ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Page Count: 3

A Recovery Method for Airborne Gunshot Residue Retained in Human Nasal Mucus
Zona, CA
Research Microscopist, McCrone Research Institute, IL

Schwartz, RH
Research Microscopist, McCrone Research Institute, IL

(Received 17 June 1994; accepted 22 October 1994)

Abstract

Each living person is equipped with their own personal particle filter, a nose. The human nose is capable of filtering and trapping airborne gunshot residue (AGSR) from discharged firearms. An extraction/concentration technique has been developed to recover the AGSR retained in human nasal mucus. The technique has successfully recovered abundant AGSR from 48 hours post-firing sample collection times. The AGSR particles were characterized by a JEOL™ 6400 scanning electron microscope coupled with a Noran™ Voyager energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer.

Keywords:
forensic science, gunshot residue, nasal mucus

Paper ID: JFS13845J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS13845J
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