FINGERPRINT POWDER AS A SOURCE OF CONTAMINATION IN FORENSIC PALYNOLOGY

Pollen and spores from vascular plants can be recovered from items or sediments associated with a crime to provide information on provenance. Environmental or geographic interpretations are made from either assemblages or individual species of palynomorphs recovered. In this study, we examine the effects of a potential source of contamination, namely fingerprint powder, which could impact these provenance interpretations. Fingerprint powder comprises a coloring agent, like graphite, and other materials like Lycopodium spores. Because Lycopodium is a plant with specific habitat requirements and geographic distribution, its introduction to an item through the fingerprint examination process could be a potential source of contamination and lead to misinterpretations. Through an analysis of light microscope photographs of Lycopodium spores recovered from fingerprint powder, sediment, and from concentrated Lycopodium tablets, our results show that Lycopodium in fingerprint powder is nearly indistinguishable from naturally occurring Lycopodium recovered from sediments. In rare instances there is carbon or graphite that still adheres to the Lycopodium after chemical processing. In this case, it may be possible to discern Lycopodium introduced to the sample through contamination. Because Lycopodium has a very distinct habitat and range, it is important to account for potential contamination from fingerprint powder so as not to give a false interpretation of the environment or location.