Pollen in Domestic Dwellings: Forensic Implications
Morgan, R. M., Allen, E., Balestri, F., Davies, G., King, T., Sena V. and Bull, P. A.
Outline
Role of experimental studies
Experiment 1: Pollen within a room
Morgan, R. M., Allen, E., Lightowler, Z. L., Freudiger-Bonzon, J. and Bull, P. A. 2008 A forensic geoscience framework and practice. Policing: A Journal of Policy and Practice 2: 185-195
Morgan, R. M., Allen, E., Lightowler, Z. L., Freudiger-Bonzon, J. and Bull, P. A. 2008 A forensic geoscience framework and practice. Policing: A Journal of Policy and Practice 2: 185-195
Pollen in a room – scenario 2
0 5 10 15 200
2000
4000
6000
8000
10000
12000
14000
Figure 4.4.7.a. Graph to show persistence of pollen after removal of pollen source
Run Three
Run Four
Run Five
Run Six
Days since flowers' removal
Num
ber o
f pol
len
grai
ns sa
mpl
ed th
roug
ht th
e
room
-spa
ce
0 5 10 15 200%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Figure 4.4.7.b. Decay in pollen count after flowers removed from room
Run Three
Run Four
Run Five
Run Six
Days since flowers' removal
Polle
n co
unt (
% o
f pol
len
coun
t on
day
of fl
ower
re
mov
al)
Grass Tulip (Tulippa)
Fuchsia(Thalia)
Oak (Quercus)
Pine(Pinus)
Run one 0 0 0 0 0
Run two 0 0 0 0 0
Run three 196 0 0 0 0
Run four 504 1 0 7 0
Run five 739 0 1 1 12
Findings
Experiment 2: Pollen on ink and paper
Findings
Experiment 3: Pollen preservation in heat and fire
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
Time (sec)
Tem
pera
ture
(ºC
)
Floor (0.15m)Mid-Height (1.37m)Ceiling (2.26m)
Putori Jr, A.D. and McElroy, J. (2000) ‘Full-Scale House Fire Experiment for InterFIRE VR’, Report of Test, Published by U.S. Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology.
Lilium
Tulipa
Narcissus
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
5 10 15 30Exposure Time (minutes)
Tempe
rature (º
C)
Lilly
Daffodil
Tulip
Findings
Implications