Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) was applied to detect traces of amphetamine on fingerprints. In the present study, three different lift tapes and latent powder fingerprints were tested. The obtained results show that it is possible to identify traces of a drug as well as its distribution over the tested fingerprint after its transfer from the primary base onto an adhesive lifter (secondary base). Moreover, images obtained by the TOF-SIMS technique enable the observation of very small areas of the analysed fingerprint as well as the identification of micro-objects (residues of a contaminant) that were left on the fingerprint. The use of the black latent fingerprint powder did not interfere with the TOF-SIMS analysis, which makes it possible to effectively use this technique to study the traces of substances on the revealed fingerprints.

The paper presents the possibilities of using the ToF-SIMS technique in the examination of a range of samples as forensic evidence. These include the analysis of documents, the examination of writing media, the analysis of crossing lines, the analysis of cosmetics, hair analysis, the examination of automobile paints, and the analysis of fingerprints and their contamination with exogenous substances. The advantages and disadvantages of this method were analysed with reference to the information that any forensic investigator would wish to obtain when examining highly significant evidence.

Two hundred and five samples of whisky, including 170 authentic and 35 fake products, were analyzed in terms of their elemental profiles in order to distinguish them according to the parameter of their authenticity. The study of 31 elements (Ag, Al, B, Ba, Be, Bi, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Sn, Sr, Te, Tl, U, V, Ca, Fe, K, Mg, P, S, Ti and Zn) was performed using the Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES) and Cold Vapor-Atomic Absorption (CVAAS) techniques. Additionally, the pH values of all samples were determined by pH-meter, and their isotopic ratios of ⁸⁸Sr/⁸⁶Sr, ⁸⁴Sr/⁸⁶Sr, ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr and ⁶³Cu/⁶⁵Cu were assessed, based on the number of counts by ICP-MS. As a result of conducted research, elements, such as Mn, K, P and S, were identified as markers of whisky adulteration related to the age of alcohol. The concentrations of manganese, potassium and phosphorus were significantly lower in the fake samples (which were not aged, or the aging period was much shorter than legally required), compared to the original samples (in all cases subjected to the aging process). The observed differences were related to the migration of these elements from wooden barrels to the alcohol contained in them. On the other hand, the sulfur concentration in the processed samples was much higher in the counterfeit samples than in the authentic ones. The total sulfur content, such as that of alkyl sulfides, decreases in alcohol with aging in the barrels. Furthermore, counterfeit samples can be of variable origin and composition, so they cannot be characterized as one group with identical or comparable features. Repeatedly, the element of randomness dominates in the production of these kinds of alcohols. However, as indicated in this work, the extensive elemental analysis supported by statistical tools can be helpful, especially in the context of detecting age-related adulteration of whisky. The results presented in this paper are the final part of a comprehensive study on the influence of selected factors on the elemental composition of whisky.