Most of my blog posts are about nuclear reactors, nuclear waste and nuclear weapons. However, radioisotopes are used for a wide range of medical and industrial purposes. Today, I am going to blog about the use of radioisotopes for forensic analysis. Forensics is the application of scientific principles and techniques to matters of criminal justice especially as relating to the collection, examination, and analysis of physical evidence.
Last week a meeting was held in Vienna, Austria. The attendees were experts in the field of nuclear analytical techniques and other stakeholders from the forensic community. The purpose of the meeting was to consider the objectives of a new Coordinated Research Project on the utilization of nuclear analytical techniques in forensic science. “The project aims to determine how existing forensic methods can be complemented by the use of nuclear techniques to aid the work of police investigators, courts and customs officials.”
The four year project is focused on three main areas including glass analysis, food authentication and cultural heritage. For example, nuclear analytical techniques can be used to analyze glass shards from the scene of a hit-and-run crime scene, the detection of adulteration of foods and the testing of art objects to detect forgery.
At the meeting, Aliz Simon, an International Atomic Energy Agency nuclear physicist specializing in accelerators, said, “This is the first Coordinated Research Project that the IAEA has been involved in that focuses on the use of ion beam accelerators and research reactors for forensic analysis. We aim to identify new practical applications for these technologies, build capacity and facilitate networking in this area.” She added that “The project will also develop synergies between accelerator and research reactor techniques for forensic purposes.”
During the meeting which lasted a week, physicists from several countries reported on nuclear analytical techniques they have been exploring in order to see if they would be applicable to forensic applications. These techniques include particle-induced x-ray emissions and neutron activation analysis. They have been used to analyze the chemical composition of the pigments on paintings and to identify the origin of glass samples. Other case studies discussed other applications.
The United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute UNICRI is “mandated to assist intergovernmental, governmental and non-governmental organizations in formulating and implementing improved policies in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice. UNICRI' s goals are:
- to advance understanding of crime-related problems;
- to foster just and efficient criminal justice systems;
- to support the respect of international instruments and other standards;
- to facilitate international law enforcement cooperation and judicial assistance.
Marco Musumeci, a program officer with UNICR, said that “There is great potential to interact with forensics practitioners to assess their needs and see how better solutions can be developed.” Musume added that UNICRI could support the needs assessment phase and engage stakeholders in support of this project.
The attendees at the week-long meeting formed there working groups. Each group developed a work plan for the next four years. There will be another meeting in eighteen months to review progress on the project.
Regardless of the fate of nuclear power or the dangers of nuclear war, programs like the Coordinated Research Project will continue to explore and develop the use of radioisotopes for many valuable applications.
