title: Elemental Analysis of Variably Contaminated Cremains Using X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry.
abstract: Analyzing and identifying skeletal remains becomes increasingly difficult when remains have been cremated, especially in cases where the cremated material may have been intentionally contaminated with nonskeletal material. This study examined the potential of X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF) to detect the presence of nonskeletal contaminants in samples of cremains. Eleven samples of cremains were variably combined with concrete mix and analyzed using XRF. Photon counts of elements in each sample were analyzed, and the coefficient of determination (R(2)) using unweighted linear regression as a function of percent cremains was calculated. Results showed that with changes in the proportion of skeletal material and contaminant, there were significant (R(2) > 0.90) changes in detected levels of phosphorus, potassium, zinc, aluminum, and sulfur. The use of XRF is concluded to be a valid approach in the identification of the presence of nonskeletal material in potentially contaminated cremains.
authors.affiliation: George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax, VA.
authors.forename: Megan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gilpin
authors.affiliation: George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax, VA.|FBI Laboratory, 2501 Investigation Parkway, Quantico, VA.
authors.forename: Angi M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Christensen
mesh_terms: D000535:Aluminum / Q000032:analysis; D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis; D055700:Cremation; D044707:Forensic Sciences; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000032:analysis; D011188:Potassium / Q000032:analysis; D013052:Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission; D013455:Sulfur / Q000032:analysis; D015032:Zinc / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D010758:Phosphorus; D013455:Sulfur; D000535:Aluminum; D015032:Zinc; D011188:Potassium; D002118:Calcium
keywords: X-ray fluorescence spectrometry; cremains; cremation; elemental analysis; forensic anthropology; forensic science