Journal of Medical Toxicology and Clinical Forensic Medicine

Developments in the Understanding and use of Alternate Light Sources in the Location and Recovery of Human Remains

This research has investigated the practicality of the use of the new generation of Alternative Light Sources in arson based forensic contexts, to explain and better exploit the mechanism of light-bone interaction resulting in the fluorescence – why and how does it work and when does it not? Research both suggests and demonstrates that burnt bone fluoresces yet investigations into the mechanism of interaction is yet to be properly and fully confirmed and reported. The literature is confusing with both of the key matrix components of collagen and mineral identified as having a role in the generation of fluorescence. There is therefore a requirement to investigate a number of physical variables that will affect the fluorescence; factors such as age at death of the individual, bone-pathologies and the length of time of burning and the temperature of the burned remains. All of these factors have to be considered in the context of the burned environment and its scale (e.g. car, building or larger open environment). Using a range of alternative lighting sources; the Forenscope multispectral imaging tablet, a Forenteq Superlite and CopperTree forensic investigation torches, a number of archaeological human and indeed burned animal bones have been examined using these lighting systems. These studies are improving the industry understanding of light interaction and the detection of osseous materials, which will have burned at differing temperatures in different arson environments, and so will facilitate faster and more accurate identification of bone for both criminal justice investigation and archaeological disciplines.

Author(s):

Emma Morgan

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