Detection of bullet residue in bone using proton-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) analysis.
External beam proton-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) analysis has been used to verify the presence of lead in the finger bone of a murder victim. The deceased, who had been buried several years, was known to have suffered a bullet wound to his right hand several years before death. X-ray radiographs of the right second proximal phalanx revealed the possible presence of metal fragments below the surface of the bone. To verify the presence of lead in a nondestructive manner, the bone was scanned with a 1.5-MeV proton beam. PIXE analysis showed that lead was present only in the vicinity of the fragments previously detected in the radiographs. A study of gunshot residue in bone shows that the distribution of lead around the bullet hole is independent of the firing distance for distances greater than 0.6 m.
D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000032:analysis*; D005554:Forensic Medicine; D006708:Homicide; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D013052:Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot
D007854:Lead