Determination of metallization with energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescent spectrometry in experimental electric injury

Naoko Tanaka; Hiroshi Kinoshita; Mostofa Jamal; Asuka Ito; Tadayoshi Yamashita; Ken Nagata; Nobuyuki Miyatake

doi:10.1016/j.legalmed.2020.101768

Determination of metallization with energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescent spectrometry in experimental electric injury

Leg Med (Tokyo). 2020 Nov:47:101768. doi: 10.1016/j.legalmed.2020.101768. Epub 2020 Jul 26.

Authors

Naoko Tanaka¹, Hiroshi Kinoshita², Mostofa Jamal², Asuka Ito², Tadayoshi Yamashita², Ken Nagata², Nobuyuki Miyatake³

Affiliations

¹ Departments of Forensic Medicine, Kagawa University, Kagawa, Japan. Electronic address: ntanaka@med.kagawa-u.ac.jp.
² Departments of Forensic Medicine, Kagawa University, Kagawa, Japan.
³ Hygiene Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University, Kagawa, Japan.

PMID: 32738701
DOI: 10.1016/j.legalmed.2020.101768

Abstract

We investigated the application of energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescent spectrometry (EDX) analysis to the detection of aluminum (Al), tin (Sn) and zinc (Zn) as the electric conductor in experimental electrical injury. Experimental electrical injury was caused by exposure to alternating current at 100 V for 10 s. The peaks of Al, Sn, and Zn were detected by EDX in formalin-fixed skin samples of each current exposure group. Histological examination revealed blister formation in all samples of each current exposure group. EDX analysis technique can be applied to detect Al, Sn, and Zn as the electric conductor, and is useful in the diagnosis of electrocution.

Keywords: Aluminum; Electrical injury; Energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescent spectrometry (EDX); Tin; Zinc.

MeSH terms

Aluminum / analysis*
Animals
Electric Injuries / diagnosis*
Electric Injuries / metabolism*
Electric Injuries / pathology
Electricity / adverse effects*
Galvanic Skin Response*
Male
Rats, Wistar
Skin / metabolism*
Skin / pathology
Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission*
Tin / analysis*
Zinc / analysis*

Substances

Tin
Aluminum
Zinc