EIIV EXPERT FORENSICS REPORT CONCERNING THE LATE PRESIDENT YASSER ARAFAT November 2013 Authors Prof. Patrice Mangin Prof. Francois Bochud Dr. Marc Augsburger Dr. S?bastien Baechler Dr. Claude J. Bailat Dr. Vincent Castella Dr. Pascal Froidevaux Dr. Katarzyna Michaud Dr. Marietta Straub Tanya Uldin Distribution of this report Date Name Signature November 2013 Expert forensic report concerning 3/20 - Novembel' 2013 -- Page 1/ 108 the late President Yasser Arafat Expert forensic report concerning 3 /20 N?Vembe' 2?13 P389 2/103 the late President Yasser Arafat I. Content I. CONTENT .. 3 II. .. 7 STUDY OF THE MEDICAL RECORDS .. 9 MEDICAL HISTORY ..10 EVALUATION OF THE PATIENTJS MEDICAL CARE ..13 POTENTIAL FURTHER FORENSIC INVESTIGATIONS ..14 IV. EXAMINATION OF THE PERSONAL EFFECTS IN THE TRAVEL BAG ..17 GENETIC IDENTIFICATION OF THE PERSONAL EFFECTS IN THE TRAVEL BAG .. 18 IV.2. TOXICOLOGICAL ANALYSES OF THE PERSONAL EFFECTS IN THE TRAVEL BAG ..19 Specimens ..19 I V.2.2 Results ..20 IV.3. RADIOLOGICAL ANALYSES OF THE PERSONAL EFFECTS IN THE TRAVEL BAG ..21 IV.3.1 Goals of the radiological analyses ..21 Surface contamination monitoring of personal efiects ..21 lV.3.3 Gamma spectrometry ..21 IV.3.3.1. Gamma spectrometry of the personal effects .. 21 Re--anaIysis of the gamma spectrometry measurements performed in 2004 .. 22 lV.3.4 Po/onium-210 determination in personal effects ..22 lV.3.5 Supported polonium-210 determination ..26 lV.3.6 Biokinetic modeling for polonium-210 in urine ..27 IV.3. 7 Discussion and conclusion of radiological analyses of the personal efiects ..28 V. FORENSIC EVALUATION OF THE SPECIMENS TAKEN FROM THE REMAINS AFTER V.1. ANTHROPOLOGICAL AND ARCHEOLOGICAL DESCRIPTIONS ..30 V.2. GENETIC IDENTIFICATION OF THE SPECIMENS TAKEN FROM THE REMAINS AFTER EXHUMATION ..33 V.3. TOXICOLOGICAL ANALYSES OF THE SPECIMENS TAKEN FROM THE REMAINS AFTER EXHUMATION ..33 V.3.1 Specimens ..33 V.3.2 Results ..34 V.3.3 Discussion and conclusion of the toxicological analyses on the specimens taken from the remains after exhumation ..34 V.4. RADIOLOGICAL ANALYSES OF THE SPECIMENS TAKEN FROM THE REMAINS AFTER EXHUMATION ..35 V.4.1 Goals of the radiological analyses ..35 V.4.2 Radiological measurements on the grave site ..35 V.4.2.1. Alpha/beta/gamma emitters measurements .. 35 V.4.2.2. Dose rate measurements .. 37 V.4.2.3. Radon--222 measurements and estimation of the potential natural contamination of lead-210 and polonium-210 in the grave .. 37 V.4.3 Surface deposition of polonium-210 and /ead-210 ..38 V.4.3.1. Deposition on shroud ..38 V.4.3.2. Deposition in soil .. 39 V.4.3.3. Deposition on bones and scalp ..40 V.4.4 Gamma spectrometry of selected specimens ..42 V.4.5 Po/onium-210 determination in the grave specimens ..43 V.4.5.1. All specimens ..43 V.4.5.2. Polonium-210 bone specimens ..44 V.4.5.3. Polonium-210 in non-bone specimens ..47 V.4.5.4. Support of polonium-210 by lead-210 ..47 ml Expert forensic report Concerning 3/20 - November 2013 -- Page 3/ 108 the late President Yasser Arafat V.4.6 Lead-210 present in the grave specimens ..49 v.4. 7 Isotopic ratio of /ead-207/lead-206 ..49 V.4.8 Lead-210 as impurity in a commercial source of polonium ..51 V.4.9 Biokinetic modeling for intake of radionuclides ..53 V.4.9.1. Biokinetics of polonium-210 .. 53 V.4.9.2. Biokinetics of lead-210 in bones .. 55 V.4.9.3. Po|onium--210 and lead-210 in bones after death .. 57 V.4.10 Discussion of radiological analyses of the specimens taken from the remains after exhumation58 V.4.10.1. Higher than expected activities of polonium-210 were measured in the body remains, but they are supported by lead-210 ..58 V.4.10.2. The activities of lead-210 in the body are high and difficult to explain by a potential chronic intake 58 V.4.10.3. Higher than expected activities of lead-210 are compatible with impurities contained in a polonium- 210 source ..59 V.4.10.4. High activities of lead-210 could hide a remaining activity of unsupported polonium-210 .. 60 V.4.10.5. High activities of lead-210 in the body remains is coherent with what has been observed in the biologically stained specimens of the travel bag .. 60 V.4.10.6. A surplus of lead-206 present in the rib and scalp points toward a fossil signal of polonium-210, but the uncertainties are important ..6O V.4.10.7. A significant amount of radon was present in the grave, but its progeny seems to have been deposited relatively homogenously .. 60 V.4.10.8. Radon progeny alone cannot explain all observed high activities of lead-210 and polonium-210 .. 61 VI. SUMMARY AND FINAL DISCUSSION OF THE RESULTS AND CONCLUSION ..63 Vl.1. OF THE MEDICAL SITUATION ..64 Vl.2. OBSERVED AND ACUTE RADIATION ..64 VI.3. FRAMEWORK OF OUR INVESTIGATIONS ..66 Vl.4. TOXICOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS ..66 VI.5. RADIOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS ..66 VI.6. PROS AND CONS OF A DEATH ORIGINATING FROM POLONIUM-210 POISONING ..67 VI.7. CONCLUSION ..69 VII. