title: Effects of Aluminum Foil Packaging on Elemental Analysis of Bone.
abstract: Burned skeletal material is often very fragile and at high risk for fragmentation during packaging and transportation. One method that has been suggested to protect bones in these cases is to carefully wrap them in aluminum foil. Traces of aluminum, however, are known to transfer from foil packaging materials to food products. If such transfer occurs between aluminum foil and bones, it could interfere with subsequent chemical, elemental and isotopic analyses, which are becoming more common in forensic anthropological investigations. This study examined aluminum levels in bones prior to and following the use of aluminum foil packaging and storage for a 6-week period. Results indicate no significant change in the detected levels of aluminum (p > 0.05), even when packaged in compromised foil and exposed to elevated temperatures. Aluminum foil can therefore continue to be recommended as a packaging medium without affecting subsequent chemical examinations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Science, George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax, VA, 22030.
authors.forename: Lyniece
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Science, George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax, VA, 22030.|Federal Bureau of Investigation Laboratory, 2501 Investigation Parkway, Quantico, VA, 22135.
authors.forename: Angi M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Christensen
mesh_terms: D000535:Aluminum / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology*; D002056:Burns; D003670:Deer; D005390:Fires; D018732:Forensic Anthropology; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence
chemical_list: D000535:Aluminum
keywords: aluminum foil; elemental analysis; evidence packaging; forensic anthropology; forensic science; skeletal remains