Winder Richard J, Wilby Samuel A J, Lessey Lauren, Hutson Hazel E, Broome Sharon M, Beardah Matthew S
Dstl Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK.
J Forensic Sci. 2025 Jul;70(4):1450-1459. doi: 10.1111/1556-4029.70042. Epub 2025 May 7.
Interpretation and evaluation of trace explosives evidence requires practitioner understanding of factors including transfer, persistence, and environmental prevalence. This study builds on previous work and studies the contemporary prevalence of organic high explosives and inorganic ions of explosives significance in public places. 450 swab and vacuum samples were collected from across Great Britain. Analysis was conducted using liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry and ion chromatography-mass spectrometry to screen for a wider number of explosives analytes with a higher degree of selectivity and with lower limits of detection than previous studies. Analytes screened for included military high explosives, organic peroxide explosives, and inorganic ions of explosives significance. Only eight low nanogram level traces of organic explosives (HMX, NG, PETN, and RDX) were detected. The results indicate that high explosives traces remain uncommon in the public environment and transport network. Due to the low prevalence, these results strengthen the association between the detection of a trace and explosives activity, and assist the practitioner in assigning significance. Many inorganic ions (ammonium, calcium, chloride, magnesium, nitrate, nitrite, potassium, sodium, and sulfate) were detected at milligram or sub-milligram quantities. They are common in the environment, naturally occurring, and used commercially. Interpreting the general significance when detecting traces of common inorganic species is challenging. Barium, chlorate, perchlorate, strontium, and thiocyanate were not detected and are therefore more uncommon, strengthening the association between detection and explosives activity.
微量爆炸物证据的解读与评估要求从业者了解包括转移、持久性和环境普遍性等因素。本研究基于此前的工作，研究了公共场所中有机高爆炸物及具有爆炸物意义的无机离子的当代普遍性。从英国各地采集了450个拭子和真空样本。采用液相色谱 - 高分辨率质谱和离子色谱 - 质谱进行分析，以筛选比以往研究具有更高选择性和更低检测限的更多爆炸物分析物。所筛选的分析物包括军用高爆炸物、有机过氧化物爆炸物以及具有爆炸物意义的无机离子。仅检测到八处低纳克级别的有机爆炸物痕迹（奥克托今、硝化甘油、太安和黑索今）。结果表明，高爆炸物痕迹在公共环境和交通网络中仍然不常见。由于普遍性较低，这些结果强化了微量痕迹检测与爆炸物活动之间的关联，并有助于从业者确定其重要性。检测到许多毫克或亚毫克量的无机离子（铵、钙、氯、镁、硝酸根、亚硝酸根、钾、钠和硫酸根）。它们在环境中很常见，是天然存在的，并且有商业用途。在检测常见无机物种的痕迹时解读其一般重要性具有挑战性。未检测到钡、氯酸盐、高氯酸盐、锶和硫氰酸盐，因此它们更为罕见，这强化了检测与爆炸物活动之间的关联。
