NCJ Number
182673
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 44 Issue: 5 Dated: September 1999 Pages: 1020-1026
Editor(s)
R. E. Gaensslen Ph.D.
Date Published
1999
Length
7 pages
Annotation
Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS) was used to determine eight elements in 9-mm bullet lead from 12 manufacturers.
Abstract
Purposes were twofold: to develop a feasible ICPMS method for bullet lead analysis and to observe the range of variability in elemental compositions for bullet lead from diverse sources. The first purpose was significantly aided by a reduction of the lead concentration by precipitation, while the second purpose was demonstrated by the application of numerical correlation analyses to the data. Results showed good reproducibility and sensitivity were obtained. No bullets from different sources had similar elemental signatures, whereas very different signatures could be found within a single box of bullets. Numerical criteria were developed to separate matching bullets from all different source bullets for the subject population. 22 references, 6 tables, and 5 figures