NCJ Number
142984
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 38 Issue: 3 Dated: (May 1993) Pages: 593-598
Date Published
1993
Length
6 pages
Annotation
To examine the effects of human decomposition on bullet striations, researchers inserted five different types of bullets, representing the primary materials used in centerfire handgun and rifle ammunition, into the cranial, chest, and abdominal cavities, muscle, and adipose tissues of a fresh cadaver.
Abstract
The bullets were removed after the body was 90 percent decomposed. Observation and comparison of before and after photographs served as each bullet's own control. The bullets were subjected to a complex chemical and microbial environment, which contributed to the corroding process. Bullets made of copper and nickel were highly reactive to these processes, while bullets made of aluminum and nylon were far less affected. Lead, as a material in bullet manufacture, fell in the middle of this spectrum. The body region involved indicated greatest overall effects in fat and muscle tissues, possibly due to variations in pH and microbiologic activity. 1 table, 1 figure, and 11 references