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.
University of Coimbra, Department of Chemistry, Molecular Physical-Chemistry R&D Unit, 3004-535 Coimbra, Portugal.
Sci Justice. 2024 May;64(3):305-313. doi: 10.1016/j.scijus.2024.04.005. Epub 2024 Apr 21.
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.
热诱导骨折很难与锐器伤区分开来。这一挑战可能会对法医学分析产生负面影响。本研究旨在通过实验评估 X 射线荧光（XRF）是否可用于检测从锐器刀片转移到新鲜和干燥人骨上的化学痕迹。通过用五种不同的器械在 20 个新鲜和 20 个干燥的人锁骨上造成锐器伤来完成此操作。在实验燃烧（500°C、700°C、900°C 和 1100°C）前后对所有骨样本进行探测。我们的结果表明，XRF 有可能用于检测新鲜人骨中未燃烧和燃烧状态下的铁痕迹。然而，我们无法从先前埋葬的骨中清楚地检测到来自刀片的铁痕迹，因为在成岩作用过程中获得的外源铁掩盖了来自刀片的铁痕迹。
