XRF identification of sharp-force trauma in fresh and dry human bone under varied experimental heat conditions.

Joana Rosa, Maria Paula M Marques, Maria Teresa Ferreira, David Gonçalves, Luís A E Batista de Carvalho, Francisco P S C Gil

Journal: Science & justice : journal of the Forensic Science Society 2024;64(3):305-313

PMID: 38735667

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Abstract

Heat-induced fractures can be hard to distinguish from sharp force traumas. This challenge can negatively impact medico-legal analysis. The present study aimed to experimentally assess if X-ray fluorescence (XRF) can be used to detect chemical traces transferred from the blade of a sharp instrument onto both fresh and dry human bones. This was performed by inducing sharp force traumas with five different instruments on 20 fresh and 20 dry human clavicles. All bone samples were probed before and after experimental burning (at 500 °C, 700 °C, 900 °C and 1100 °C). Our results show that XRF is potentially useful for detecting iron traces in fresh human bone, both unburned and burned. However, we were not able to clearly detect iron traces from the blades in bones that have been previously inhumed, since exogenous iron acquired during diagenesis masks the iron traces originating from the blade.

Address: University of Coimbra, Department of Life Sciences, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal; University of Coimbra, Department of Life Sciences, Centre for Functional Ecology (CFE), Laboratory of Forensic Anthropology, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal; University of Coimbra, Department of Chemistry, Molecular Physical-Chemistry R&D Unit, 3004-535 Coimbra, Portugal; University of Coimbra, Department of Life Sciences, Research Centre for Anthropology and Health (CIAS), Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal. Electronic address: [email protected].; University of Coimbra, Department of Chemistry, Molecular Physical-Chemistry R&D Unit, 3004-535 Coimbra, Portugal. Electronic address: [email protected].; University of Coimbra, Department of Life Sciences, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal; University of Coimbra, Department of Chemistry, Molecular Physical-Chemistry R&D Unit, 3004-535 Coimbra, Portugal. Electronic address: [email protected].; University of Coimbra, Department of Life Sciences, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal; University of Coimbra, Department of Life Sciences, Centre for Functional Ecology (CFE), Laboratory of Forensic Anthropology, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal. Electronic address: [email protected].; University of Coimbra, Department of Life Sciences, Centre for Functional Ecology (CFE), Laboratory of Forensic Anthropology, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal; University of Coimbra, Department of Life Sciences, Research Centre for Anthropology and Health (CIAS), Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal; Laboratory of Archaeosciences (LARC/CIBIO/InBIO), Direção-Geral do Património Cultural, Calçada do Mirante à Ajuda n°10A, 1300-418 Lisboa, Portugal. Electronic address: [email protected].; University of Coimbra, Department of Chemistry, Molecular Physical-Chemistry R&D Unit, 3004-535 Coimbra, Portugal; University of Coimbra, Department of Physics, Centre for Physics of the University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, P-3004-516 Coimbra, Portugal. Electronic address: [email protected].

DOI: 10.1016/j.scijus.2024.04.005

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MeSH Terms: Humans, Hot Temperature, Iron, Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission, Fractures, Bone, Burns, Fires, Male