Use of Portable X-ray Fluorescence to Discriminate Brands of Nail Polishes: a Potential Forensic Tool

Gustavo G Shimamoto,Juliana Terra,Maria Izabel M S Bueno

doi:10.5935/0103-5053.20130093

Gustavo G Shimamoto, Juliana Terra + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.5935/0103-5053.20130093

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Abstract

In forensic analysis, a small quantity of a particular material (hairs, fibers, soils, glasses, paints, among others) can be important to elucidate the sequence of events in a crime scene or to establish the relationship among subjects and facts. There are several examples of cosmetics used as forensic evidences, such as lipsticks and nail polishes. The composition of nail polishes varies according to brand, color and purpose of the product. In this work, the separation of Brazilian nail polishes according to their brand was evaluated using a portable energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (EDXRF) and principal component analysis (PCA). The nonsupervised classification of five brands indicates that the proposed methodology may be a quick, low cost and green alternative to discriminate brands and other characteristics related to a nail polish sample, as possible evidence in crime scenes.

Highlights

The search for traces at crime scenes is one of the several activities of forensic chemistry
The main objective of the investigation in a crime scene is to collect as many samples as possible that may be correlated to the offense, and to provide evidence to determine how the crime occurred
The instrument used was an energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometer cooled by a Peltier system, InnovX brand, model AlphaCam, provided with an X-ray tube with tantalum anode and a diode SiPIN detector

Summary

Introduction

The search for traces at crime scenes is one of the several activities of forensic chemistry. Such traces are important as they can address issues of interest to the courts and even elucidate crimes.[1,2] The main objective of the investigation in a crime scene is to collect as many samples as possible that may be correlated to the offense, and to provide evidence to determine how the crime occurred In this context, samples of hairs, fibers, soil particles, glasses, paint chips, blood and other human fluids may be of fundamental importance.[3,4] Paint is a typical example of a screening sample and is routinely analyzed by forensic laboratories worldwide.

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