Air Conditioners, Filters Could Help Solve Crimes by Identifying Criminals [Study]

Air conditioners can be an unlikely partner for solving crimes. Apparently, this equipment can help investigators surprisingly identify the culprits.

Air Conditioners and Fillers For Solving Crimes

In criminal investigations, trace amounts of DNA from crime scenes, which are merely a few human cells, are customarily gathered. Samples already collect evidence from nearby surfaces, soil, and water. However, a new study from Australia's Flinders University suggests that forensic experts might also begin gathering DNA data at random.

The study, led by Senior Forensic Science Lecturer Mariya Goray, looked into the possibility of sampling the air at the crime scene using air conditioners and air filters to identify both regular occupants and any outside visitors.

According to Goray, even with forensic understanding, it is quite doubtful that the average offender could completely stop their DNA from being dispersed into the environment.

In this small-scale investigation, samples collected from four businesses and four homes at various times following cleaning were compared. Additionally, they investigated the efficiency of typical air filters in gathering DNA information from their surroundings.

Their findings unequivocally show that human DNA can be extracted from the air and air conditioners' surfaces. Furthermore, whereas dust particles that have landed on air conditioning unit surfaces tend to provide more information about the room's past occupants, air samples are more likely to represent the most recent residents of a space.

"Human DNA can be found in the air after people have spoken or breathed (via saliva droplets), shed skin cells or dislodged and aerosolized from surfaces and collected for DNA analysis," said Emily Bibbo, a Ph.D. candidate at Flinders University's College of Science and Engineering and co-author of the study. "We may be able to use this as evidence to prove if someone has been in the room, even if they wore gloves or wiped surfaces clean to remove the evidence."

The team suggests more research to improve the procedure for obtaining and evaluating DNA samples from these surfaces as well as the best locations for air conditioners in a given area in light of the findings. Nevertheless, this initial study highlights the fascinating possibilities of air conditioners and air filters to support criminal investigations.

Air Conditioning and Climate Change

Air conditioning contributes significantly to the continuous problem of climate change. Air conditioning helps reduce heat and enhances indoor comfort, but it also adds to the total energy use and greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming.

Air conditioners cost homeowners over $29 billion a year, or roughly 6% of all electricity produced in the United States. Consequently, yearly atmospheric carbon dioxide emissions amount to about 117 million metric tons.

When in excess, this greenhouse gas can trap heat close to the planet's surface, leading to global warming. Refrigerants are another element. Formerly used refrigerants can warm more quickly than carbon dioxide. Inside an air conditioner, they are not a problem, but when discharged into the atmosphere, they become an issue.

Furthermore, the need for air conditioning is growing worldwide, straining power systems and increasing dependency on non-renewable energy sources. This environmental problem won't happen as often if your system is leak-free and operating as intended.

Check out more news and information on Environment and Climate in Science Times.