Effects of Radiation on Latent Prints and Deoxyribonucleic AcidCX(s) Applied: B3.6Date: 07/12/2011Location(s): Aiken, South CarolinaOffice(s): Savannah River Operations Office
Office of NEPA Policy and Compliance
July 12, 2011
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CX(s) Applied: B3.6
Date: 07/12/2011
Location(s): Aiken, South Carolina
Office(s): Savannah River Operations Office
It is expected that terrorists may handle various components of a radioactive explosive device during its construction and deployment. This activity may leave fingerprints or Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) on various surfaces of the components of the device. The purpose of this study is to determine whether and how long any fingerprints or DNA deposited on these surfaces will survive in a form that can be recovered and identified. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Laboratory will provide evidentiary samples that contain latent prints and DNA in various forms. Savannah River National Laboratory personnel will expose these samples to different radiation sources utilizing the Shielded Cells Facility, Cobolt-60 Facility, the fixed neutron source, beta sources, and non-dispersable alpha sources. Samples will be packaged so that they will not become contaminated by the source material and can be sent back to the FBI Laboratory for development and analysis as clean samples. The fixed source irradiation for alpha, beta, and neutron will be performed by Analytical Development Section.