Emerging Forensic Techniques

Use of Dendrochronology and Dendrochemistry in Environmental Forensics: Does It Meet theDaubertCriteria?

“…For example, tree-ring studies have been used to monitor areas contaminated with arsenic (Cheng et al, 2007); fossil fuels (Baes III and Ragsdale, 1981;Balouet and Oudijk, 2006;Balouet et al, 2007;Balouet et al, 2008), heavy metals (Zou et al, 2004;Punshon et al, 2005;Devall et al, 2006;Sheppard et al, 2007), chlorinated solvents (Balouet et al, 2007;Larsen et al, 2008), nutrients (Vroblesky and Yanosky, 1990;Vroblesky et al, 1992), precipitation acidity (Kwak et al, 2008), and radioactive isotopes (Edmunds et al, 2001;Kalin, 1995;Kagawa et al, 2002;Mazeika et al, 2007;Rao et al, 2002). Tree-core studies also have been used to map the subsurface distribution of contamination by chlorinated solvents (Vroblesky et al, 1999;Schumacher et al, 2004;Vroblesky et al, 2004;Doucette et al, 2007;Graber and Soprek, 2007).…”

“…The laboratories that perform these functions should be consulted for specific values. Forensic investigators, as explained in Balouet and Oudijk (2006), Balouet et al (2007Balouet et al ( , 2008, and Smith et al (2008), must acknowledge and account for such limitations. Despite these limitations, dendroecological evidence can be used effectively to estimate time ranges of plume development and tree exposure.…”

“…In addition, the use of multiple tracers sometimes can clarify the source of the target chemical in trees. For example, Balouet et al (2007Balouet et al ( , 2008 found that high concentrations of chlorine (Cl) in growth rings could indicate impact from chlorinated solvents if Cl were the only elevated constituent, and could also indicate impact from road salt if Cl, calcium (Ca), P, and potassium (K) were correspondingly high. Similarly, synchronous elevation of S, Cl, and lead (Pb) can be used to indicate impact from leaded gasoline.…”

National Green Tribunal Act: A Harbinger for the Development of Environmental Forensics in India?

“…& others (1999 (2) SCC 718), the Supreme Court has recommended Environment appellate authorities or tribunals to consist of Judicial and also Technical personnel well versed in environmental law because of the considerable difficulty encountered in "adjudicating upon the correctness of the technological and scientific opinions presented to the Courts" (p. 7). An analysis of the environmental forensics tools described in literature (Morrison 2000a;Morrison 2000b;Ball et al, 2008;Balouet et al, 2008;Ghasi, 2008;Philip and Jardé, 2008) will show that, in many of the cases, a very high level of technical know-how is required for its use. Consequently, a decision on the acceptability of the results of investigation is not easy to make.…”

Background in Environmental Forensics: “Raising the Awareness”?

“…Such natural hydrocarbons appear in many forms, including modern plant debris, forest fire debris, Downloaded by [Kungliga Tekniska Hogskola] • Investigation of natural metal enrichment in water samples due to adsorption on suspended particulates and reductive dissolution • Al and Fe content of water samples are used to estimate the presence of clay and iron oxides minerals that concentrate cations and anions, respectively, from water; these elements are plotted against each other and also against the study metal; filtered versus unfiltered ratios and sample turbidity are also used as indicators of natural minerals presence and thus possible high natural metal backgrounds Dendroecology • Balouet et al, 2007a• Balouet et al, 2007b • Detecting chemicals in tree core samples (ring by ring) may establish general elemental background concentrations in trees that may be correlated with soil and water background values (at the root zone level) • Acute contamination events will be reflected in peaks of contaminating elements appearing in certain years • Limited by the detection only of elements; thus, further correlation of elements with compounds involve a higher degree of uncertainty DNA fingerprinting • Petrisor et al, 2006• Balouet et al, 2007a • Evaluating the microbial community from environmental samples may correlate with normal background values and identify traces of acute contamination (by changes induced in microbial population) • Limited by the lack of comprehensive databases for comparison; such information may be acquired for the specific project but involves higher costs bacteria-derived compounds, sedimentary organic particles, particulate coal, and wood charcoal, as well as crude oil seeps. Their contribution to natural detected spills could be substantial, exceeding all anthropogenic sources as shown in the book (see also Table 1).…”