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ..71 REFERENCES IX. SIGNATURES ..77 X. APPENDICES X.1. MATERIAL AND METHODS OF THE RADIOLOGICAL EXPERTISE ..80 X.1.1 Security measures ..80 X.1.1.1. Measurement of personal effects ..80 X.1.1.2. Collection of the specimens on the grave site .. 80 X.1.1.3. Measurement of human remains and soil specimens ..80 X.1.2 Sampling ..80 X.1.2.1. Specimens of personal effects .. 80 X.1.2.2. Specimens of the grave ..82 X.1.3 Considered radionuclides ..83 X.1.3.1. Natural chain of uranium--238 ..83 X.1.3.2. Artificial polonium-210 ..83 X.1.3.3. Polonium-209 tracer ..84 X.1.3.4. Natural levels of polonium-210 and lead-210 .. 84 X.1.4 Measurements ..87 X.1.4.1. Surface contamination monitoring of personal effects .. 87 X.1.4.2. In situ measurement of alpha/beta emitters ..87 X.1.4.3. In situ measurement of equivalent dose ..87 X.1.4.4. In situ measurement of radon-222 ..87 X.1.4.5. Gamma spectrometry ..88 X.1.4.6. Analytical products ..88 X.1.4.7. Po|onium--210 determination in textile, altered tissues (wax), scalp and shroud ..88 X.1.4.8. Po|onium--210 determination in soil .. 89 X.1.4.9. Po|onium--210 determination in bones ..89 X.1.4.10. Supported polonium-210 determination ..89 EV Expert forensic report concerning the late President Yasser Arafat 3/20 -- November 2013 -- Page 4/ 108 X.1.4.11. Determination of polonium-210 purity ..90 X.1.4.12. Isotopic ratio of lead-207/lead-206 .. 90 X.1.4.13. Measure of fission product: strontium-90 ..91 X.1.4.14. Computation of lead-210 as an impurity in the fabrication of source of polonium-210 .. 91 X.1.4.15. Lead-210 as impurity in a marketed source of polonium-210 ..92 X.1.4.16. Measurement uncertainties .. 94 X.1.5 Biokinetic modeling for the intake of radionuc/ides ..94 X.1.5.1. Biokinetic model of polonium-210 ..95 X.1.5.2. Biokinetic model of lead-210 .. 95 X.1.5.3. Coherence of the calculations .. 96 X.2. PICTURES OF PERSONAL EFFECTS ..97 Expert forensic report concerning 3/20 -- November 2013 - Page 5/ 108 the late President Yasser Arafat Expert forensic report concerning 3 5th 2013 Page 5/108 the late President Yasser Arafat ll. Introduction Expert forensic report concerning 3 /20 N?Vemb9" 2013 Page 7 108 the late President Yasser Arafat On January 2012, the director of the University Center of Legal Medicine Lausanne/Geneva was contacted by Mr. Clayton Swisher, a journalist for the Al Jazeera English television channel headquarted in Doha, Qatar, on behalf of Mrs. Suha Arafat. Mr. Swisher requested a forensic medical examination into the death of President Yasser Arafat, which occurred on November 2004 at the Military Hospital of Percy in Clamart, France. Mr. Swisher came to the University Center of Legal Medicine in Lausanne on February 2012 to deliver the medical records (including all radiological examinations) of the deceased pertaining to his stay at the Military Hospital of Percy, along with a travel bag containing his personal effects which he had with him on admission to the hospital. With these documents in hand, our investigations began on February 2012 and included the following: 1. A detailed study of the medical records to evaluate the handling of the case and to determine if any additional forensic examinations were warranted (Chapter The examination of the personal effects in the travel bag (Chapter A forensic evaluation of the specimens taken from the remains after exhumation on November 27"' 2012 (Chapter 4. Summary and final discussion of the results and conclusions (Chapter VI). Bibliographical references can be found in Chapter The names of the individuals that assisted in this expertise are acknowledged in Chapter VII. Finally, the details of the radiological methods, as well as photographs of the articles found in the travel bag are presented in the Appendix (Chapter X). Expert forensic report concerning ff 3 /20 N?Vembe' 5m 2013 Page 8/108 the late President Yasser Arafat Study of the medical records Expert forensic report concerning 3 /20 2013 P389 9/ 108 the late President Yasser Arafat lIl.1. Medical history President Yasser Arafat was born on August 1929. For over three years prior to his death he was living in Ramallah, secluded in the quarters of the Palestinian Authority. He was married and had a daughter who was born in 1995. He was said to be in good general health, and did not consume alcohol or smoke tobacco. His personal medical history included the following: a chronic sub--dura| hematoma from a 1992 airplane accident which was operated on six months later via trepanation, ten years of oral propranolol use for an essential tremor, and a hiatal hernia with associated esophagitis and Helicobacter pylori positive gastritis in October of 2003. On the evening of October 