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Content archived on 2023-03-09

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Spanish researchers help police tackle dangerous explosives

Determining whether a suspicious device is explosive or not is a familiar conundrum for police and detectives on the big screen, and in the real world too police need to be able to quickly ascertain whether seized liquids pose a real danger or not. Now, a team of Spanish resea...

Determining whether a suspicious device is explosive or not is a familiar conundrum for police and detectives on the big screen, and in the real world too police need to be able to quickly ascertain whether seized liquids pose a real danger or not. Now, a team of Spanish researchers has developed a method that just does that. The method developed by the team of chemists, from the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), can determine the chemical composition of liquids, which in turn means police can declare them safe or potentially explosive. This new method means judges can use conclusive scientific test results on the nature of dangerous liquids in court. In many of the seized liquid samples they analysed, the team found health hazardous substances such as methanol and boric acid. Although police have previously devoted great efforts to detecting the presence of high explosives such as TNT, this study is the first to turn the focus onto the less powerful - but not less dangerous - substances. Across Europe each year police forces seize tonnes of pyrotechnic substances that are normally destined for indoor firework manufacturing; however there is also a danger that these same substances can end up in the hands of violent groups. To develop their method the team combined four techniques commonly used in laboratories. They combined two spectroscopy techniques (raman and infrared) that can be performed with mobile devices in airports, customs or ports offices, and used energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) combined with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images to determine which elements are in the sample. 'With the SEM-EDS technique we are able to observe how the sample's elements are distributed and grouped, for example, calcium with sulphur suggests that calcium sulphate is present,' comments UPV/EHU researcher Kepa Castro, the study's lead author. 'And by crossing data from four different techniques, we are able to check and confirm the results.' To verify whether their new method would work in practice the chemists applied it to seized liquid samples, mainly substances used in indoor fireworks. The findings showed that methanol was often being used as a main solvent, which shocked the researchers given the highly toxic nature of the compound. In human beings it can cause acidosis and blindness and as a result is restricted in many countries. Boric acid was also detected in one of the other sample liquids. This substance has recently been added to the list of Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) under the EU's REACH Regulation (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemical substances). These acids can have a negative effect on the human reproduction system. REACH entered into force on 1 June 2007 with the aim of both improving the protection of human health and the environment through better and earlier identification of the intrinsic properties of chemical substances, and enhancing innovation and competitiveness in the EU chemicals industry. The REACH Regulation places greater responsibility on industry actors to manage the risks from chemicals and provide safety information on the substances. Manufacturers and importers are required to gather information on the properties of their chemical substances, which will allow their safe handling, and to register the information in a central database run by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) in Helsinki. The Agency acts as the central cog in the REACH system as it manages the databases necessary to operate the system, as well as coordinating the in-depth evaluation of suspicious chemicals. This work will lead to an eventual public database that both consumers and professionals can use to keep informed about hazard information. The impetus behind REACH was tackling the large numbers of dangerous substances that have been manufactured and disseminated throughout the European market. The European Commission observed that there existed an information deficit concerning these substances and the risks they pose to human health and the environment.For more information, please visit:University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU):http://www.ehu.es/p200-shenhm/en

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Spain