Impact of Environmental Exposure on Mitochondrial DNA Degradation in Medical Masks: A Forensic Evaluation of Storage Time and Amplicon Length
International Journal of Medical Toxicology and Forensic Medicine,
Vol. 16 (2026),
1 January 2026
,
Page 1-7
https://doi.org/10.22037/ijmtfm.v16.51909
Abstract
Background: Medical masks recovered from crime scenes are valuable sources of biological evidence, yet the stability of DNA on these porous substrates under environmental stress remains under-researched. This study investigates the degradation profile of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in cotton-polyester blend masks under outdoor conditions, hypothesizing that prolonged exposure accelerates hydrolytic damage and preferentially affects larger amplicons.
Methods: Medical masks worn by six male volunteers were stored outdoors (relative humidity 56–81%) for 1, 7, 14, and 20 days. DNA was extracted using the DNAzol method and quantified by UV spectrophotometry. mtDNA integrity was assessed by amplifying HVS-I (143 bp) and HVS-II (126 bp) regions. Statistical significance was determined using One-way ANOVA.
Results: Total DNA concentration significantly decreased by ~96% from Day 1 (373.58 ± 211.17 ng/µl) to Day 20 (14.07 ± 5.16 ng/µl) (p<0.05). DNA purity followed a similar downward trend, dropping from 1.84 ± 0.07 (Day 1) to 0.89 ± 0.43 (Day 20), indicating severe contamination or degradation. Amplification success was length-dependent: the longer HVS-I fragment failed to amplify after Day 1, whereas the shorter HVS-II fragment remained detectable up to Day 14.
Conclusion: Outdoor environmental exposure markedly reduces DNA quantity and purity within 20 days, likely driven by humidity-induced hydrolysis and bacterial growth. The differential survival of amplicons suggests that forensic protocols for degraded mask evidence should prioritize shorter amplicons (e.g., HVS-II) and implement immediate preservation measures, such as desiccation or refrigeration, to halt decay.
- DNA degradation, Forensic identification, Mask, Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA)
How to Cite
References
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