title: Application of atomic absorption spectroscopy for detection of multimetal traces in low-voltage electrical marks.
abstract: Application of atomic absorption spectroscopy to detect multimetal traces in injured skin is a promising tool for investigation of fatalities caused by electrocution. The present paper is aimed at testing the reliability of this method for metal traces detection in electric current marks and is focused on study of peculiarities of metal penetration into the skin exposed to a current impact. Bare aluminum wire, tin-lead coated copper multistrand wire, and zinc-plated steel rope were used to make electrical marks on pig skin. It is demonstrated that amount of copper, zinc, lead, and iron may serve as statistically reliable indicators for the type of wire, which caused the electrical mark, in spite of the background content of these metals in the skin without injury. Different penetration rates for different metals contained in the wire inflicting an electrical mark were observed.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Forensic Medicine, Mykolas Romeris University, S. Zukausko 12, Vilnius LT-08234, Lithuania. marija.jakubeniene@gmail.com
authors.forename: Marija
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jakubeniene
authors.forename: Algirdas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zakaras
authors.forename: Zita Nijole
authors.initials: ZN
authors.lastname: Minkuviene
authors.forename: Alvydas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Benoshys
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003300:Copper / Q000032:analysis; D004556:Electric Injuries / Q000473:pathology*; D005554:Forensic Medicine; D007501:Iron / Q000032:analysis; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis; D023421:Models, Animal; D012867:Skin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000293:injuries*; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic; D013552:Swine; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000032:analysis*; D015032:Zinc / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D014131:Trace Elements; D007854:Lead; D003300:Copper; D007501:Iron; D015032:Zinc