2004, approximately four hours after eating dinner, President Arafat began to experience severe nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain followed by watery diarrhea. He did not have a fever. The clinical examination performed by his family doctor was unremarkable. Nevertheless, the patient's general state progressively degraded with asthenia, anorexia, and a three-kilogram weight loss over two weeks. He remained afebrile throughout. On October 2004, the morning after the onset of the a complete blood count showed a polymorphonuclear Ieukocytosis. On October 2004, repeat blood work revealed a thrombocytopenia of 72 000/mm3 and mildly elevated liver enzymes. Gastrointestinal endoscopy showed a nonspecific gastritis. The biopsies taken during endoscopy were sent to Tunis for histopathological examination. No information could be obtained about these biopsies. An abdominal ultrasound was deemed normal, with the exception of mild changes suggestive of cholelithiasis. The thrombocytopenia worsened to 53 000/mm3 by October 2004. On October 2004, a bone marrow aspiration was performed and sent to the hospital in Tunis for interpretation. It showed a well populated bone marrow with mild changes, the presence of megakaryocytes and an increased number of macrophages with hemophagocytic changes. An infectious work-up, including blood, fecal and urine cultures was negative, and an immunological evaluation (performed in Tunis) was considered normal. By October 2004 the thrombocytopenia had decreased even further to 46 000/mm3. The patient was administered gammaglobulin perfusions at high doses on the 26"" and 27"' of October, with a preliminary diagnosis of a peripheral immune mediated thrombocytopenia. Following the perfusions the patient demonstrated of attention deficit with ideomotor slowing and drowsiness, although the neurological examination was normal. The gammaglobulins were replaced by corticosteroids and preventative antibiotic therapy. The patient was noted to be temporarily more alert. By October 2004 the thrombocytopenia had decreased to 26 000/mm3, and the patient was given six units of platelets. Expert forensic report concerning 3 /20 N?Vembe' 5t 2013 Page 10/108 the late President Yasser Arafat On October 2004, following the transfusions, the platelet count was 68 During this entire period the patient remained bedridden, while his general state continued to decline with ongoing of nausea, vomiting, anorexia and liquid diarrhea. He remained afebrile without any obvious inflammatory On this day, 17 days after the onset of President Yasser Arafat was transferred to the French Military Hospital of Percy in Clamart, France. He was admitted to the hematology service. On admission he was permanently bedridden and was described to be very weak with ideomotor slowing, even though the neurological exam was still normal (with the exception of the essential tremors previously mentioned). The dermatological examination revealed vitiligo, but no signs of muco--cutaneous hemorrhagic His abdomen was noted to be sensitive, but without any marked hepatomegaly or splenomegaly. His urine was clear and he experienced frequent emissions of non-fecal watery stool. He had lower limb edema, especially pronounced in the malleolar regions. Pleuro--pulmonary and cardiac examinations were normal. Blood work revealed a leukocytosis of 39 90% of which were polymorphonuclear neutrophils. The platelet count was 54 O00/mm3 and the hemoglobin was 15.6 g/dl. Hemostasis was disrupted by disseminated intravascular coagulation, associated with an insufficient production of the coagulation factors of hepatic origin. Renal function was normal, and no other biological anomalies were noted. An infectious work-up including blood, urine, fecal and bone marrow cultures, along with fecal parasitology and virology, serological tests and PCR (for herpes, enterovirus and mycobacterium) were all negative. Fecal examination revealed non-fecal liquid diarrhea. Fecal cultures yielded numerous colonies of Candida albicans, but tests for Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter, Yersinia and Clostridium difficile were all negative. A repeat bone marrow examination revealed a very rich marrow, with the presence of macrophages with hemophagocytic changes. An immunological work-up was normal and no tumor markers were identified. An abdominal CT scan revealed antropyloric and duodenal wall thickening with detachment of the mucosal lining, often seen with both infectious and inflammatory processes. No infiltrative tumoral pathologies were noted. The colonic mucosa had similar lesions. An MRI of the brain was normal, as was a cardiac ultrasound. At this point in time the differential diagnostic list included the following: 0 An inflammatory enterocolitis of the entire gastrointestinal tract; 0 Severe disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) with significant thrombocytopenia; 0 Bone marrow hemophagocytosis. ml Expertforensic report concerning 3 /20- Novembers" 2013 -- Page 11/108 the late President Yasser Arafat An infectious process, a pathological tumor, and an auto-immune or vascular micro angiopathic thrombocytopenia) process were decided to be very unlikely. Treatment consisted of rehydration with supplemental electrolytes, antibiotics, and treatment against DIC, including heparin, fresh platelet transfusions and corticosteroids. Over the next few days the gastrointestinal and neurological diminished, but the DIC and hematological abnormalities remained. in contrast, the liver problems worsened and the patient developed cholestatic jaundice. On November 2004 the patient's neurological state deteriorated with the development of drowsiness and delirium, while a repeat brain CT scan remained unchanged. On the morning of November 2004 the patient was comatose, without any signs of a lateralizing neuropathy. The jaundice had worsened and he was transferred to the intensive care unit of the same hospital. A brain MRI, coupled with MR angiography, was unremarkable. A CT scan of the thoraco--abdominal- pelvic region did not show any specific abnormalities, with the exception of pleural and abdominal effusions and regression of the gastrointestinal inflammatory regions previously seen. A lumbar puncture was performed and the results came back normal. Doppler examination of the supra-aortic trunks was unremarkable. A bone marrow aspiration and bone marrow biopsy did not reveal anything new. Gastrointestinal endoscopy demonstrated chronic atrophic gastritis and a mild sigmoid diverticulitis. Abdominal ultrasound did not supply any additional information. While in intensive care the hematological abnormalities persisted, with the ongoing DIC and the altered production of coagulation factors resulting from hepatic disease. Investigation into the possibility of systemic macrophage activation came back negative, and intravascular was ruled out with a second bone marrow biopsy. On November 2004 the patient had gastrointestinal bleeding with melena and anemia, justifying the need for two transfusions of packed red blood cells. The patient developed acute renal failure on November 2004, which was most likely a direct consequence of the DIC. Neurological differentials, such as Whipple's disease and viral encephalitis, were eliminated. Another brain MRI, performed on the of November, was unremarkable. On November 2004, after a mild improvement in vigilance, the patient's status declined. Brain CT scan revealed the presence of hemorrhagic lesions in the right cerebellum, brainstem and thalamus, intraventricular flooding, and subarachnoid hemorrhaging. The patient had nonreactive bilateral mydriasis. With this clinical picture, the neurosurgeons advised against surgical intervention. the late President Yasser Arafat The patient was hemodynamically stable until November 2004, at which point he developed sinus tachycardia, incomplete right bundle branch block and repolarization abnormalities, all of which pointed to an acute cardio--pulmonary problem, most likely linked to a pulmonary embolism resulting from the DIC. The patient never spiked a fever and the infectious work--ups remained negative. All of the microbiological investigations were negative as well. On the hepato--gastric level, the cholestaticjaundice due to increased conjugated bilirubin worsened. The toxicological investigations performed on the blood and urine on the 29"' and 30"' of October at the Military Hospital of Percy all came back negative. Samples of blood, urine, cerebrospinal fluid and stool taken on the 1" and of November were sent to the toxicology laboratory at the Institute for Criminal Investigation (IRCG) for more elaborate studies. These investigations revealed the presence of the medications prescribed by the hospital. A "general unknown" routine screening for drugs and poisons did not show other substances that could explain the clinical state of the patient. There were no metals or metalloids found. The Radiological Protection Service of the Armed Forces (SPRA) performed further analyses on November to control for radioactive substances. The laboratory searched for radionuclides based on gamma emission, none of which were found in the urine collected over a three--day period, nor the feces. The search for other radionuclides was not performed. On November 2004 at 3:30 am President Yasser Arafat died at the Military Hospital of Percy as a result of cerebral herniation secondary to cerebral hemorrhage. In conclusion, based on all of the consulted medical reports, the patient was afflicted with a combination of the following 0 A newly developed digestive problem suggestive of enterocolitis; 0 Severe disseminated intravascular