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New fingerprint analysis identifies smokers [also, avid coffee drinker or drug addict]
newscientisttech.com ^ | 5-18-2007 | Paul Marks

Posted on 05/18/2007 2:05:18 PM PDT by bedolido

Images that show how fingerprints can be used to reveal whether you are a smoker, an avid coffee drinker or even a drug addict have been revealed by UK scientists.

They were produced using a novel forensic technique that could in future be used on fingerprints collected at a crime scene. If the prints in question are not on file, this would still give police a powerful way to shrink their pool of suspects, by identifying their lifestyle habits.

The technique was developed by a team of forensics experts at the University of East Anglia (UEA) in Norwich, and King's College in London, both in the UK.

It exploits the fact that the breakdown products - metabolites - of substances people consume are deposited in sweat found in pores in their fingerprint ridges. To detect these metabolites they use gold nanoparticles.

Washing no defence

The researchers, led by David Russell at UEA, claimed in 2006 that fingerprints could be used in this way (see Fingerprints reveal lifestyle habits. Now they have shown that it works in practise, even shortly after someone has washed their hands.

(Excerpt) Read more at newscientisttech.com ...


TOPICS: Conspiracy; Health/Medicine; Science; Weird Stuff
KEYWORDS: analysis; fingerprint; identifies; smokers

1 posted on 05/18/2007 2:05:19 PM PDT by bedolido
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To: bedolido

One word: Gloves.


2 posted on 05/18/2007 2:14:21 PM PDT by ravingnutter
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To: bedolido

Don’t need to analyze a fingerprint to figure out these things.

Yellow stains on the fingers for smokers and stains on the teeth for coffee.

Last a druggie usually have “that” general look about them.


3 posted on 05/18/2007 2:40:13 PM PDT by Global2010
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To: bedolido

But what about Twinkie residue?


4 posted on 05/18/2007 3:13:35 PM PDT by mtbopfuyn (I think the border is kind of an artificial barrier - San Antonio councilwoman Patti Radle)
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To: bedolido

Oh joy.


5 posted on 05/18/2007 3:48:36 PM PDT by BenLurkin
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To: bedolido

It sounds less like fingerprint analysis and more like simple and, dare I say, obvious chemical analysis.

I thought these guys had done something cool like Lumidigm and their multi-spectral imaging. One of the Disney hell holes runs Lumidigm’s amazingly accurate fingerprint scanners to match your ticket to you.


6 posted on 05/19/2007 6:18:40 AM PDT by nerdwithamachinegun (All generalizations are wrong.)
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To: bedolido

7 posted on 05/19/2007 6:58:03 AM PDT by Daffynition (I drive far too fast to worry about cholesterol!)
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I suppose that adage about hair on the hands is mentioned in the original paper...


8 posted on 05/20/2007 7:41:49 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (Time heals all wounds, particularly when they're not yours. Profile updated May 18, 2007.)
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