The discolouration of human teeth from archaeological contexts: Elemental analysis of a black tooth from a Roman cranium recovered from the River Witham, Lincoln, UK.

A human cranium was recovered from the River Witham, Lincoln, UK, at Stamp End Lock during a police operation in 2002. Although extensive trauma was noted, the skull was not of forensic interest since radiocarbon dating revealed that the individual had lived during the Roman occupation of Lincoln, almost 2,000 years ago. The skull had unusual black “metallic” staining on the occlusal surfaces of the teeth. As this kind of staining is relatively uncommon, it was investigated to determine the possible cause. An individual tooth was subjected to two elemental analyses: inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) and scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM-EDX). A small sample of modern teeth was also analysed for comparison to determine “normal” ranges of certain elements. Analysis of the ancient tooth shows very high levels of manganese (275 µg/g) and iron (1540 µg/g) compared to modern teeth values (1.90 µg/g Mn and 40.81 µg/g Fe). These results were consistent with the black staining arising from iron and manganese infiltrating bone and dental tissue from the depositional environment, and not a consequence of diet, pathological process or cultural practices

An assessment of the bioaccumulation of estrone in Daphnia magna

The bioaccumulation of estrone by Daphnia magna was determined. Direct uptake via the aqueous medium occurred within the first 16 hours. A bioconcentration factor of 228 was established over all temporal periods. Ingestion via Chlorella vulgaris gave a partitioning factor of 24 which may approximate to a biomagnification factor assuming steady state conditions. These preliminary results indicate that the partitioning to Daphnia magna via the food source, Chorella vulgaris is less significant than bioconcentration

Mass balance calculations of illicit drugs in Stoke Bardolph Sewage treatment works, United Kingdom

Work encompassed in this study directly measures illicit drug removal rates in laboratory studies. Researchers employed removal rate data in calculating mass balances in sewage works which is an improvement over prior studies where assumptions on removal rates at Sewage Treatment Works were made. The batch tests data enabled determination of degradation of the compounds at different temperatures and times, using various sludge types after characterization. Mass balances for the Stoke Bardolph Sewage Treatment Works were constructed using the removal rate data from the batch studies. Final effluent concentrations of 10.0 ng L-1 (morphine), and 80.0 ng L-1 (6-monoacetylmorphine), were recorded after a total of 8 hour hydraulic times (8 HRT) from an initial influent concentration of 50 mg L-1. A projected influent concentration of morphine (1.4 g L-1) at Stoke Bardolph was derived from back-calculating measured final effluent concentrations using the same mass balance approach

A preliminary evaluation of the use of gun bluing to enhance friction ridge detail on cartridge casings

Friction ridge detail was enhanced on fired and unfired 9mm brass luger ammunition casings using three techniques, two involving Gun Blue reagent at a concentration of 50% v/v. Fingermarks were deposited on a total number of 90 ammunition casings and half were discharged using a Glock 19 semiautomatic pistol. Mark development was achieved using either Superglue Fuming followed by Basic Yellow 40 Fluorescent Dye Staining (SG-BY40), Superglue Fuming followed by Gun Blue (SG-GB), or Gun Blue (GB) as a single process. All three processes developed ridge detail on both fired and unfired casings. The results of this preliminary work show that the use of Gun Blue as a single enhancement technique was able to enhance ridge detail of the highest quality and clarity particularly on fired casings, making it the most effective process

Recent trends in organic gunshot residue analysis – a review.

A comprehensive review of the literature concerning all aspects of sampling and analytical techniques used for the determination of organic gunshot residue (OGSR) compounds is presented. Currently, 136 compounds associated with OGSR have been identified in the literature. Despite this area gaining increasing attention and recognition in recent years, there is still an absence of a set combination of sample collection, extraction and analysis methods that are universally optimal for the treatment of any given OGSR sample. Moreover, there are no generally accepted guidelines for selecting the compounds of interest that will inform sampling and analysis protocols. We highlight recent developments in both extraction and analytical methods employed for their detection. The main advantages and disadvantages of the sampling and analysis methods are critically discussed