coagulation, associated with bone marrow hemophagocytosis without systemic macrophage activation; 0 Cholestatic icterus; 0 A neurological with stupor and coma. Despite the number of medical experts involved and the numerous investigations performed, the pathophysiological mechanisms at the origin of this group of could not be identified. An autopsy of the patient was not performed. |ll.2. Evaluation of the patient's medical care This assessment was carried out with the assistance of Professor G?rard Waeber, chief of internal medicine at the University Center Hospital of Vaud (CHUV) in Lausanne. Expert forensic report concerning the late President Yasser Arafat 3 /2o -- November 2013 -- Page 13/ 108 On October 2004 President Arafat was admitted to the Hematology Service of the Military Hospital of Percy in Clamart, France. His transfer to this hospital was justified by the sudden appearance of gastrointestinal following an evening meal 17 days prior to the transfer. His initial included nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea. He was afebrile throughout. The gastrointestinal persisted with a rapid deterioration of the patient's general state (extreme fatigue, anorexia and a three kilogram weight loss over two weeks). Prior to this episode the patient was in good overall health and did not have any particular risk factors. During this initial two--week period the patient did not benefit from the necessary care warranted as he was confined to the quarters of the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah. The patient developed severe thrombocytopenia and a bone marrow analysis came back subnormal, with the presence of moderate megakaryocytes and hemophagocytic macrophages. The patient was subsequently given a platelet transfusion. An upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed nonspecific gastric lesions. Upon admission to the Military Hospital of Percy the patient's general state remained altered, with the persistence of the gastrointestinal and severe thrombocytopenia. He remained afebrile. The examinations confirmed the presence of disseminated intravascular coagulation, likely responsible for the ongoing thrombocytopenia, but did not reveal any inflammatory Multiple tests were performed at the Hospital of Percy to determine the underlying cause, be it infectious, vascular, cancerous, toxic or immune mediated. None of the tests performed provided a likely cause that could explain the The investigations included two complete infectious work-ups, two bone marrow analyses, several MRI and CT scans, gastrointestinal endoscopy with biopsies, Doppler examination of the main arteries, toxicological analyses of blood, urine, cerebrospinal fluid and stool, as well as radio-toxicological evaluation of the urine and stool. Despite all of the investigations and consultation with a large panel of internationally recognized specialists in the Paris region, a diagnosis could not be obtained. The patient went on to develop cholestatic jaundice and altered consciousness, which ended in death due to intracranial hemorrhage 13 days after admission to the Hospital of Percy. It is very unfortunate that a post mortem autopsy was not performed. It could have provided an explanation through in--depth histopathological and toxicological investigations. All of the diagnostic procedures and medical care provided at the Hospital of Percy were necessary and appropriate, and conformed to the state of the art at the time of the patient's illness. After evaluating all of the tests and procedures performed during President Arafat's hospitalization, we do not have any additional information or explanations. |ll.3. Potential further forensic investigations The hypothesis that the patient was poisoned is still a possibility, especially taking into consideration the sudden and brutal onset of gastrointestinal following a meal in a patient who was otherwise in good general health. fi Expert forensic report concerning 3 /20 N?Vembe' 5m 2013 Page 14/108 the late President Yasser Arafat For this reason, we believe that further analyses should have been performed on the samples of blood, urine, cerebrospinal fluid and stool previously investigated by the Institute of Criminal Reasearch (IRCG) in Rosny-sous--Bois, as well as on the samples of urine and stool sent to the laboratory of radio--toxicology of the Radiological Protection Service of the Armed Forces (SPRA). These investigations should have extended to poisons that are not currently detected through standard toxicological or radiological analyses. Two letters addressed to our center dated April 2012 and June 2012 from Hubert Carbonnieres, Director of Radiation Protection of the Army, informed us that the SPRA was no longer in possession of the samples. The samples were destroyed 15 days after the initial analyses, conforming to their standard