NCJ Number
147848
Journal
Journal of Forensic Identification Volume: 44 Issue: 2 Dated: (March/April 1994) Pages: 149-158
Date Published
1994
Length
10 pages
Annotation
Cyanoacrylate (CA) fumes from "crazy glues" can be used to visualize latent fingerprints from crime scenes, although forensic science applications of CA fumes can expose workers to concentrations well above the norm.
Abstract
Many police agencies use poorly ventilated equipment for the CA fume technique, resulting in potentially harmful exposure of employees to CA vapors. Anecdotal cases have been reported of illness and injury from exposure to high CA concentrations. A solution to many exposure problems is to employ the vacuum CA technique. In this technique, the exhibit and CA are sealed in a container capable of holding a vacuum. Once most of the air has been pumped out and the container is sealed off from the vacuum pump, CA continues to vaporize to its room temperature vapor pressure in the vacuum chamber. With very little air in the chamber, CA molecules are more easily able to attack the exhibit. The idea of using reduced pressure for the CA fuming process solves many problems associated with elevated temperatures. Experiments were conducted to evaluate the use of a benchtop desiccator for vacuum CA treatment of latent fingerprints. Results demonstrated that fingerprints could often be photographed directly on clear surfaces and that the fine detail provided by large vacuum chambers was also observed in samples treated in the desiccator. 12 references and 3 figures