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Lead (Pb), barium (Ba), and antimony (Sb) concentrations were monitored in flies larvae (immatureChrysomya albiceps) contaminated with gunshot residue (GSR) from .40 caliber Taurus pistols during the period of 2 to 12 days after the death of a female pig in decomposition, during the winter, under the influence of rain and high relative humidity. The samples were also analyzed by the colorimetric test using sodium rhodizonate (Feigl-Suter reaction). It was possible to detect and quantify the three metals of interest by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP OES), where the concentrations of all three elements kept practically constant during the putrefaction stage. Minimum ([Pb] = 382.26 μg L−1; [Ba] = 140.50 μg L−1; [Sb] = 39.18 μg L−1) and maximum ([Pb] = 522.66 μg L−1; [Ba] = 190.30 μg L−1; [Sb] = 56.14 μg L−1) concentrations were found during the third and fifth days after death, respectively. ICP OES presented higher sensitivity in metals determination when compared to the conventional colorimetric test, which showed negative result for the GSR extracts obtained from the immatureChrysomya albiceps.

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A new method to identify the authenticity of Brazilian banknotes (R$) is proposed using digital image analysis by a smartphone application, Photometrix ® , associated with chemometric tools. Authentic banknotes (n = 4) obtained in local bank and falsified (n = 12) by the author himself by means of three printers (laser-Deskjet ® , wax-Color Qube ® and inkjet-Deskjet ®) were used for the development of the methodology. An experimental planning was performed to evaluate the authenticity of the banknotes determining: the best region (holographic band, tactile region in the lower left and right upper number, effigy microimpressions, lower number left, animal figure, watermark and puzzle); Region of Interest (ROI) (16x16; 32x32 and 64x64 pixels), focal length (8, 12, 15 and 20 cm) and variation of the smartphone (Motorola G5 Plus, Samsung S7 and LG K10). The best regions chosen were effigy microimpressions and round the animal. Promising results were obtained from ROI 16x16 pixels with focal length fixed at 10 cm. Thus, the application presents promising features for analyzing the authenticity of banknotes by digital images making it fast, non-destructive, portable, with low cost, and can be accessed by all society.

The concentrations of lead (Pb), barium (Ba), and antimony (Sb), characteristic of GSR, were determined in soil sediments and immature (larvae) of cadaveric flies of the family Calliphoridae, by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). This research refers to a case study from two real crime scenes in which the corpses were in an advanced state of decomposition. In case 1, the victim had holes similar to gunshot wounds, and in case 2, there was no evidence of perforations in the corpse. Soil sediment collection was performed at three different points of the terrain, at a minimum distance of 10 m from the corpse, for cases 1 and 2. In relation to the collection of immatures, larvae were collected in regions of the mouth, nose, and orifices similar to the entry of firearms projectile into the body, for case 1, and collection of larvae and pupae, located on the body and underneath it, for case 2. It was possible to detect and quantify the three elements of interest (Pb, Ba, and Sb) by ICP-MS in both sediment and cadaveric larvae. Concentrations of 4.44, 8.74, and 0.08 μg/g were obtained for Pb, Ba, and Sb, respectively, in the soil for case 1. For the case 2, the concentrations in Pb, Ba, and Sb were from 16.34 to 26.02 μg/g; from 32.64 to 57.97 μg/g and from 0.042 to 0.30 μg/g, respectively. In the larvae, Pb, Ba, and Sb were quantified in cases 1 and 2 with a concentration of 6.28 and 1.78 μg/g for Pb, 1.49 and 2.94 μg/g for Ba, 0.50 μg/g and