ecology, Laboratory of Forensic Anthropology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - M P M Marques
- Molecular Physical Chemistry" R&D Unit, Department of Chemistry, University of Coimbra, 3004-535, Coimbra, Portugal.,Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, 3004-456, Coimbra, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Marques MPM, Batista de Carvalho LAE, Gonçalves D, Cunha E, Parker SF. The impact of moderate heating on human bones: an infrared and neutron spectroscopy study. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2021; 8:210774. [PMID: 34729208 PMCID: PMC8548792 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.210774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
This study aims to analyse human bones exposed to low/medium temperatures (200-650°C) under experimentally controlled conditions, both oxidizing and reducing, using complementary optical and neutron vibrational spectroscopy techniques. Clear differences were observed between the aerobically and anaerobically heated bones. The organic constituents disappeared at lower temperatures for the former (ca 300°C), while they lingered for higher temperatures in anaerobic environments (ca 450-550°C). Unsaturated non-graphitizing carbon species (chars) were detected mainly for anaerobically heated samples, and cyanamide formation occurred only at 650°C in reducing settings. Overall, the main changes were observed from 300 to 400°C in anaerobic conditions and from 450 to 500°C in aerobic environments. The present results enabled the identification of specific spectroscopic biomarkers of the effect of moderate temperatures (less than or equal to 650°C) on human bone, thus contributing to a better characterization of forensic and archaeological skeletal remains subject to heating under distinct environmental settings. In particular, these data may provide information regarding cannibalism or ancient bone boiling and defleshing rituals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M. P. M. Marques
- Molecular Physical-Chemistry R&D Unit, Department of Chemistry, University of Coimbra, 3004-535 Coimbra, Portugal
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - L. A. E. Batista de Carvalho
- Molecular Physical-Chemistry R&D Unit, Department of Chemistry, University of Coimbra, 3004-535 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - D. Gonçalves
- Laboratory of Forensic Anthropology, Centre for Functional Ecology, University of Coimbra, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
- Research Centre for Anthropology and Health (CIAS), University of Coimbra, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
- Archaeosciences Laboratory, Directorate General Cultural Heritage (LARC/CIBIO/InBIO), 1349-021 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - E. Cunha
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
- Laboratory of Forensic Anthropology, Centre for Functional Ecology, University of Coimbra, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - S. F. Parker
- ISIS Facility, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Chilton, Didcot OX11 0QX, UK
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Marques MPM, Gonçalves D, Mamede AP, Coutinho T, Cunha E, Kockelmann W, Parker SF, Batista de Carvalho LAE. Profiling of human burned bones: oxidising versus reducing conditions. Sci Rep 2021; 11:1361. [PMID: 33446708 PMCID: PMC7809265 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-80462-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Complementary optical and neutron-based vibrational spectroscopy techniques (Infrared, Raman and inelastic neutron scattering) were applied to the study of human bones (femur and humerus) burned simultaneously under either aerobic or anaerobic conditions, in a wide range of temperatures (400 to 1000 °C). This is the first INS study of human skeletal remains heated in an oxygen-deprived atmosphere. Clear differences were observed between both types of samples, namely the absence of hydroxyapatite's OH vibrational bands in bone burned anaerobically (in unsealed containers), coupled to the presence of cyanamide (NCNH2) and portlandite (Ca(OH)2) in these reductive conditions. These results are expected to allow a better understanding of the heat effect on bone´s constituents in distinct environmental settings, thus contributing for an accurate characterisation of both forensic and archaeological human skeletal remains found in distinct scenarios regarding oxygen availability.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M P M Marques
- Molecular Physical-Chemistry R&D Unit, Department of Chemistry, University of Coimbra, 3004-535, Coimbra, Portugal
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - D Gonçalves
- Laboratory of Forensic Anthropology, Centre for Functional Ecology, University of Coimbra, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal
- Research Centre for Anthropology and Health (CIAS), University of Coimbra, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal
- Archaeosciences Laboratory, Directorate General Cultural Heritage (LARC/CIBIO/InBIO), 1349-021, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - A P Mamede
- Molecular Physical-Chemistry R&D Unit, Department of Chemistry, University of Coimbra, 3004-535, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - T Coutinho
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - E Cunha
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal
- Laboratory of Forensic Anthropology, Centre for Functional Ecology, University of Coimbra, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - W Kockelmann
- ISIS Facility, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Chilton, Didcot, OX11 0QX, UK
| | - S F Parker
- ISIS Facility, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Chilton, Didcot, OX11 0QX, UK
| | - L A E Batista de Carvalho
- Molecular Physical-Chemistry R&D Unit, Department of Chemistry, University of Coimbra, 3004-535, Coimbra, Portugal.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Festa G, Romanelli G, Senesi R, Arcidiacono L, Scatigno C, Parker SF, Marques MPM, Andreani C. Neutrons for Cultural Heritage-Techniques, Sensors, and Detection. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2020; 20:E502. [PMID: 31963186 PMCID: PMC7014385 DOI: 10.3390/s20020502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2019] [Revised: 01/09/2020] [Accepted: 01/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Advances in research in Cultural Heritage see increasing application of a multidisciplinary approach and the combined use of physical and chemical characterization of artefacts that can be used to define their structure and their state of conservation, also providing valuable information in selecting the most suitable microclimatic conditions for the exhibition environment. This approach provides a platform for a synergic collaboration amongst researchers, restorers, conservators, and archaeologists. Existing state-of-the-art technologies for neutron-based methods are currently being applied to the study of objects of historical and cultural interest in several neutron-beam facilities around the world. Such techniques are non-invasive and non-destructive and are, therefore, ideal to provide structural information about artefacts, such as their composition, presence of alterations due to the environmental conditions, inclusions, structure of the bulk, manufacturing techniques, and elemental composition, which provide an overall fingerprint of the object's characteristics, thanks to the nature of the interaction of neutrons with matter. Here, we present an overview of the main neutron methods for the characterization of materials of interest in Cultural Heritage and we provide a brief introduction to the sensors and detectors that are used in this framework. We conclude with some case studies underlining the impact of these applications in different archaeological and historical contexts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Festa
- CENTRO FERMI—Museo Storico della Fisica e Centro Studi e Ricerche “Enrico Fermi”, Piazza del Viminale 1, 00184 Rome, Italy; (G.F.); (R.S.); (C.S.); (C.A.)
| | - Giovanni Romanelli
- ISIS Facility, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Chilton, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0QX, UK;
| | - Roberto Senesi
- CENTRO FERMI—Museo Storico della Fisica e Centro Studi e Ricerche “Enrico Fermi”, Piazza del Viminale 1, 00184 Rome, Italy; (G.F.); (R.S.); (C.S.); (C.A.)
- NAST Centre and Physics Department, Università degli Studi di Roma “Tor Vergata”, Via della Ricerca, Scientifica 1, 00133, Rome, Italy
- CNR-IPCF Sezione di Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno d’Alcontres 37, 98158 Messina, Italy
| | - Laura Arcidiacono
- Diamond Light Source, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Chilton, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE, UK;
- UCL, University College of London Institute of Archaeology, 31-34 Gordon Square, Kings Cross, London WC1H 0PY, UK
| | - Claudia Scatigno
- CENTRO FERMI—Museo Storico della Fisica e Centro Studi e Ricerche “Enrico Fermi”, Piazza del Viminale 1, 00184 Rome, Italy; (G.F.); (R.S.); (C.S.); (C.A.)
- NAST Centre and Physics Department, Università degli Studi di Roma “Tor Vergata”, Via della Ricerca, Scientifica 1, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Stewart F. Parker
- ISIS Facility, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Chilton, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0QX, UK;
| | - M. P. M. Marques
- Química-Física Molecular, University of Coimbra, 3004-535 Coimbra, Portugal;
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Carla Andreani
- CENTRO FERMI—Museo Storico della Fisica e Centro Studi e Ricerche “Enrico Fermi”, Piazza del Viminale 1, 00184 Rome, Italy; (G.F.); (R.S.); (C.S.); (C.A.)
- NAST Centre and Physics Department, Università degli Studi di Roma “Tor Vergata”, Via della Ricerca, Scientifica 1, 00133, Rome, Italy
| |
Collapse
|