Science & Justice
Volume 48, Issue 2 , Pages 71-75, June 2008

Illuminating the health and safety of luminol

  • Tony Larkin

      Affiliations

    • Metropolitan Police Service, Specialist Evidence Recovery and Imaging Service, 2-16 Amelia Street, London, SE17 3PY, UK
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author.
    • ,
  • Chris Gannicliffe

      Affiliations

    • SPSA Forensic Services, Forensic Science Laboratory, Grampian Police Office, Nelson Street, Aberdeen, AB24 5EQ, UK

Received 13 April 2007; received in revised form 30 July 2007; accepted 10 August 2007. published online 10 September 2007.

Abstract 

Luminol is a reagent that is used to enhance areas of non-visible bloodstaining and it is one of the most sensitive of such reagents available to the forensic scientist. However, its use, particularly within the UK and some other European countries, has been limited, predominantly due to concerns about the health and safety of the reagent. This paper reviews the literature currently available regarding the health and safety of luminol, and in the authors' view demonstrates that there are no significant health and safety concerns with the preparation of luminol solution and its application at the crime scene or in the laboratory, providing suitable precautions are taken.

Keywords: Luminol, Blood, Health and safety, Toxicity

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PII: S1355-0306(07)00066-4

doi:10.1016/j.scijus.2007.08.003

Science & Justice
Volume 48, Issue 2 , Pages 71-75, June 2008

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