NATIONAL
ACADEMY OF SCIENCES RELEASES FBI-COMMISSIONED STUDY
ON BULLET LEAD ANALYSIS
Washington,
D.C. – Today, the National Research Council
(NRC) of the National Academies released a report
regarding compositional comparisons of bullet lead
performed by the FBI Laboratory. In 2002, the FBI
Laboratory contracted the National Academies to
conduct an independent study. The report released
today revealed that the FBI Laboratory’s current
analytical instrumentation is appropriate and is
the best available technology with respect to both
precision and accuracy for the elements analyzed.
Furthermore, the elements selected by the FBI for
analysis are appropriate. Recommendations by the
NRC included suggestions to improve the statistical
analysis, quality control procedures, as well as
expert testimony.
Bullet lead compositional comparisons use chemical
analysis to determine the amount of trace elements
found within lead bullets. The FBI Laboratory asked
the NRC for recommendations on how they could improve
the analysis, the statistical treatment of the data,
and the interpretation of results. To conduct the
study, the NRC formed a committee of 13 members
consisting of chemists, metallurgists, statisticians,
forensic scientists, and attorneys. The FBI Laboratory
did not have any input in the selection of panel
members and only participated in those sessions
that were open to the general public.
The NRC study is part of the FBI Laboratory’s
ongoing efforts to answer questions surrounding
bullet lead compositional analysis. In 2000, the
FBI Laboratory contracted with the Department of
Energy’s Ames Laboratory in Ames, Iowa to
conduct a statistical study of bullet lead data.
Internal review teams were formed in 2001 to identify
any weaknesses that existed in bullet lead examinations.
Additionally, publications were written on the topic
to explain the examination to those unfamiliar with
it. The basis of bullet lead compositional analysis
is supported by approximately 50 peer- reviewed
articles found in scientific publications beginning
in the early 1970's. Published research and validation
studies have continued to demonstrate the usefulness
of the measurement of trace elements within bullet
lead.
Since the early 1980's this technique has been used
in approximately 2,500 cases and in less than 20
% of those cases, bullet lead compositional analysis
was presented as circumstantial evidence in court.
The science has continually withstood legal challenges
in federal, state, and local criminal courts.
“The FBI Laboratory remains a world-class
facility, in part, because it routinely seeks out
and benefits from outside scrutiny and review”
said Laboratory Director, Dr. Dwight E. Adams. “The
report issued today by the National Academy of Sciences
on bullet lead comparisons is no exception. We thank
the Academy and members of the committee for their
hard work and we look forward to reviewing their
recommendations.”
