ICPMS
More information
WebinarsAbout usContact usTerms of use
LabRulez s.r.o. All rights reserved. Content available under a CC BY-SA 4.0 Attribution-ShareAlike
Author
University of Amsterdam
University of Amsterdam
The University of Amsterdam is one of the largest comprehensive universities in Europe. With some 40,000 students, 6,000 staff, 3,000 PhD candidates, and an annual budget of more than 850 million euros, it is also one of Amsterdam’s biggest employers. There is an inseparable link between the university and its host city. The freedom and creativity with which Amsterdam has long been associated have worked their way into the fabric of the university. This is a place where individuality, authenticity and diversity are celebrated as sources of stimulation, inspiration and innovation. Professional and personal development, challenges and collaboration are undertaken in a versatile and multidimensional (inter)national ecosystem with leading stakeholders. Staff at the UvA make a meaningful contribution to uncovering solutions to some of the world’s most significant problems and to developing the next generation of talent.
Tags
Article
Scientific article
Video
Logo of LinkedIn

How to link plastics found at a crime scene to potential suspects

With the use of proper standards, quantitative elemental profiling with the so-called LA-ICP-MS method is a promising tool for criminal investigations.
Video placeholder
  • Photo: University of Amsterdam / HIMS / Forensic Chemistry: How to link plastics found at a crime scene to potential suspects
  • Video: University of Amsterdam: Making a difference: A Day at the University of Amsterdam

In a paper in Forensic Chemistry, PhD candidate Mirjam de Bruin - Hoegée and co-workers present research on the forensic profiling of plastics that are often found on a crime scene. The paper demonstrates that with the use of proper standards, quantitative elemental profiling with the so-called LA-ICP-MS method is a promising tool for criminal investigations, linking an unknown piece of plastic evidence to known reference materials.

The paper constitutes an important step in the development of a validated model that can be used in court cases. It would, for instance, link a piece of duct tape found at a crime scene to a tape roll found at a suspect's home. Or it could establish what brand of tape was used.

University of Amsterdam / HIMS / Forensic Chemistry: How to link plastics found at a crime scene to potential suspects.

LA-ICP-MS or ‘laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry’ is an analytical method that is sensitive, selective, minimally destructive, and requires little sample preparation. In earlier research, De Bruin-Hoegée already established its potential for forensic elemental profiling of plastics. LA-ICP-MS currently is the most suitable method for forensic plastics profiling. X-ray fluorescence (XRF) is considerably less sensitive and infrared spectroscopy (IR) or isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) provide a less specific profile.

Calculating likelihood ratios

In the study now published in Forensic Chemistry, the research team examined large datasets of plastic objects: tapes, electrical wires, tubing, and jerrycans using LA-ICP-MS. They then applied different machine learning models and compared them with traditional statistical methods to improve the classification and comparison of polymer evidence.

The study enables the calculation of likelihood ratios that represent the probability of the evidence. They are calculated by dividing the probability that samples originate from the same source by the probability that they are from different sources. This can be used to quantify the possible connection between a material found at the crime scene and evidence confiscated from a suspect, or reference data.

The research is part of the Forensic Attribution for CWA INtelliGence (FACING) project, a collaboration between the Van 't Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences (HIMS) of the University of Amsterdam and TNO Defence, Safety & Security. The research was performed in collaboration with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST, United States) and the Netherlands Forensic Institute (NFI, The Netherlands). The FACING project is financed by the Dutch Ministry of Defence

