Analysis of Biological Elements of Scalp Hairs with SEM-EDX and TEM and Its Application to Hair Comparison
August 1985
in “
Proceedings annual meeting Electron Microscopy Society of America
”
TLDR SEM/EDX can analyze hair elements but struggles with trace elements, limiting its forensic use.
The study explored the use of scanning electron microscope equipped with energy dispersive X-ray microanalyzer (SEM/EDX) for the elemental analysis of hair samples in forensic investigations. While traditional methods relied on morphological features and ABO blood typing, SEM/EDX offered a way to analyze trace elements in hair, which could aid in personal identification. However, the technique faced limitations in detecting trace elements other than sulfur and chlorine from raw hair samples, highlighting a challenge in its application for hair comparison in forensic contexts.
