A population study of polyurethane foam fragments recovered from the surface of 100 outer-garments

Reed, G.; Lofts, C.; Coyle, T.

doi:10.1016/j.scijus.2009.11.001

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Volume 50, Issue 3 , Pages 127-137, September 2010

A population study of polyurethane foam fragments recovered from the surface of 100 outer-garments

G. Reed
- LGC Forensics, F5 Culham Science Centre, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX14 3ED, UK
- Centre for Forensic Science, Department of Pure & Applied Chemistry, University of Strathclyde, Royal College Building, 204 George Street, Glasgow, G1 1XW, UK
- Corresponding author. Centre for Forensic Science, Department of Pure & Applied Chemistry, University of Strathclyde, Royal College Building, 204 George Street, Glasgow, G1 1XW, UK. Tel.: +44 141 548 4519; fax: +44 141 548 2532.
C. Lofts
- Centre for Forensic Science, Department of Pure & Applied Chemistry, University of Strathclyde, Royal College Building, 204 George Street, Glasgow, G1 1XW, UK
- Hawkins, 1 Olton Bridge, 245 Warwick Road, Olton, Birmingham, B92 7AH, UK
T. Coyle
- LGC Forensics, F5 Culham Science Centre, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX14 3ED, UK
- Contact Traces Ltd, The Centre for Innovation & Enterprise, Begbroke Science Park, Sandy Lane, Yarnton, Oxford, OX5 1PF, UK

Received 14 June 2009; received in revised form 8 November 2009; accepted 9 November 2009. published online 30 November 2009.

Abstract

One hundred outer-garments were examined for microscopic fragments of polyurethane foam. Low power stereomicroscopy was used to classify fragments into 18 groups according to macroscopic colour. Amber, pale yellow and black were the most frequently encountered, whilst navy, pale blue, bright pink, beige, brown, pale green, peach and white were the least frequently encountered. High power comparison/fluorescence microscopy was used to discriminate 166 populations within 16 colour groupings. The majority (95.2%) of populations consisted of three fragments or less. This study demonstrates that the background population of foam fragments on an outer-garment consists of low numbers representing various colours. Therefore, finding a large population of microscopically indistinguishable fragments within a casework situation has the potential to be considered highly significant evidentially.

Keywords: Forensic science, Trace evidence, Polyurethane foam, Population study, Microscopy, Colour