NITE-CRIME: Natural isotopes and trace elements in criminalistics and environmental forensics

• Research unit: EU RFP
• Project number: 01.0207

Key words (English)

Laser ablation; ICP-MS; forensics; glass analysis;
Measurement Methods; Reference Materials

Alternative project number (English)

EU project number: G6RT-CT-2001-05025

Research programs (English)

EU-programme: 5. Frame Research Programme - 1.3.8 Generic R&D activities

Short description (English)

See abstract

Further information (English)

Full name of research-institution/enterprise:
ETH Zürich
Laboratorium für Anorganische Chemie
HCI G 113

Partners and International Organizations (English)

Coordinator: Institute of Food Research, Norwich (UK)

Abstract (English)

The proposed NITE-CRIME Network will develop forensic methods using trace-elements and isotope ratios which can be applied to verify the authenticity and/or origin of raw materials, industrial products and materials, illegal drugs, dangerous goods, human remains and cultural artefacts. In fraud and environmental casework the knowledge about origin and authenticity of components and/or packaging materials provides valuable information in the search for and identification of suspects. Within the legal world it is recognised that forensic evidence will be needed more and more in penal investigations. New developments in instrumentation, especially the combination of Laser Ablation with either Quadrupole, Time of Flight, Sector or Multi-Collector ICP-MS (Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry), have created new possibilities for the routine 'non-destructive' isotope and trace-element analysis of small and valuable specimens. The NITE-CRIME Network will be a forum for the development and dissemination of validated analytical measurement protocols, establishment and development of reference databases, education and training of forensic scientist and site-teams, global user assistance and information in co-operation with relevant international judicial and forensic organisations.

References in databases (English)

Swiss Database: Euro-DB of the
State Secretariat for Education and Research
Hallwylstrasse 4
CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Swiss Project-Number: 01.0207