NCJ Number
12750
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 19 Issue: 1 Dated: (JANUARY 1974) Pages: 54-63
Date Published
1974
Length
10 pages
Annotation
DESCRIPTION OF PROCEDURES USED BY THE FORENSIC LABORATORY OF THE BUREAU OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, AND FIREARMS FOR EXAMINING DEBRIS FROM DESTRUCTIVE DEVICES.
Abstract
PARTICLES OF THE EXPLOSIVE USED IN A BOMB CAN USUALLY BE RECOVERED FROM PROPERLY COLLECTED DEBRIS TAKEN AT THE SCENE IF THE DEBRIS IS METICULOUSLY EXAMINED MICROSCOPICALLY. THE EXPLOSIVE CAN THEN BE IDENTIFIED BY RATHER SIMPLE CHEMICAL AND INSTRUMENTAL PROCEDURES. AS A LAST RESORT, SOLVENT EXTRACTION OF THE DEBRIS MAY BE PERFORMED, BUT THIS IS NOT RECOMMENDED SINCE IT USUALLY LACKS THE SPECIFICITY AND SENSITIVITY NECESSARY TO DETECT THE TRACES OF EXPLOSIVE PRESENT IN A LARGE VOLUME OF DEBRIS. IN ADDITION, THE DEBRIS MAY CONTAIN SUBSTANCES THAT WOULD INTERFERE WITH SUBSEQUENT TESTS OF THE EXTRACT. COTTON SWABS SOAKED IN ACETONE ARE EFFECTIVE IN REMOVING TRACES OF VARIOUS EXPLOSIVES FROM THE HANDS OF A SUBJECT WHO HAS RECENTLY HANDLED THEM. EXPLOSIVE RESIDUES ON THE SWABS CAN BE IDENTIFIED IN THE LABORATORY BY THINLAYER CHROMATOGRAPHY PROCEDURES. INSTRUMENTS SUCH AS THE VAPOR TRACE ANALYZER HAVE VALUE IN RAPIDLY SCANNING DEBRIS, COTTON HAND SWABS, CLOTHING, AND AIR SAMPLES FOR THE PRESENCE OF EXPLOSIVES. THE EXPLOSIVE PRESENT IS THEN CONFIRMED BY CHEMICAL METHODS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)