protocol. The laboratory sent us a copy of their results, as well as a copy of the spectrometry data on a CD. We were also informed by the Director of the IRCG in Rosny-sous-Bois (via a letter addressed to Mrs. Suha Arafat dated April 2012) that all of the samples previously in their possession were destroyed in 2008, as there had not been any additional tests ordered. Given this information, any further toxicological radio--toxicologica| analyses could only be performed on the contents of the travel bag (all pictures of its content are displayed in the Appendix, Section X.2). These investigations could be performed on the different medicinal containers and objects found in the bag. Likewise, the identification of other biological traces could be attempted on the clothing and personal effects. Expert forensic report concerning 3 /20 N0Vembe|' 5th 2013 - Page 15/ 103 the late President Yasser Arafat Expert forensic report concerning 3 /20 N?Vembe' 5m 2013 Page 16/103 the late President Yasser Arafat IV. Examination of the personal effects in the travel bag ert forensic report concerning 3/20 - November 2013 - Page 17/ 108 ate President Yasser Arafat lV.1. Genetic identification of the personal effects in the travel bag On February 2012 nine hairs approximately 2 cm in length, taken from the inside of the wooly hat that supposedly belonged to President Yasser Arafat, were given to the Forensics Genetic Unit (UG F, Unit? de g?n?tiqueforensique) of the CURM L. DNA was extracted from the hairs using the Q|Aamp DNA Micro (QIAGEN) kit. Analysis of the nuclear DNA was attempted using the NGM SE|ect kit of Life Technologies, but it was unsuccessful. Hairs contain very little nuclear DNA of poor quality when they fall naturally from the head. Mitochondrial DNA analysis of the same hair shafts yielded good quality sequences of the hypervariable domains 1 and 2 of the control region. On March 20th, 2012 a travel bag allegedly containing the personal effects of President Yasser Arafat was given to the UGF, along with samples taken from his daughter, Ms. Zahwa Arafat born on July 1995, and from his wife, Mrs. Suha Arafat born on July 1963. Several samples were taken from the objects found in the travel bag, such as the front part of a cap, from the woolly hat where the aforementioned hairs were located, as well as from the nasal bridge of several pairs of prescription glasses. Small pieces of tissue were cut from the cap and the hat, and moistened cotton swabs where used to collect biological material on the glasses. DNA was extracted from these specimens using the Q|Aamp DNA Mini (QIAGEN) kit. 16 and 12 loci were genotyped using the NGM SE|ect kit (total of 16 loci) from specimens taken from the woolly hat and the prescription glasses, respectively. Their nuclear DNA profiles were identical. The DNA profiles were single, without any mixture characteristics. The nuclear DNA profiles of Ms Zahwa and Mrs. Suha Arafat were also obtained using the same kit. A nuclear DNA profile could not be retrieved from the specimen taken from the cap. The nuclear DNA profiles from the objects allegedly belonging to President Yasser Arafat were compared to the DNA profiles obtained from his daughter and his widow. For each nuclear DNA marker analyzed, at least one allele was shared between Ms Zahwa Arafat and the objects. This is expected if the owner of the objects is the biological father of Ms Zahwa Arafat. Our findings support the conclusion that the objects came from President Yasser Arafat. The mitochondrial DNA profile (hypervariable domains 1 and 2 of the control region) was established from the specimens taken from the woolly hat that contained the nuclear DNA from President Yasser Arafat. This profile was identical to that obtained from the hairs taken from the same hat. These results strongly support the proposition that the same person from whom the hair originated is also the owner of the biological material present on the woolly hat. In conclusion, the results of the genetic analyses support the conclusion that the hairs and the personal effects are from President Yasser Arafat. Expert forensic report concerning 3 /20 November 5m 2013 Page 18/108 the late President Yasser Arafat IV.2. Toxicological analyses of the personal effects in the travel bag lV.2.1 Specimens On February 2012, the toxicological laboratory received the items contained in the travel bag . They are presented in Table 1. Table 1: List of the specimens of the personal effects available for toxicological analysis. Specimen Description TOX 69357-1 about 23 mg hair (white--grey) (CURML 51755) (taken from a hat) TOX 69357-2 one hair (CURML 51751) (taken from underwear) TOX 69357-3 one hair (CURML 51752) (taken from a thin poloneck jersey) TOX 69357-4 one hair (CURML 51753) (taken from long underwear) TOX 69357-5 one hair (CURML 51754) (taken from