title: A quantitative differentiation method for plastic bags by wide angle X-ray diffraction for tracing the source of illegal drugs.
abstract: Thirty-three shopping bags, commonly encountered in the packaging of drug doses, were characterized by wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD). Using this single technique, without sample preparation, nearly all the considered samples could be differentiated, achieving a discriminating power of 0.992. The rather large degree of variability existing in grocery bags, even though they are mass produced, was shown, confirming that these items can be useful in tracing the source of illicit drug doses.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche dell'Università, via Marzolo 1, 35131 Padova, Italy. valerio.causin@unipd.it
authors.forename: Valerio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Causin
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marega
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Carresi
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schiavone
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marigo