Degradation of some illicit compounds in sewage sludge batch tests

The batch tests enabled determination of the degradation of the compounds at different temperatures and times, using various sludge types after characterization. Removal rates of cocaine (91.0%), benzoylecgonine (90.6%), heroin (97.9%), morphine (99.7%), 6 monoacetylmorphine (93.3%) and diazepam (99.7%) were measured after 3 hours equilibration; partition coefficients (Kd) for these six substances ranged from 1.2 – 68.1 Kg L-1. The degradation of compounds at 19 ± 0.5o C was relatively greater but it still occurred slowly at 4 ± 0.5o C, at between 5 and 10%. Work encompassed in this study directly measures illicit drug removal rates in laboratory studies for the first time. The application of batch studies in calculating removal rates in sewage works is an improvement over prior studies where assumptions on removal rates at STW were made

Fate of drugs and their metabolites in the environment

The individual use of these pharmacologically active substances which generate great but underappreciated levels of other toxicologically potent and associated bioactive metabolites through purposeful and inadvertent discharge to the environment via excreta and by illegal disposal has become a global issue. This work reviews aspects of drugs occurrence, metabolism, transport routes, stability, analysis and environmental distribution of these emerging contaminants and highlights current developments in investigating and monitoring their fate and potential effects in aquatic environments. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCMS) and high performance liquid chromatography are the preferred methods for trace drugs analysis in wastewaters as their measurements depend largely on successful application of a fast and reliable method for qualitative and quantitative determination. The application of this method to the actual influents, effluents, sludge and environmental sediments from sewage treatment works (STWs) allows the assessment of drugs content and the extent at which STW helps in the transport of these pollutants (via different media) into the environment. The capability is also outlined for furthering our understanding of fate and behaviour of drugs with particular reference to illicit drugs, abused pharmaceuticals and environmental processes in our quest to understand the overall issues of drugs and make available exposure data for the aquatic realm

Organic compositional analysis of propellant powders using monolithic material sorption extraction ( MSSE) - a feasibility study

The application of monolithic material sorption extraction, specifi cally MonoTrapTM, to the extraction of organic gunshot residue (OGSR) compounds from unburnt propellant powders is described. Four different MonoTraps were assessed for their capability to extract OGSR compounds from two different ammunition types. Extracts were analysed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Results indicated that the carbon disc was suitable for the extraction of OGSR compounds from unburnt propellant powders. Quantities for major compounds were comparable to methanol extractions. The method was successfully used to detect a wide range of OGSR compounds, including nitrotoluenes, nitroglycerin, diphenylamines and centralites and is expected to be applicable to a wide range of ammunition types

Preliminary classification of characteristic organic gunshot residue compounds.

For the first time, a classification system for organic gunshot residue (OGSR) compounds with respect to the confirmation of OGSR materials is presented. There are 136 compounds considered to be associated with OGSR that have been highlighted in the literature. Many of these compounds could be classified as being ubiquitous in the environment and thus their detection as characteristic components of OGSR could cause issues with the interpretation of chemical ballistic evidence. The proposed system aims to address this problem by classifying OGSR compounds based on their forensic relevance with respect to the confirmation of GSR materials. To increase the forensic relevance of such a system, the large number of OGSR compounds reported in the literature has been decreased to 20 OGSR compounds based on the organic chemical composition of over 200 propellant powders. Occupational and environmental materials also associated with OGSR compounds have been considered

Fate and Behavior of Gunshot Residue-A Review

A review of the literature concerning the fate and behaviour of gunshot residue (GSR) is presented. A number of concomitant parameters including firearm and ammunition type, plume and GSR material characteristics, travel distances, chemical composition and GSR morphology are critically discussed in relation to their effects on the distribution and deposition, transfer and persistence processes of GSR. The underlying mechanisms associated with such processes are also considered. Knowledge of these processes on GSR materials could provide valuable information concerning scene preservation and subsequent forensic sampling. The number of GSR particles deposited can vary significantly with each firearm discharge, highlighting the potential to produce distinctive data in each individual case. With the continual development and compositional changes of new ammunition types, further evaluation of the effect these processes may have on GSR evidence and their possible influence on the interpretation of the analytical results should be given due consideration