[Study on electrical current mark with environmental scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray microanalyser].

Objective: To provide objective proof on diagnosis of electrical current mark in electrocution, the environmental scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray microanalyser (ESEM-EDX) were adopted to study the microscopic morphological characteristics and elemental composition of electrical current mark.

Methods: Morphological characteristics of electrical current marks, the elemental composition and morphology of metal particles were studied with ESEM-EDX.

Results: The electroporation and metal melted beads could be found in the electrical current marks and skin around them. The metal melted beads mainly composed of common metal such as iron, copper, aluminum and some uncommon metal including gold, titanium and barium.

Conclusion: ESEM-EDX can be applied in forensic diagnosis of electrocution.