Jan Andrasko is the winner of the Best Poster Award 2003. Title of the poster: A Simple Method for Distinguishing between Fresh and Old Balpoint Pen Ink Entries.

 

Biography

Jan Andrasko (born 10-08-1947 in Czechoslovakia) started his studies in Prague and graduated in Chemistry at the Institute of Technology in Lund, Sweden in 1971. He received his Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from the same institute in 1976. The thesis was entitled “Experimental Studies in Nuclear Magnetic Relaxation and Molecular Diffusion”.

In 1976, Jan Andrasko moved to Linköping and was employed by the National Laboratory of Forensic Science (SKL) as research associate. He started working in the forensic science, predominantly by developing new applications of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in this field. His first project was to develop an operative method for detection of GSR (gunshot residues) on shooters hand. It resulted in a SEM method for detection of such particles collected from a shooter hand by stubbing the hand using adhesive tape, a method that with small modification is still used today. A method for analysis of elemental composition of glass fragments by combining several techniques was also early developed and in use at SKL.

During his work at SKL Jan was working both with method development and casework, from the latter the inspiration always came. He worked with projects at various fields of forensic science and one of his colleagues said to him once – “some people change their jobs by moving to another place/employer – you change your job by starting a new project”. Jan worked with hair comparison (detection of cosmetic treatment, shampoo residues, permanent treatment), firearm chemistry investigations (smokeless powder, lead isotope ratio analysis), document examination (writing and printing inks, toner, paper), biology (species identification by haemoglobin analysis), explosive vapour detection, lipstick, soil and coin analysis etc.

Since 1995 Jan is laborator (translates to “associate professor” in English) at the SKL. During the latest years, Jan devoted his work to various types of age determinations. Dating and age determination is a big challenge in forensic science. Lack of possibilities for dating using radioactive isotopes makes this research area very difficult and inexact. Different methods must be developed for different kinds of material. As the storage of the investigated material is frequently not known, the results will be dependent on storage conditions such as temperature, humidity and illumination. The proposed methods are generally solving the problems only partly and applicable for certain storing conditions. Jan has been working with age determination of bloodstains, time since the latest discharge of firearms and spent cartridges and is now trying to get some results in relative dating of inks, a problem, which is very desirable to solve, but at the same time very difficult.

 

Publications

Some key publications in the field of forensic science:

  • Andrasko,J. and Maehly,A.C.:”Detection of Gunshot Residues on Hands by Scanning Electron Microscopy”. J. Forens. Sci. (1977), 22, 279-287.
  • Andrasko,J. and Maehly,A.C.:”The Discrimination Between Samples of Window Glass by Combining Physical and Chemical Techniques”. J: Forens. Sci. (1978), 23, 250-262.
  • Andrasko,J., Kylsäter,P., Maehly,A.C., and Knuuttila,M.:”Analysis of Counterfeit Gold Coins by Scanning Electron Microscopy and X-ray Diffraction”. Scanning Electron Microscopy (1979), Vol.I.,455-458.
  • Andrasko,J.: “Calcium Profiles in Permanent-Waved Hair and Its Application to _Forensic Science”. Proceedings of the 10th Meeting of the International Association of Forensic Science, Oxford (1984). Andrasko,J. and Stocklassa,B.:”Shampoo Residue Profiles in Human Head Hair” J. Forens. Sci. (1990), 35, 569-579.
  • Andrasko,J.:”Characterization of Smokeless Powder Flakes from Fired Cartridge Cases and Discharge Patterns on Clothing ” J. Forens. Sci., (1992), 37, 1030-1047.
  • Andrasko,J., Kopp,I., Åbrink,Å. and T. Schiöld:”Lead Isotope Ratios in Lead Smears and Bullet Fragments and Application to Firearm Investigations” J. Forens. Sci., (1993), 38, 1161-1171.
  • Andrasko,J.:”A Simple Method for Sampling Photocopy Toners for Examination by Microreflectance Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrophotometry” J. Forens. Sci., (1994), 39, 226-230.
  • Andrasko,J. and Rosén,B.:”Sensitive Identification of Hemoglobin in Bloodstains from Different Species by High Performance Liquid Chromatography with Combined UV and Fluorescence Detection” J. Forens. Sci., (1994), 39, 1018-1025.
  • Andrasko,J.:”The Estimation of Age of Bloodstains by HPLC Analysis” J. Forens. Sci., (1997), 42, 601-607.
  • Andrasko,J. Norberg,T. and Ståhling,S:”Time Since Discharge of Shotguns” J. Forens. Sci., (1998), 43, 1005-1015.
  • Andrasko,J and Ståhling,S.:”Time Since Discharge of Rifles” J. Forens. Sci., 2000, 45, 1250-1255.
  • Andrasko,J.:”HPLC Analysis of Ballpoint Pen Inks Stored at Different Light Conditions” J. Forens. Sci., 2001, 46, 21-30.
  • Andrasko,J.:”Changes in Composition of Ballpoint Pen Inks on Aging in Darkness” J. Forens. Sci., 2002, 47, 324-327.
  • Andrasko,J and Ståhling,S.:”Time Since Discharge of Pistols and Revolvers” J. Forens. Sci., 2003, 48, 307-311. Niewöhner, L. Andrasko, J. Beijer, R. and Gunaratnam L.:”ENFSI Proficiency Test Program on Identification of GSR by SEM/EDX”, J. Forens. Sci., 2003, 48, 786-793.