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United States, 1970

The first case that involved forensic palynology in the United States was in 1970, where Honeybee pollination studies were issued. During this time honey pollen analysis began growing as the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), insured beekeepers a higher world market price for their honey. Under the premisses that the honey was produced on USA grounds. Thus, honey samples were sent for pollen analysis, where conformation that the honey was produced in the USA was concluded or not. Generally, most of the cases during this time involved law suits concerning beekeepers. For example, a Michigan beekeeper arose suspect of importing beehives from the southeastern USA that weren't inspected for mites. This led to the USDA inspecting honey samples where it was concluded that they were imported from the Southeastern region of USA. Due to that the honey contained floral types common to the Southeastern region and not found in Michigan.

United Kingdom

An example concerning Forensic Palynology in the United Kingdom, took place during 1993 by Patricia Wiltshire. Where it involved a murder case in which the body was layed on soil that preserved pollen. Wiltshire then found traces of walnut pollen ion the soil and suspect's shoes, however, the walnut pollen found was unusual as there was no walnut site nearby. However, It was later discovered that a walnut tree was cut down thirty years before and the walnut pollen remained. the pollen was then analyzed and linked to the suspect in the crime scene. Thus, the walnut pollen provided a significant role solving the case.

Modern Uses

Forensic Palynology is mostly utilized in countries such as NewZealand, Australia, and the United Kingdom. It plays a big role in criminal cases as it aids multiple cases, varying from forgery, rape, homicide, genocide, terrorism, drug dealing, assault, and robbery. It is useful as it relates a suspect

Forensic Palynologist

Current Status

Forensic Palynology is an evolving forensic science application. And is mostly utilized in countries such as NewZealand, Australia, and the United Kingdom. It is relatively "small, disparate, and fragmented" compared to other approaches. Thus, there is no thorough guide for the best practice of forensic palynology. Moreover, there is a limit in forensic palynologists as most skilled palynologists do not enter the forensic palynolgy field. As becoming a Forensic Palynologist requires rigorous training and education. One must attain a PH.D with sufficient background with other studies like botany, ecology, geography, and climatology. Most importantly they must receive training in the field of quaternary science.

Duties

In terms of criminal investigation, forensic palynologist services are requested from cases such as forgery, rape, homicide, genocide, terrorism, drug dealing, assault, and robbery. It usually consist of a single individual who works with the polynomial case. Of course, the palynologist could still consult other professionals. Furthermore, the palynologist should be given significant information as there is only one person handling the analysis of the samples. Important duties to note is that they ensure that all paperwork is dated, singed, filed and archived in order to maintain good records. Forensic Palynologists usually visit the crime scene to survey the vegetation. For example, identify plants and there characteristics and qualities ( size, vigor...) and obtain plant samples to allow for analysis like ground sampling. Scrubbing, scraping, washing is essential for retrieval of palynomorphs from various materials. And utilize other methods like police photographers, cartographers, and botanists. It is vital for the Forensic Palynologist to visit the crime scene before the Crime Science Investigators (CSI) or Scenes of crime Officers (SOCOs) to avoid disturbance of environmental evidence and contamination.