Abstract of the paper

LA-ICP-MS is a powerful technique for obtaining a forensic elemental profile of polymer evidence materials. However, the lack of homogeneous polymer reference standards hampers database creation and reliably matching a sample to a specific source. Therefore, the current study aims to evaluate the strength of evidence of forensic polymer comparisons by applying a matrix-matched reference standard with known concentrations for elements of interest. Four datasets of tapes, electrical wires, tubing, and jerrycans were compiled using LA-ICP-MS. It was found that quantification with the new PVC standard or by simply using the response of one element as internal standard significantly reduced the between-run variation. For each class of polymeric materials, characteristic elements could be identified with PCA and LDA. To facilitate classification, elemental concentrations were found to be typical for specific colors and types of polymeric materials. For forensic comparison, a score-based Bayesian likelihood ratio model and the t-test overlap method performed better than the feature-based model and 4-sigma criterion, in terms of rates of misleading evidence. Normalization to 13C and quantification with the PVC standard with and without prior normalization to 13C slightly reduced rates of misleading evidence. The t-test method showed an overall average false inclusion rate of only 0.45% and a false exclusion rate of 2.4%. Maximum calibrated likelihood ratios of 0.014 to 1778 were found for the tape dataset. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that with the use of proper standards, quantitative elemental profiling with LA-ICP-MS is a promising tool for forensic classification and comparison of polymers.

Resources
  • Mirjam de Bruin-Hoegée, Ruthmara Corzo, Peter D. Zoon, Peter Vergeer, Jorien Schoor, Marcel J. van der Schans, Daan Noort, Arian C. van Asten: Evaluating the strength of evidence of elemental profiling of polymers with LA-ICP-MS. Forensic Chemistry 38 (2024) 100570. DOI: 10.1016/j.forc.2024.100570
University of Amsterdam
Logo of LinkedIn
 

Related content

Elemental Analysis of Lithium-Ion Battery Black Mass Recycling Material by ICP-OES

Applications
| 2025 | Agilent Technologies
Instrumentation
ICP-OES
Manufacturer
Agilent Technologies
Industries
Energy & Chemicals

Analyzing Various Plastics - Benefits of Bundled KnowItAll® Software

Applications
| 2025 | Shimadzu
Instrumentation
Microscopy, RAMAN Spectroscopy, FTIR Spectroscopy
Manufacturer
Shimadzu
Industries
Materials Testing

Speciation Analysis of Chromium by LC-ICP-MS Based on ISO 24384

Applications
| 2024 | Shimadzu
Instrumentation
ICP/MS, Speciation analysis, HPLC
Manufacturer
Shimadzu
Industries
Food & Agriculture

Simultaneous TG/DTA - DTG-60 Series

Others
| 2024 | Shimadzu
Instrumentation
Thermal Analysis
Manufacturer
Shimadzu
Industries
Materials Testing

Agilent 8800 ICP-QQQ Upgrades

Others
| 2024 | Agilent Technologies
Instrumentation
ICP/MS, ICP/MS/MS
Manufacturer
Agilent Technologies
Industries
 

Related articles

Reproductive health issues affect a large portion of the population, and I am glad that I can contribute to their solution, says researcher Eliška Řehůřková
Article | Toxicology

Reproductive health issues affect a large portion of the population, and I am glad that I can contribute to their solution, says researcher Eliška Řehůřková

Eliška Řehůřková - why she chose toxicology, what she sees as the problem with animal testing, what challenges her field faces, and what causes more and more couples to struggle with reproductive issues.
RECETOX - Centrum pro výzkum toxických látek v prostředí
tag
share
more
100 years since the birth of the father of Czechoslovak electron microscopy
Article | Scientists

100 years since the birth of the father of Czechoslovak electron microscopy

Brno excels in electron microscopy, drawing on Armin Delong's legacy. Brno University of Technology, where he studied and earned an honorary doctorate in 2014, considers it a strategic focus.
VUT v Brně
tag
share
more
Pavel Plevka: I only give my team colleagues projects that I would be happy to work on myself
Article | Scientists

Pavel Plevka: I only give my team colleagues projects that I would be happy to work on myself

Virologist Pavel Plevka, two-time ERC grant holder at CEITEC MU, seeks new team members. He discusses virus research, team leadership, and opportunities for students and postdocs.
CEITEC
tag
share
more
News from LabRulezICPMS Library - Week 7, 2025
Article | Application

News from LabRulezICPMS Library - Week 7, 2025

This week we bring you Application notes by Shimadzu, Agilent Technologies and Thermo Fisher Scientific!
LabRulez
tag
share
more
 

Related content

Elemental Analysis of Lithium-Ion Battery Black Mass Recycling Material by ICP-OES

Applications
| 2025 | Agilent Technologies
Instrumentation
ICP-OES
Manufacturer
Agilent Technologies
Industries
Energy & Chemicals

