title: Gunshot residue preservation in seawater.
abstract: Little is known about the persistence of gunshot residue (GSR) in soft tissue and bones during decomposition in marine environments. For a better understanding, qualitative and quantitative data were obtained on GSR retention on soft tissue and bony gunshot wounds (GSWs). A quantity of 36 fleshed and 36 defleshed bovine ribs were shot at contact range with 0.22 calibre hollow point ammunition using a Stirling 0.22 calibre long rifle. Bone specimens in triplicate were placed in three environments: submerged, intertidal and in supralittoral zone. Sets of triplicates were recovered on day 3, 10, 24 and 38, and analysed with scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (SEM-EDX), and inductive coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The SEM-EDX recorded GSR-indicative particles surrounding the bullet entrance on all bone types (fleshed and defleshed) in all environments throughout the study. GSR-unique particles were only detected on the supralittoral bones. The ICP-MS analysis showed faster GSR loss on submerged than intertidal and supralittoral defleshed specimens. Fleshed specimens showed a faster GSR loss on intertidal than submerged and supralittoral specimens. In conclusion, the GSR disappeared faster from submerged and intertidal than non-submerged specimens. The difference of detection of GSR between analysed specimens (defleshed versus fleshed) disappeared upon defleshing. This study highlights the potential of finding evidence of GSR in a submerged body and the potential of microscopic and analytical methods for examining suspected GSW in highly decomposed bodies in marine habitats.
authors.affiliation: Sir John Walsh Research Institute, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Otago, PO Box 647, Dunedin, New Zealand. Electronic address: anne_christine@me.com.
authors.forename: Anne-Christine
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Lindström
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand. Electronic address: Jurian.Hoogewerff@canberra.edu.au.
authors.forename: Jurian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hoogewerff
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand. Electronic address: josie.athens@otago.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Josie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Athens
authors.affiliation: Waikato Clinical School, University of Auckland, 3240 Hamilton, New Zealand. Electronic address: obertovazuzana@yahoo.co.nz.
authors.forename: Zuzana
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Obertova
authors.affiliation: Sir John Walsh Research Institute, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Otago, PO Box 647, Dunedin, New Zealand. Electronic address: warwick.duncan@otago.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Warwick
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Duncan
authors.affiliation: Sir John Walsh Research Institute, Department of Oral Rehabilitation, University of Otago, PO Box 647, Dunedin, New Zealand. Electronic address: neil.waddell@otago.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Waddell
authors.affiliation: Sir John Walsh Research Institute, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Otago, PO Box 647, Dunedin, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Jules
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kieser
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000965:Antimony / Q000032:analysis; D001464:Barium / Q000032:analysis; D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis; D002417:Cattle; D044709:Forensic Ballistics; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D012272:Ribs / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000293:injuries; D012623:Seawater; D012825:Silicon / Q000032:analysis; D013052:Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D001464:Barium; D007854:Lead; D000965:Antimony; D002118:Calcium; D012825:Silicon
keywords: Gunshot residue; Gunshot wound; ICP-MS; Marine decomposition; SEM–EDX