Algae in Forensic Investigations

Hardy, Christopher R.; Wallace, John R.

doi:10.1002/9781119945734.ch9

Cited by 4 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…The red tide can produce toxins that can destroy the aquatic ecosystem, affect the survival of marine animals, and even directly or indirectly affect human health. Some red tide species like dinoflagellate Gymnodinium breve can produce neurotoxins (e.g., dinotoxins [ 268 ]). It is a group of well‐known toxins that can paralyze the central nervous system of fish [ 128 ].…”

Section: An Atlas Of the Environmental Chemical Exposomementioning

confidence: 99%

Charting the landscape of the environmental exposome

Wei

Huang

Jiang

et al. 2022

iMeta

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The exposome depicts the total exposures in the lifetime of an organism. Human exposome comprises exposures from environmental and humanistic sources. Biological, chemical, and physical environmental exposures pose potential health threats, especially to susceptible populations. Although still in its nascent stage, we are beginning to recognize the vast and dynamic nature of the exposome. In this review, we systematically summarize the biological and chemical environmental exposomes in three broad environmental matrices—air, soil, and water; each contains several distinct subcategories, along with a brief introduction to the physical exposome. Disease‐related environmental exposures are highlighted, and humans are also a major source of disease‐related biological exposures. We further discuss the interactions between biological, chemical, and physical exposomes. Finally, we propose a list of outstanding challenges under the exposome research framework that need to be addressed to move the field forward. Taken together, we present a detailed landscape of environmental exposome to prime researchers to join this exciting new field.

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Section: An Atlas Of the Environmental Chemical Exposomementioning

confidence: 99%

Charting the landscape of the environmental exposome

Wei

Huang

Jiang

et al. 2022

iMeta

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“…While pollen may still be identified in a water sample, the forensic assessment of algae is of greater botanical value in those crime scene environments involving marine or freshwater (Hardy and Wallace 2012). The environmental ubiquity of algal communities, including diatoms, emphasizes their scope as trace evidence indicators.…”

Section: Aquatic Ecologymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Recognizing algal presence in an environment, categorising and identifying organisms to group, genus and species-level, and realising the influence of ecological distribution patterns, often requires specialist knowledge. Such knowledge should be sought and valued when algal communities are encountered in forensic investigation (Hardy and Wallace 2012).…”

Section: Algal Diversitymentioning

confidence: 99%

The Value of an Empirical Approach for the Assessment of Diatoms as Environmental Trace Evidence in Forensic Limnology

Scott

Morgan

Jones

et al. 2017

AEFS

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Environmental trace evidence is often encountered during a forensic investigation and is acknowledged to have the potential to contribute valuable circumstantial information pertaining to the context of an individual criminal event. Although traditional study has focused upon the analysis of terrestrial soil and sediment traces, there is growing potential for the forensic assessment of aquatic crime scenes, particularly those within freshwater environments. This paper outlines the current applications of limnology, particularly algae and diatom analysis, within forensic science and introduces new and ongoing research within the field. Two empirical studies are presented which highlight the importance of developing evidence bases within freshwater trace evidence analysis. These studies demonstrate the analytical capability of the Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) at various stages of an investigation: in the initial screening and collection of an evidential sample from clothing (1); and in the analysis of preserved diatoms following various levels of their exposure to fire damage (2). The results highlight that the SEM provides a valuable tool during the initial stages of an investigation, determining the presence and abundance of a range of environmental indicators and directing further strategy for the more in-depth collection and analysis of a forensic sample. Furthermore, the preservation of diatoms adhering to clothing following prolonged exposure to fire, indicates that efforts to collect any destroyed evidence are worthwhile given the potential to recover freshwater traces over extended time scales. Finally, the value of adopting an empirical approach for the development of a forensically relevant evidence base within forensic limnology, and the importance of having an appreciation of the legal implications for the interpretation and admissibility of freshwater evidence is presented.

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