Touch evidence is vital evidence to Crime Scene Investigators because it involves DNA left behind by suspects that could prove the suspect to be guilty or innocent. Average people touch items with their hands and other body parts without noticing what they have touched. When a person feels guilty they tend to sweat more than usual this sweat produces enzymes that are traceable by DNA. Factors that affect DNA are that the body sheds skin every day; this skin is left everywhere that the person goes.
Environmental factors that could possibly affect touch evidence include water, rain, and wind. These environmental factors could cause the touch evidence to become contaminated. Animals, bugs and people could possibly wipe away touch evidence. Take for instance a person living at the beach has been missing for a year. When the Crime Scene Investigators finally found his car in an off sea gully the salt water from the beach could possibly contaminate the DNA evidence and corrode the car its self.
References:
Karen Lotter(2008, Dec 22) Suite101.com, What is Touch DNA? from http://www.suite101.com/content/what-is-touch-dna-a85797
Scientific American (2008, Aug 8) Experts Touch DNA, What is Touch DNA? from http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=experts-touch-dna-jonbenet-ramsey
The Bode Technology Group, Inc. (2010) Touch DNA - Overview from http://www.bodetech.com/technologies/touch-dna/touch-dna-overview
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