Bleeding as a source of lead particulates on clothing.

A review of several criminal cases where individuals were injured or killed by small-arms fire was conducted to ascertain the source of lead particulates discovered on the clothing of the shooting victims. In each of the reviewed cases, the garments were found to be free of gunpower particles. Additionally, the victims all sustained perforating gunshots from bullets possessing exposed lead on either the bearing surface or ogive. We theorized that the passage of the bullet through the body produces a trail of microscopic lead particles that are subsequently flushed out onto the clothing in the vicinity of the entrance and exit bullet holes. The discovery of these particles could lead to the mistaken opinion that their source is a close-proximity gunshot.