Analyzing Various Plastics - Benefits of Bundled KnowItAll® Software

Applications
| 2025 | Shimadzu
Instrumentation
Microscopy, RAMAN Spectroscopy, FTIR Spectroscopy
Manufacturer
Shimadzu
Industries
Materials Testing

Speciation Analysis of Chromium by LC-ICP-MS Based on ISO 24384

Applications
| 2024 | Shimadzu
Instrumentation
ICP/MS, Speciation analysis, HPLC
Manufacturer
Shimadzu
Industries
Food & Agriculture

Simultaneous TG/DTA - DTG-60 Series

Others
| 2024 | Shimadzu
Instrumentation
Thermal Analysis
Manufacturer
Shimadzu
Industries
Materials Testing

Agilent 8800 ICP-QQQ Upgrades

Others
| 2024 | Agilent Technologies
Instrumentation
ICP/MS, ICP/MS/MS
Manufacturer
Agilent Technologies
Industries
 

Related articles

Reproductive health issues affect a large portion of the population, and I am glad that I can contribute to their solution, says researcher Eliška Řehůřková
Article | Toxicology

Reproductive health issues affect a large portion of the population, and I am glad that I can contribute to their solution, says researcher Eliška Řehůřková

Eliška Řehůřková - why she chose toxicology, what she sees as the problem with animal testing, what challenges her field faces, and what causes more and more couples to struggle with reproductive issues.
RECETOX - Centrum pro výzkum toxických látek v prostředí
tag
share
more
100 years since the birth of the father of Czechoslovak electron microscopy
Article | Scientists

100 years since the birth of the father of Czechoslovak electron microscopy

Brno excels in electron microscopy, drawing on Armin Delong's legacy. Brno University of Technology, where he studied and earned an honorary doctorate in 2014, considers it a strategic focus.
VUT v Brně
tag
share
more
Pavel Plevka: I only give my team colleagues projects that I would be happy to work on myself
Article | Scientists

Pavel Plevka: I only give my team colleagues projects that I would be happy to work on myself

Virologist Pavel Plevka, two-time ERC grant holder at CEITEC MU, seeks new team members. He discusses virus research, team leadership, and opportunities for students and postdocs.
CEITEC
tag
share
more
News from LabRulezICPMS Library - Week 7, 2025
Article | Application

News from LabRulezICPMS Library - Week 7, 2025

This week we bring you Application notes by Shimadzu, Agilent Technologies and Thermo Fisher Scientific!
LabRulez
tag
share
more
 

Related content

Elemental Analysis of Lithium-Ion Battery Black Mass Recycling Material by ICP-OES

Applications
| 2025 | Agilent Technologies
Instrumentation
ICP-OES
Manufacturer
Agilent Technologies
Industries
Energy & Chemicals

Analyzing Various Plastics - Benefits of Bundled KnowItAll® Software

Applications
| 2025 | Shimadzu
Instrumentation
Microscopy, RAMAN Spectroscopy, FTIR Spectroscopy
Manufacturer
Shimadzu
Industries
Materials Testing

Speciation Analysis of Chromium by LC-ICP-MS Based on ISO 24384

Applications
| 2024 | Shimadzu
Instrumentation
ICP/MS, Speciation analysis, HPLC
Manufacturer
Shimadzu
Industries
Food & Agriculture

Simultaneous TG/DTA - DTG-60 Series

Others
| 2024 | Shimadzu
Instrumentation
Thermal Analysis
Manufacturer
Shimadzu
Industries
Materials Testing

Agilent 8800 ICP-QQQ Upgrades

Others
| 2024 | Agilent Technologies
Instrumentation
ICP/MS, ICP/MS/MS
Manufacturer
Agilent Technologies
Industries
 

Related articles

Reproductive health issues affect a large portion of the population, and I am glad that I can contribute to their solution, says researcher Eliška Řehůřková
Article | Toxicology

Reproductive health issues affect a large portion of the population, and I am glad that I can contribute to their solution, says researcher Eliška Řehůřková

