Evaluation Of Latent Fingerprints Using Titanium Dioxide Powder And Herbal Powders On Different Surfaces-An Observational Study

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Various methods have been reported for the development of latent fingerprints on different surfaces in the literature. This article  presents a new powdering method which is simple, non-toxic for the development of latent fingerprints that can be employed on different substrates. Arrowroot is a white, flavourless powder most often used to thicken food and is comprised of starches extracted from tropical tubers Maranta arundinacea, the arrowroot plant.Raspberry powder (Rubus idaeus)is also a commonly  used food product,mainly for flavouring.

AIM: The main aim of the present study is to evaluate the latent fingerprints on different surfaces using titaniumdioxidepowder and herbal powders on six different surfaces.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three different powders namely Titaniumdioxide powder,Arrow root powder(Maranta arundinacea),dried raspberry powder (Rubus idaeus) were used.Six different surfaces were selected and latent fingerprints were analysed on these surfaces .Latent fingerprint analysis was done using dusting method. For successful developments, powder was applied to a surface by sprinkling powder with the help of brush and lifting the developed prints with help of tapping method. Only ridge patterns stand out from the contrasting background. After waiting for a fraction of seconds, excess of powders adhering to the prints were dusted off to visualize clear prints. Comparative analysis was done for the powders to check for the best results obtained on the selected surfaces.

RESULTS: Titaniumdioxide powder, Maranta arundinacea and Rubus idaeus showed better results while visualising latent fingerprints.The main advantage was that these powders remained stable and they also had traces while subjecting them for removal.So they can be used for analysis in scenarios where multiple fingerprints are required from a particular crime scene.

CONCLUSION: From the present study, it can be concluded that easily and commonly accessible and less expensive reagents i.e., household kitchen powders could act as a beneficial substitute for decrypting the latent prints.