ASTM E3272-21
(Guide)Standard Guide for Collection of Soils and Other Geological Evidence for Criminal Forensic Applications
Standard Guide for Collection of Soils and Other Geological Evidence for Criminal Forensic Applications
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 This guide describes good practices for the collection (5), packaging, and preservation (8.3) of soils in criminal forensic investigations. Some of the information in this guide is demonstrated in its companion video, which is available on-line and is intended as a complementary resource to this guide (6).
4.2 Individual agencies can use this guide to develop agency-specific procedures regarding the collection of soils for forensic applications.
SCOPE
1.1 This standard provides guidance to instruct crime scene professionals in good practices for the documentation, collection, and preservation of soil and other geological evidence for use in criminal investigations. Sampling for environmental geology is outside of its scope. It is designed as a resource for professionals whose job responsibilities include the collection and preservation of soil evidence and for forensic scientists to enable them to advise crime scene investigators.
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses after SI units are provided for information only and are not considered standard.
1.3 This standard cannot replace knowledge, skills, or abilities acquired through education, training, and experience (Practice E2917), and is to be used in conjunction with professional judgment by individuals with such discipline-specific knowledge, skills, and abilities.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
General Information
Relations
Buy Standard
Standards Content (Sample)
This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: E3272 − 21 An American National Standard
Standard Guide for
Collection of Soils and Other Geological Evidence for
1
Criminal Forensic Applications
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E3272; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope Using Wipe Sampling Methods for Subsequent Determi-
nation of Metals
1.1 This standard provides guidance to instruct crime scene
D7296Practice for Collection of Settled Dust Samples
professionals in good practices for the documentation,
Using Dry Wipe Sampling Methods for Subsequent De-
collection, and preservation of soil and other geological evi-
termination of Beryllium and Compounds
denceforuseincriminalinvestigations.Samplingforenviron-
D7144Practice for Collection of Surface Dust by Micro-
mental geology is outside of its scope. It is designed as a
vacuum Sampling for Subsequent Determination of Met-
resource for professionals whose job responsibilities include
als and Metalloids
thecollectionandpreservationofsoilevidenceandforforensic
D5755TestMethodforMicrovacuumSamplingandIndirect
scientists to enable them to advise crime scene investigators.
Analysis of Dust by Transmission Electron Microscopy
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
for Asbestos Structure Number Surface Loading
standard. The values given in parentheses after SI units are
D5756TestMethodforMicrovacuumSamplingandIndirect
providedforinformationonlyandarenotconsideredstandard.
Analysis of Dust by Transmission Electron Microscopy
3
for Asbestos Mass Surface Loading (Withdrawn 2017)
1.3 This standard cannot replace knowledge, skills, or
abilities acquired through education, training, and experience E1188Practice for Collection and Preservation of Informa-
tion and Physical Items by a Technical Investigator
(Practice E2917), and is to be used in conjunction with
professional judgment by individuals with such discipline- E1459Guide for Physical Evidence Labeling and Related
Documentation
specific knowledge, skills, and abilities.
E1732Terminology Relating to Forensic Science
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
E2917Practice for Forensic Science Practitioner Training,
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
Continuing Education, and Professional Development
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
Programs
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
3. Terminology
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
3.1.1 aggregate(s) [clump(s)], n—a group of soil particles
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
that cohere to each other more strongly than to other surround-
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
ing particles.
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
4
(1)
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
3.1.1.1 Discussion—Soil aggregates can be natural (a ped)
or formed by human activities (a clod). Often the genesis of
2. Referenced Documents
evidentiary soil aggregates is unknown, so aggregate is often a
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
preferred term in descriptions of soil evidence.
D6966Practice for Collection of Settled Dust Samples
3.1.2 alibi location(s), n—a known location suggested or
linked to a subject (for example, a subject’s home) that is
distinct from the crime scene.
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E30 on Forensic
3.1.2.1 Discussion—The term alibi or alibi location can be
Sciences and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E30.11 on Interdisciplin-
ary Forensic Science Standards. perceived negatively, but comparisons of geological materials
Current edition approved Jan. 1, 2021. Published April 2021. DOI: 10.1520/
E3272-21.
2 3
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM www.astm.org.
4
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to a list of references at the end of
the ASTM website. this standard.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-29
...
NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: E3272 − 21 An American National Standard
Standard Guide for
Collection of Soils and Other Geological Evidence for
1
Criminal Forensic Applications
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E3272; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope Using Wipe Sampling Methods for Subsequent Determi-
nation of Metals
1.1 This standard provides guidance to instruct crime scene
D7296 Practice for Collection of Settled Dust Samples
professionals in good practices for the documentation,
Using Dry Wipe Sampling Methods for Subsequent De-
collection, and preservation of soil and other geological evi-
termination of Beryllium and Compounds
dence for use in criminal investigations. Sampling for environ-
D7144 Practice for Collection of Surface Dust by Micro-
mental geology is outside of its scope. It is designed as a
vacuum Sampling for Subsequent Determination of Met-
resource for professionals whose job responsibilities include
als and Metalloids
the collection and preservation of soil evidence and for forensic
D5755 Test Method for Microvacuum Sampling and Indirect
scientists to enable them to advise crime scene investigators.
Analysis of Dust by Transmission Electron Microscopy
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
for Asbestos Structure Number Surface Loading
standard. The values given in parentheses after SI units are
D5756 Test Method for Microvacuum Sampling and Indirect
provided for information only and are not considered standard.
Analysis of Dust by Transmission Electron Microscopy
3
1.3 This standard cannot replace knowledge, skills, or for Asbestos Mass Surface Loading (Withdrawn 2017)
E1188 Practice for Collection and Preservation of Informa-
abilities acquired through education, training, and experience
(Practice E2917), and is to be used in conjunction with tion and Physical Items by a Technical Investigator
E1459 Guide for Physical Evidence Labeling and Related
professional judgment by individuals with such discipline-
specific knowledge, skills, and abilities. Documentation
E1732 Terminology Relating to Forensic Science
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
E2917 Practice for Forensic Science Practitioner Training,
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
Continuing Education, and Professional Development
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
Programs
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
3. Terminology
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
3.1.1 aggregate(s) [clump(s)], n—a group of soil particles
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
that cohere to each other more strongly than to other surround-
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
ing particles.
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
4
(1)
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
3.1.1.1 Discussion—Soil aggregates can be natural (a ped)
or formed by human activities (a clod). Often the genesis of
2. Referenced Documents
evidentiary soil aggregates is unknown, so aggregate is often a
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
preferred term in descriptions of soil evidence.
D6966 Practice for Collection of Settled Dust Samples
3.1.2 alibi location(s), n—a known location suggested or
linked to a subject (for example, a subject’s home) that is
distinct from the crime scene.
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E30 on Forensic
3.1.2.1 Discussion—The term alibi or alibi location can be
Sciences and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E30.11 on Interdisciplin-
ary Forensic Science Standards. perceived negatively, but comparisons of geological materials
Current edition approved Jan. 1, 2021. Published April 2021. DOI: 10.1520/
E3272-21.
2 3
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM www.astm.org.
4
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to a list of references at the end of
the ASTM website. this standard.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1
---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
E3272 − 21
from alibi loca
...
Questions, Comments and Discussion
Ask us and Technical Secretary will try to provide an answer. You can facilitate discussion about the standard in here.