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2Two devices, in the form of spray cans, which are based on the PDTascorbic acid formulation, are commercially available. These are Ferroprint, by Sulamith Ltd., Hod Hasharon, POB 170, Israel and Ferrotrace,
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o/CH3
o~CH~
3)IDT ~
O~.CH'
O/CH~
FIG. 2--Spanish Star pistol showing its pronounced steel profile.
FIG. 1 PDT and two of its analogues, PPDT and 1DT, that were
examined in this study.
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hands with water or even washing them under the tap after PDT
application, accelerates the color development without blurring
the marks.
Discussion
FIG. 4~Two halves of the hand one half sprayed with the PDT analogue, 1DT. and the other half with Ferroprint.
with tap water (lukewarm) and soap and dried with a cotton towel.
This was done at the following time intervals from the contact:
immediately, and 1, 2, and 4h. PDT (Ferroprint) was applied to
the hand directly after washing. All experiments were conducted
at least two times which produced similar results.
Results
The efficiency of the PDT analogues was examined. Both compounds, PPDT and IDT developed the imprints of the iron parts
very similarly to PDT. This observation refers to direct spraying
on the hand and processing the adhesive lifter after transfer. While
impressions developed by PPDT had a color quite similar to that
obtained by PDT, the impressions obtained by IDT were nearly
black, and showed slightly better contrast on the skin.
The following results were observed regarding the influence of
different time intervals: (a) With direct spray on the skin: well
defined impressions could be developed even seven hours after
the contact. In this series, no attempt was made to develop the
marks after longer periods after contact. (b) With transfer to adhesive lifter and spraying both the hand and the plastic sheet at these
intervals: (1) Immediately after the contact: strong mark on the
adhesive sheet and weak reaction on the hand was observed. (2)
One hour from contact: weak reaction on the adhesive sheet and
strong mark on the hand was observed, and (3) Two hours from
contact: no reaction on the adhesive sheet and strong mark on the
hand was observed.
The influence of ascorbic acid with time was demonstrated by
the following: (a) Immediately after contact: strong marks were
obtained by PDT with or without ascorbic acid. (b) One hour from
contact: no reaction without ascorbic acid. Ferroprint (PDT with
ascorbic acid) developed strong marks, similar to those obtained
with fresh impressions. The influence of washing hands was demonstrated by: (a) Washing the hands fight after the contact: no
visible impressions are obtained after application of Ferroprint and
hence no traces of iron are left on the hand after the wash. (b)
Washing the hands two hours from contact: strong marks are
developed with Ferroprint.
............
Occasionally the color development is not instant and the impression reaches maximum intensity after 2 or 3 min. Spraying the
FIG. 5--Structure of the PDT complex with ferrous (iron 11) ions.
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hands have not been washed right after the contact. The recommended procedure to use these preparations is to spray the hands
from ca. 15 cm. (Fig. 3). ff a mark does not develop within two
minutes, the hand can be sprayed or washed with water, which
may accelerate the appearance of the magenta color and intensify
the mark. The hands with the marks are then photographed, ff
gun-shot residue (GSR) is to be collected also, by the adhesivelift method, it must precede the Ferroprint test. GSR collection
always before Ferroprint!
References
1. Stevens JM, Messler H. The trace metal detection technique
(TMDT): a report outlining a procedure for photographing results
in color, and some factors influencing the results in controlled
laboratory tests, J Forensic Sci 1974 July;19(3):496-503.
2. Seitz WR. Fluorescence derivatization. CRC Critical Rev in Anal
Chem 1980:367-406.
3. Goldman GL, Thornton JI. A new trace ferrous metal detection
reagent, J Forensic Sci 1976 July;21(3):625-8.
4. Thornton JI, Stoney DA. An improved ferrous metal detection
reagent, J Forensic Sci 1977;22(4):739-41.
5. Glattstein B, Kraus S. Metal traces detection on hands of suspects,
Israel Police Research Report, Sept. 1979 (in Hebrew).
6. Lee C-W. The detection of iron traces on hands by ferrozine sprays:
a report on the sensitivity and interference of the method and
recommended procedure in forensic science investigation, J Forensic Sci 1986 July;31(3):920-30.
7. Kaplan M, Almog J. Field diagnostic examinations for forensic
purposes, Police Chief. 1983 Sept.;30-33.
8. Almog J, Hirshfeld A, Glattstein B, Sterling J, Goren Z. Chromogenic reagents for iron (II): studies in the 1,2,4-Triazine Series,
Analytica Chimica Acta, 322, 1996;203-8.
9. Stephen WI, Islam MA. 3,5,6-Trisubstituted 1,2,4-Triazines as analytical reagents. Analytica Chimica Acta, 274, 1993;335-46.
Additional information and reprint requests:
Dr. Joseph Almog; Director
Division of Identification and Forensic Science (DWS)
Israel Police Investigations Department
Sheikh Jarrah
Jerusalem 91906, Israel