Forensic Palynology

1. 1. (Forensic Pollen Analysis)<br />Vincent Lee Medicolegal Death Investigation<br

/>Forensic Palynology <br />
2. 2. What is Forensic Palynology?<br />Study of pollen (spores) or powered material<br
/>Purpose<br />Criminal Identification<br />Location of crime<br />Moment in time the
crime occurred<br />Locard’s Exchange Principle <br />states that when two objects
come together, there is always a transfer of material.<br />U.S provides an ideal setting
to solve criminal/civil cases.<br />Varied ecology, plant diversity, microhabitats,
extensive pollen records.<br />i.e. Artic Tundra, Deciduous Forests, Deserts, Tropical
Rain forests<br />Not fully accepted in U.S, but is commonly used in other
countries.<br />Is it a reliable technique for association of an individual or object to a
unique crime scene or geographical region?<br />
3. 3. Pollen Characteristics<br />Carries the male sex cells of higher cone- and flower-
bearing plants from one plant to another of the same species.<br />includes spores, which
are the reproductive bodies of the lower plants (i.e. ferns/fern allies) and plant allies (i.e.
algae, ferns, fungi, mosses, liverworts, and lichens.)<br />The success of forensic pollen
analysis comes from its unique morphology, which allows for the identification of
specific plant taxa.<br />Abundant<br />Very small in size<br />Outer cell wall (called
exine) resistant to mechanical/biological/chemical degradation<br />Sporopollenin –
compound responsible for resilience of pollen<br />Allows pollen to be preserved on a
variety of media over many years.<br />Can even be found in burnt or destroyed
matter.<br />
4. 4. Case Study: unusual appearance of a common pollen type indicates scene of
crime<br /><ul><li>Sexual assault on young woman.
5. 5. Subsequently, police investigation followed .
6. 6. exact location of the assault told by the victim became an issue.
7. 7. Common pollen from bush: Coprosma (New Zealand)
8. 8. Fungal hyphae growing inside pollen
9. 9. Control (3 Days after crime occurred)
10. 10. 75% Coprosma (well characterized)
11. 11. 15% Cyathea, Phyllocladus, Pinus, Taraxacum.
12. 12. Evidential samples from Victim
13. 13. Natal Cleft
14. 14. 2 Coprosma grains
15. 15. Vulva
16. 16. Fungal spore, fly ash, fungal spores, microthyriaceous germlings, rare pollen types
17. 17. Jacket
18. 18. 25% Coprosma, fly ash, microthyriaceous germlings, fungal hyphae
19. 19. Jeans (differential findings)
20. 20. 86% Coprosma knees
21. 21. 22% Coprosma Left thigh area
22. 22. All Coprosma had identical morphology to control</li></li></ul><li>Forensic
Palynology: Strengths and weaknesses Indications<br />Strengths<br />Pollen can be
found on an assortment of unusual surfaces <br />including condoms, counterfeit bank
notes, painted works of arts, grease on guns, lungs, medicinal tablets, stomachs, and
 dusty foot impressions.<br />Weakness<br />Many law enforcement agencies have never
heard of forensic pollen studies and thus are often skeptical and do not see the need to
collect appropriate samples from the scene.<br />Proper evidential sample collection
must be carefully taken from the scene to avoid contamination. Requires trained forensic
palynologists.<br />the collection of control samples should be selected to encompass the
potential area represented by the evidential samples and also to eliminate other areas that
could not be represented by the samples<br />control samples may be skewed by an over
abundance of one pollen type.<br />Plant samples should not be stored in plastic bags
because potential moisture can start microbial decomposition of the pollen.<br />Usually
destructive to the sample.<br />pollen evidence is purely circumstantial, in that it may
indicate where an event had taken place and who was present, but not that the accused
had actually done anything to the victim.<br />
23. 23. Discussion<br />Forensic palynology can play a role as a supporting tool in a
multidisciplinary approach with other forensic techniques.<br />In effect, this will
eventually lead to a study on full forensic environmental analysis of crime scenes that are
not limited to just botany or geoscience.<br />In the hands of a skilled forensic
palynologist, pollen’s subtle advantages can become a powerful tool.<br />Look at
morphology to identify species. (i.e. specific shape, sculpture patterns on surface, wall
structure etc.)<br />It is obvious that forensic palynology is versatile and convenient
when coupled with other techniques.<br />Control samples should be taken as soon as
possible by a trained individual.<br />Although the sample amount required for forensic
pollen analysis is very small (1g), there is often no control over the size of evidential
samples, which may vary from a few hundredths of a gram to slightly larger amounts. <br
/>Most of the sample will be prioritized to be used for other better accepted analytical
techniques, especially forensic DNA analysis.<br />United Kingdom’s creation of an
Environmental and Forensic Ecology Unit, there is hope that it will soon become
commonplace in the U.S and other countries.<br />
24. 24. Conclusion and Future<br />Despite its shortcomings, forensic palynology can play a
role as a supporting tool coupled with other forensic techniques.<br />Environmental
analysis can provide a potent tool in determining the nature and details of the events that
may have happened at crime scenes.<br />Evidently, the future of environmental
analysis, including forensic palynology, will require a comprehensive research and
investigative team for federal, provincial, state or local agencies, eventually leading to a
special forensic ecology unit.<br />A well documented high profile criminal/civil case in
which forensic palynology analysis plays a significant role may be able to propel the
technique to be routine in investigations.<br />Associate an individual or object to a
unique crime scene or geographical region.<br />It may also link an item to a scene or a
suspect<br />Forgery, rape, homicide, genocide, terrorism, drug dealing, assault &
robbery, arson, hit & run, counterfeiting, illegal importation, environmental preservation,
illegal fishing, and pollution. <br />
25. 25. References<br />Editorial (2006). Forensic palynology: Why do it and how it works.
For. Sci. Intl. 163, 163-172. <br />Bryant, V.M. and Jones, G.D. (2006) Forensic
palynology: Current status of a rarely used technique in the United States of America.
For. Sci. Intl. 163, 183-197.<br />Mildenhall, D.C. (2006). An unusual appearance of a
common pollen type indicates the scene of the crime. For. Sci. Intl. 163, 236-240. <br
/>Brown, A.G., Smith, A., and Elmhurst, O. (2002) The combined use of pollen and soil
analysis in a search and subsequent murder investigation. J. of For. Sci. 47, 614-
618.<br />