Forensic science, activation analysis applications

In order to carry out development programs in forensic science, the Institute of Chemical Analysis, Applications and Forensic Science was established. This Institute, a separate organization on campus, has research and training as its main activities with special emphasis in the application of chemical analysis to forensic science. The Institute is further developing programs at the present time in pharmaceutical analysis and energy research its overall philosophy is thus the application of chemical expertise to social problems through the team efforts of chemists and practitioners. 

This paper has outlined activities in forensic science over the past several years at Northeastern University. The establishment of the Institute of Chemical Analysis, Applications and Forensic Science has greatly aided in the development of forensic research and educational programs. Several years ago Bradford and Samuel (10) recommended the establishment of forensic science institutes to provide service to the profession. While we have not exactly followed their ideas, there are similarities between their recommendations and our activities. As time progresses, it is hoped that research and education at this Institute will make significant contributions to the field of forensic science. 

Activation analysis has become, because of its extremely high sensitivity, an indispensable tool in a wide variety of fields ranging from science and engineering to industry, minerals exploration, " medicine, environmental monitoring, and forensic science. " The purpose of this chapter is not to present all the aspects, details, and applications of this field, but to discuss the major steps that comprise the method, the interpretation of the results, the errors and sensitivity of the method, and certain representative applications. The reader will find many more details and an extensive list of applications in the bibliography and the references given at the end of the chapter. 

Loveridge and Smales (560) were the first to publish an extensive paper about the applications of activation analysis to biochemistry. Their report covered the period 1944-1957. Since then many other review articles have been written about its capabilities as a methodology to analyze for trace substances in problems from medicine, veterinary medicine, forensic medicine, dental science, pharmacology, botany and agriculture. More specifically, these articles can be categorized in the following manner ... 

Pitts SJ and Kratochvil B (1991) Statistical discrimination of flat glass fragments by instrumental neutron activation analysis methods for forensic science applications. Journal of Forensic Sciences 36 122-137. 

NAA is widely used in many different fields of sciences. Applications include environmental studies to characterize pollutants, semiconductor materials analysis to measure ultra trace-element impurities, archaeological studies of the distribution of the chemical elements and fossil materials, forensic studies as a non-destructive method (suspect chemical agents, see Figure 17.9), pharmaceutical materials analysis to measure ultra-trace element impurities, etc. Unfortunately, facilities for using this method do not exist everywhere. Otherwise, the sample becomes slightly radioactive, requiring the sample to be quarantined until its activity reaches a state similar to which it was before the NAA. 

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