Eliška Řehůřková - why she chose toxicology, what she sees as the problem with animal testing, what challenges her field faces, and what causes more and more couples to struggle with reproductive issues.
RECETOX - Centrum pro výzkum toxických látek v prostředí
tag
share
more
100 years since the birth of the father of Czechoslovak electron microscopy
Article | Scientists

100 years since the birth of the father of Czechoslovak electron microscopy

Brno excels in electron microscopy, drawing on Armin Delong's legacy. Brno University of Technology, where he studied and earned an honorary doctorate in 2014, considers it a strategic focus.
VUT v Brně
tag
share
more
Pavel Plevka: I only give my team colleagues projects that I would be happy to work on myself
Article | Scientists

Pavel Plevka: I only give my team colleagues projects that I would be happy to work on myself

Virologist Pavel Plevka, two-time ERC grant holder at CEITEC MU, seeks new team members. He discusses virus research, team leadership, and opportunities for students and postdocs.
CEITEC
tag
share
more
News from LabRulezICPMS Library - Week 7, 2025
Article | Application

News from LabRulezICPMS Library - Week 7, 2025

This week we bring you Application notes by Shimadzu, Agilent Technologies and Thermo Fisher Scientific!
LabRulez
tag
share
more
 

Related content

Elemental Analysis of Lithium-Ion Battery Black Mass Recycling Material by ICP-OES

Applications
| 2025 | Agilent Technologies
Instrumentation
ICP-OES
Manufacturer
Agilent Technologies
Industries
Energy & Chemicals

Analyzing Various Plastics - Benefits of Bundled KnowItAll® Software

Applications
| 2025 | Shimadzu
Instrumentation
Microscopy, RAMAN Spectroscopy, FTIR Spectroscopy
Manufacturer
Shimadzu
Industries
Materials Testing

Speciation Analysis of Chromium by LC-ICP-MS Based on ISO 24384

Applications
| 2024 | Shimadzu
Instrumentation
ICP/MS, Speciation analysis, HPLC
Manufacturer
Shimadzu
Industries
Food & Agriculture

Simultaneous TG/DTA - DTG-60 Series

Others
| 2024 | Shimadzu
Instrumentation
Thermal Analysis
Manufacturer
Shimadzu
Industries
Materials Testing

Agilent 8800 ICP-QQQ Upgrades

Others
| 2024 | Agilent Technologies
Instrumentation
ICP/MS, ICP/MS/MS
Manufacturer
Agilent Technologies
Industries
 

Related articles

Reproductive health issues affect a large portion of the population, and I am glad that I can contribute to their solution, says researcher Eliška Řehůřková
Article | Toxicology

Reproductive health issues affect a large portion of the population, and I am glad that I can contribute to their solution, says researcher Eliška Řehůřková

Eliška Řehůřková - why she chose toxicology, what she sees as the problem with animal testing, what challenges her field faces, and what causes more and more couples to struggle with reproductive issues.
RECETOX - Centrum pro výzkum toxických látek v prostředí
tag
share
more
100 years since the birth of the father of Czechoslovak electron microscopy
Article | Scientists

100 years since the birth of the father of Czechoslovak electron microscopy

Brno excels in electron microscopy, drawing on Armin Delong's legacy. Brno University of Technology, where he studied and earned an honorary doctorate in 2014, considers it a strategic focus.
VUT v Brně
tag
share
more
Pavel Plevka: I only give my team colleagues projects that I would be happy to work on myself
Article | Scientists

Pavel Plevka: I only give my team colleagues projects that I would be happy to work on myself

Virologist Pavel Plevka, two-time ERC grant holder at CEITEC MU, seeks new team members. He discusses virus research, team leadership, and opportunities for students and postdocs.
CEITEC
tag
share
more
News from LabRulezICPMS Library - Week 7, 2025
Article | Application

News from LabRulezICPMS Library - Week 7, 2025

This week we bring you Application notes by Shimadzu, Agilent Technologies and Thermo Fisher Scientific!
LabRulez
tag
share
more
Other projects
GCMS
LCMS
Follow us
More information
WebinarsAbout usContact usTerms of use
LabRulez s.r.o. All rights reserved. Content available under a CC BY-SA 4.0 Attribution-ShareAlike