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Related Experiment Videos

Persistence of floor coating solvents.

J J Lentini1

  • 1Fire Laboratory, Applied Technical Services, Inc., Marietta, GA 30066, USA.

Journal of Forensic Sciences
|November 21, 2001
PubMed
Summary

Solvents in wood floor coatings, including stain and oil finishes, persist for at least 24 months. This study highlights the long-term presence of volatile organic compounds in fire debris analysis.

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Area of Science:

  • Forensic Science
  • Materials Science
  • Analytical Chemistry

Background:

  • Solvent persistence in building materials is crucial for fire debris analysis.
  • Understanding long-term solvent detection in wood finishes aids arson investigations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the persistence of solvents in various wood floor coatings over 24 months.
  • To evaluate the detectability of solvents in different wood finishing applications.

Main Methods:

  • Passive headspace concentration (ASTM E 1412).
  • Gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric (GC/MS) analysis (ASTM E 1618).
  • Analysis of oak and pine flooring with stain, stain/polyurethane, and oil finishes at 10 and 24 months.

Main Results:

  • Solvents were readily detectable in all tested floor coatings after 24 months.
  • No significant diminution in solvent levels was observed compared to earlier samples.
  • All three types of floor finishes (stain, stain/varnish, oil) showed persistent solvent presence.

Conclusions:

  • Solvents in wood floor coatings exhibit long-term persistence, detectable up to 24 months.
  • The findings underscore the importance of comparison samples in fire debris analysis.
  • Persistent solvents in wood finishes necessitate careful consideration in arson investigations involving fire debris.

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