Abstract
BackgroundIn this modern era, advancement in technology is seen in every aspect of our life making it comparatively much easier. Likewise, in the field of fingerprinting, the digital scanners have replaced conventional methods of taking fingerprints, as it is accurate and less time-consuming. In daily life, people often apply oils, lotions, hand sanitizers, and occasionally mehendi on their hands. These cosmetic and daily use products affect the digital recording of fingerprints, thus making it difficult for forensic experts to identify the real offender in many cases. The purpose of the study was to check the effect of oils, lotions, hand sanitizers, and mehendi on the fingerprint pattern.ResultsThe present study was undertaken by taking 2700 fingerprints from 30 individuals. These fingerprints were recorded with the help of the SecuGen Hamster IV fingerprint scanner under controlled environmental conditions. The examination and comparison of fingerprint patterns were done on the basis of visibility (clarity and intensity). The presence of cosmetic and daily use products affected the visibility of digitally captured fingerprints. Different products caused different effects based on their properties. Synthetic mehendi, alcohol-based hand sanitizer, greasy lotion, and viscous oil caused significant differences in the fingerprint images by degrading the fingerprint quality. The non-greasy lotion and non-alcohol-based hand sanitizer showed less effect, whereas non-viscous oil and natural mehendi caused a minimal effect on the quality of fingerprint images.ConclusionThe application of cosmetic and daily use products added an additional layer on the fingers which is not present naturally. The additional layer caused alterations in the fingerprint pattern of an individual. So, digital fingerprints should be collected after proper washing of hands.
Highlights
In this modern era, advancement in technology is seen in every aspect of our life making it comparatively much easier
The effects of the use of oils, lotions, hand sanitizer, and mehendi were seen on the frictional ridge of the distal phalangeal region
The prominent broadening with merging of ridges in fingerprint pattern was found in viscous oil (Fig. 3a) and less prominent in non-viscous oil (Fig. 3b)
Summary
Advancement in technology is seen in every aspect of our life making it comparatively much easier. People often apply oils, lotions, hand sanitizers, and occasionally mehendi on their hands These cosmetic and daily use products affect the digital recording of fingerprints, making it difficult for forensic experts to identify the real offender in many cases. Fingerprints are taken digitally, and identification of an Kumari et al Egyptian Journal of Forensic Sciences (2021) 11:8 individual is done by their unique fingerprint features like frictional ridge characteristics, minutiae, and sweat pores. This is an inkless, non-messy, simple, cost-effective, and faster processing technique. In India, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) Adhaar card contains the biometric database including fingerprints of every citizen which can be used to identify the individual (Unique Identification Authority of India, Government of India 2016; Vatsa et al 2010)
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