Version 1 / Date of Issue: 10.29.15 / Issuing Authority: Forensic Science Standards Board (FSSB)

 OSAC Research Needs Assessment Form 

Title of research need: 

Keywords: 

Submitting subcommittee(s): Date Approved: 

(If SAC review identifies additional subcommittees, add them to the box above.) 

Background information: 

1. Description of research need: 

2. Key bibliographic references relating to this research need: 

 

Development of methods capable of comparing explosive residues extracted from post-blast debris 

to a suspected source. 

1. Howa J, Lott M, Chesson L, Ehleringer J. Carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios of factory-produced RDX and HMX. 

Forensic Science International. 2014;240(1):80–7. 

2. Benson S, Lennard C, Hill D, Maynard P, Roux C. Forensic analysis of explosives using isotope ratio mass 

spectrometry (IRMS)—part 1: instrument validation of the DELTA[plus]XP IRMS for bulk nitrogen isotope ratio 

measurements. Journal of Forensic Sciences. 2010;55(1):193–204. 

3. Benson S, Lennard C, Maynard P, Hill D, Andrew A, Neal K, et al. Forensic analysis of explosives using isotope ratio 

mass spectrometry (IRMS)—part 2: forensic inter-laboratory trial: bulk carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes in a range 

of chemical compounds (Australia and New Zealand). Journal of Forensic Sciences. 2010;55(1):205–12. 

4. Barnette J, Lott M, Howa J, Podlesak D, Ehleringer J. Hydrogen and oxygen isotope values in hydrogen peroxide. 

Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry. 2011;25(10):1422–8 

5. Howa J, Lott M, Ehleringer J. Observations and sources of carbon and nitrogen isotope ratio variation of 

pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN). Forensic Science International. 2014;244(1):152–7. 

6. Gentile N, Siegwolf R, Delemont O. Study of isotopic variations in black powder: reflections on the use of stable 

isotopes in forensic science for source inference. Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry. 2009;23(16):259–

2567. 

Source Attribution for Post-Blast Residues 

Explosives, source attribution, probabilistic methods

Fire Debris and Explosives 5/12/2017 
Version 1 / Date of Issue: 10.29.15 / Issuing Authority: Forensic Science Standards Board (FSSB)

3a. In what ways would the research results improve current laboratory capabilities? 

3b. In what ways would the research results improve understanding of the scientific basis for the 

subcommittee(s)? 

3c. In what ways would the research results improve services to the criminal justice system? 

4. Status assessment (I, II, III, or IV): 

This research need has been identified by one or more subcommittees of OSAC and is being provided as an 

informational resource to the community.

Major gap 

in current 

knowledge 

Minor gap 

in current 

knowledge 

No or limited

current research 

is being 

conducted 

I III 

Existing current 

research is being 

conducted 

II IV 

Currently direct links and associations thereof between explosive residues extracted from post 

blast debris and a suspected source cannot be made.

Current methods or a knowledge base do not exist. This would be novel research. Future studies 

could build upon initial results. 

Creation of direct links between criminal activity and suspect(s) would dramatically improve the 

investigation of these events. 

 I 
Version 1 / Date of Issue: 10.29.15 / Issuing Authority: Forensic Science Standards Board (FSSB)

// Approval date: 

(Approval is by majority vote of subcommittee. Once approved, forward to SAC.)

1. Does the SAC agree with the research need? Yes ⃝ No ⃝ 

2. Does the SAC agree with the status assessment? Yes ⃝ No ⃝ 

 

If no, what is the status assessment of the SAC:

Approval date: 

(Approval is by majority vote of SAC. Once approved, forward to NIST for posting.) 

Subcommittee 5/26/2017

SAC 

12Feb2018 [SAC voted yes to both questions]