Forensic applications of isotope ratio mass spectrometry

FORENSIC APPLICATIONS OF ISOTOPE RATIO MASS SPECTROMETRY 

In addition to this limitation potentially resulting in a failure to positively link or exclude a suspect with a scene sample, the limitation could also result in the failure to link or exclude related incidents of national and international interest, such as terrorist activities and illicit drug trafficking. 

Scientists respond to this challenge through the on-going evaluation, validation, and implementation of new techniques. The techniques may be new and emerging or established in other scientific disciplines but novel to the forensic industry. Isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) is such a technique that has established applications in other scientific fields, in particular geochemistry however, the application to forensic science is relatively novel. 

IRMS shows the potential to be able to individualize a range of materials of forensic interest when used in conjunction with other techniques. 

This chapter provides an overview of the IRMS technique, including fundamental principles and theory of operation. The chapter also highlights general applications of IRMS, with a particular focus on forensic applications and the abiUty of this method to assist in solving complex forensic cases by providing a level of discrimination not achievable utilizing traditional forensic techniques. The contents of this chapter are heavily based on a review article copublished by the author in 2006 [1] but with the addition of recent publications. 

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Reprinted from Benson, S., Lennard, C, Maynard, R, Roux, C. (2006) Forensic applications of isotope ratio mass spectrometry—a review. Forensic Sci. Int., 157(1), 1-22, with permission from Elsevier [1]. 

Meier-Augenstein,W., Liu, R.H. (2004) Forensic applications of isotope ratio mass spectrometry. In Advances in Forensic Applications of Mass Spectrometry, edited by Yinon, J. Boca Raton, FL CRC Press, pp. 149-180. 

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