long underwear) TOX 69357-6 one hair (CURML 51756) (taken from the bottom of a bag) TOX 69357-7 one hair (CURML 51757) (taken from long underwear) TOX 69357-8 one hair (CURML 51759) (taken from the bottom of a bag) TOX 69357-9 one hair (CURML 51760) (taken from a fur hat) TOX 69357-10 one hair (CURML 51761) (taken from a slipper) TOX 69357-11 1 box of capsules - Vit -- 1000 I.U. -- Member's Mark" TOX 69357-12 1 box of capsules "B|ack seed" TOX 69357-13 2 boxes of capsules "Baraka" TOX 69357-14 1 box of nasal spray "Flixonase" TOX 69357-15 1 small bottle containing about 10 ml of green liquid TOX 69357-16 1 box of tablets "Strepsi|s" TOX 69357-17 2 boxes of pills "Actifed -- rhume" TOX 69357-18 1 box of pills "No-Aspirin TOX 69357-19 1 box of tablets "Effera|gan" TOX 69357-20 1 unopened box of pills "Stresstabs" TOX 69357-21 1 unopened box of pills "Gincata" TOX 69357-22 6 boxes of pills "4/40 plus - Healthilife - Vit E, Ginseng, royal jelly pollen" TOX 69357-23 2 boxes of tablets "P|eny| -- Vitamines oligo elements - Oberlin" TOX 69357-24 3 boxes of tablets "Unifed -- clears blocked and runny noses - United Pharmaceutical Co Ltd" TOX 69357-25 1 box of ointment "Kenacomb - Bristol Myers Squibb" TOX 69357-26 1 box of tablets "Vicks - cooling smoothing Vit TOX 69357-27 1 unopened box of herbal tea "Zal|ouh root - Ferula harmonis" TOX 69357-28 4 units of cookies "Pecan Delight" TOX 69357-29 1 bottle of perfume "Eternity" TOX 69357-30 1 bottle of perfume "Ego'iste - Chanel" TOX 69357-31 1 bottle of perfume "212 - Man" TOX 69357-32 1 bottle of perfume "Eau de Cologne -- Roger Ga|let" One hair specimen (TOX 69357-1) was sufficient to test for the presence of the following elementswas completely mineralized in the acid phase and analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP--MS) (UTCF site of Geneva). Before any toxicological analyses were performed, approximately 1 mg of this specimen was transferred to the Forensic Genetics Unit of the CURML. Expert forensic report concerning the late President Yasser Arafat 3/20 -- November 2013 -- Page 19/ 103 Five items were also selected for toxicological screening (TOX 69357-11 to -15). Gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used for the detection and identification of compounds. Specimens were diluted into methanol before GC--MS analyses. Specimens were also analyzed after MSTFA derivatization. Mass spectrum libraries MPW2012 and AAFS 2010 were used for the identification of compounds (drugs, narcotics, pesticides lV.2.2 Results All toxicological results are presented in Table 2. Table 2: ICP-MS and GC--MS results on the personal effects. Specimen Description Results TOX 69357-1 Hair Results of the analyses performed by ICP--MS did not reveal the presence of elements in toxicologically significant concentrations TOX 69357-11 capsules - Vit -- 1000 I.U. Tocopherol (vitamin E) -- Memeber's Mark" TOX 69357-12 capsules "B|ack seed" Sugars (such as maltose and lactose) TOX 69357-13 capsules "Baraka" Thymoquinone (antioxidant effects) TOX 69357-14 nasal spray "F|ixonase" Menthol (compound contained in peppermint or other mint) TOX 69357-15 green liquid contained in a Ethanol Sma" flask 0 Eucalyptol (compound contained in eucalyptus oils) 0 Menthol (compound contained in peppermint or other mint) 0 Vanillin (primary component of the extract of the vanilla bean) 0 Citronellelol (compound contained in citronella oils) 0 Isoeugenol (compound contained in essential oils of plants such as y|ang--ylang, Cananga odorata) Beta-bourbonene (compound contained in essential oils of plants) These results did not reveal the toxicologically significant presence of any elements or drugs. Expert forensic report concerning 3 /20 N?Vembe' 5th 2013 Page 20/108 the late President Yasser Arafat lV.3. Radiological analyses of the personal effects in the travel bag lV.3.1 Goals of the radiological analyses The travel bag and the personal effect were analyzed at the Institute of Radiation Physics (IRA) between February and June of 2012. Radiological analyses were conducted to test for the presence of unexpected radionuclides in President Arafat's personal effects. Surface contamination measurements and yspectrometry excluded the presence of a variety of common radionuclides. In light of the case of Mr. Litvinenko, who was poisoned by polonium-210 (21?Po) in 2006, analyses to detect this specific element were also conducted. This required complex chemical preparation and was performed primarily on specimens with visible stains of biological fluids. After detection of this radionuclide, other specimens (stained or unstained) were further analyzed to allow for internal comparisons. External samples with similar storage history were also tested. The information contained in the present Section (lV.3) has already been made public [Froidevaux 2013]. Material and Methods are