Advances in Forensic Applications of Mass Spectrometry
| Date: 30 April 2011, 08:22
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The continuing developments in analytical instrumentation during the last several years have had a major in?uence on the forensic laboratory. Among the instrumental methods used by the forensic analyst, the mass spectrometer has become the method of choice. While in the early days of forensic mass spectrometry GC/MS with electron ionization (EI), and later with chemical ionization (CI), were the only mass spectrometry techniques used, today a variety of MS techniques can be found in many forensic laboratories. Those include mainly LC/MS with electrospray ionization (ESI) or atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) in triple quadrupole or ion trap con?gurations. These techniques enable the detection and identi?cation of trace components in complex mixtures at a high sensitivity as well as analysis of nonvolatile and thermally labile compounds. The incorporation of new mass spectrometry techniques in the forensic laboratory paved the road for new applications in forensic analysis.
The purpose of this book is to assemble in one volume forensic applications using novel mass spectrometry techniques which result in lower detection limits and more reliable identi?cation. In addition, the book describes some new applications which were made possible due to this advanced instrumentation.
Two chapters have been devoted to the detection and analysis of drugs of abuse and their metabolites in body ?uids (forensic toxicology). While GC/MS was the main method used for this purpose, LC/MS is now playing a major role in this important area and complements GC/MS.
Testing of athletes for drugs of abuse in major sporting events has become routine. GC/MS and LC/MS have been used for drug testing of urine and blood samples, which provides short-term information. A special chapter has been devoted to the detection of doping agents in hair by mass spectrometry, as hair testing has a larger surveillance window and can provide a long-term history.
The application of stable isotope ratios has become relevant for forensic purposes with the development of more sensitive and accurate isotope ratio mass spectrometers. The chapter dealing with this subject describes the meth-odology, the instrumentation, and several forensic applications, including origin identi?cation of drugs and explosives and isotope tagging.
For many years, GC/MS has been the major method used for identi?cation of accelerants in ?re debris. MS/MS now provides an additional dimension of identi?cation. GC/MS/MS has the capability to isolate and identify ignitable liquid residues in the presence of background products such as pyrolysates that may mask the target analytes of interest. A chapter devoted to this subject consists of two subchapters written by two different authors who are using GC/MS/MS with a different approach for the identi?cation of accelerants in ?re debris.
LC/MS, with electrospray ionization (ESI) and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI), are now being used for the analysis of explosives in postblast residues. This chapter describes both ionization techniques and their application in explosive residue analysis.
The mass spectrometer in its various con?gurations is now an integral part of every forensic laboratory. The number of possible forensic applications of this analytical technique is limited only by the imagination of the forensic chemist.
Finally, I would like to thank the contributing authors who have made the publication of this book possible. Many thanks are due to authors and publishers for permission to reproduce copyrighted material.
— Jehuda Yinon
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