described in the Appendix (Section X.1). Surface contamination monitoring of personal effects As a simple first screening test, we performed surface contamination monitoring of all the objects contained in the travel bag (see Appendix, Section X.1.4.1). Surface contamination measurements did not show the presence of radioactive contamination in the personal effects. IV.3.3 Gamma spectrometry lV.3.3.1. Gamma spectrometry of the personal effects The next step in our screening was to test for the presence of y--emitting radionuclides by spectrometry (see Appendix, Section X.1.4.5). Results of spectrometry measurements are presented in Table 3. None of the specimens had measurable activity. Therefore, we only present the detection limits of our measurement for 6?Co, 137Cs' 210Pb and 226Ra' Expert forensic report concerning 3 /20 - 2013 - Page 21/ 103 the late President Yasser Arafat Table 3: Results of activity measurements of President Arafat's belongings using spectrometry. The symbol means lower than the detection limit of the measuring facility. Activity in Bq Description of the specimens eoco 137CS 21oPb 22sRa 1 Kefieh 0.6 0.6 0.6 19 8 2 Sportswear 0Clothing, including underwear 0.3 0.3 0.3 4 6 5 Travel bag (fullClothing, including underwear 0.7 0.7 0.7 20 8 8 Russian chapka (Drugs -- part Drugs -- part Slippers and various objects 0.7 0.7 0.7 10 8 12 Various objects (glasses) 0.3 0.3 0.4 5 7 IV.3.3.2. Re-analysis of the gamma spectrometry measurements performed in 2004 As mentioned in the medical history (see Section the spectrometry measurements performed on November 2004 by the French laboratory SPRA were negative. We obtained the measured spectra in April 2012 and further analyzed it as described below. Since 21?Po emits a ray at 803 keV with a low intensity of 0.00107%, its activity can be measured in very contaminated urine using spectrometry. However, the level of intake must be high enough and the measurements must be performed early after intake. Therefore, the results of both measurements of urine performed on November 2004 by the "Laboratoire de controle radiotoxicologique des Arm?es" were reassessed for the presence of 21?Po. This complementary analysis of both spectra acquired during 15 hours did not reveal the presence of 21?Po. Based on the detection limit of "Mn (y of 834.8 keV, close to the ray of provided in the French report, we estimated the detection limit of 21?Po for this measurement to be around 25 kBq/|. lV.3.4 Polonium-210 determination in personal effects The measurement of 21?Po requires extensive chemical preparation followed by alpha spectrometry (see Appendix, Section X.1.4.7). Examples of (1 spectra measured on President Arafat's personal effects are presented in Figure 1. The activities of all specimens are presented in Table 4 and summarized in Figure 2. Expert forensic mport concerning 3/20 -- November 5' 2013 -- Page 22/ 103 the late President Yasser Arafat 4-01 underwear A 5 2_0 j\ -- chapka#1 toothbrush bristles other samples 1.5 3: to 8 4.6 4.8 5.0 5.2 5.4 4.6 4.8 5.0 5.2 5.4 Energy Energy Figure 1: Alpha spectra of polonium relative to the activity of 2?9Po tracer (left peak). a: Arafat's belongings; b: reference specimens (underwear, toothbrushes, products blank). The activity of the highest contaminated specimens (underwear urine stained) is about 50 times higher than the average value of reference specimens. Table 4: 21?Po activities measured in the specimens of President Arafat's belongings as well as reference samples obtained in Switzerland. The meanings of the terms "supported" and "unsupported" are explained in the Appendix (sections X.1.3.1 and X.1.3.2, respectively). . 21?Po Activity [mBq] Specimens Total Supported unsupported President Arafat belongings Underwear A, urine stain, subspecimen Underwear A, urine stain, subspecimen Russian chapka, subspecimen 1 34Toothbrush, bristles 21Hospital cap with blood droplets, subspecimen 3 16Hospital cap, blood stain, subspecimen 1 13Russian chapka, subspecimen 4 11Sportswear, collar, dirty, subspecimen 1 10Sportswear, collar, dirty, subspecimen 3 5.7 1 0.6 Sportswear, back, stain 5.1 1 0.6 Child drawing on textile, stains 5Sportswear, collar, dirty, subspecimen 4 5.1 1 0.6 Socks, dirty 4.9 1 0.6 Underwear A, subspecimen 4 4.6 1 0.7 Old slipper, upper band, dirty 4.0 1 0.5 Headscarf (kefieh), stains 3.7 1 0.4 Old slipper, internal, dirty 3.5 1 0.4 Underwear B, subspecimen 2 3.4 1 0.4 Underwear A, subspecimen 2 3.0 1 0.4 Child drawing on textile, out of stains 2.7 1 0.4 Russian chapka, subspecimen 5 2.6 1 0.5 Underwear A, subspecimen 6 2.3 1 0.3 Underwear A, subspecimen 7 2.3 1 0.3 Trousers, wool, probably not worn 2.1 1 0.4 Underwear A, subspecimen 8 2.0 1 0.3 Expert forensic report concerning 3 3 /20 -- 2013 -- Page 23/108 the late President Yasser Arafat 210 . Po Activity [mBq] peclmens Total Supported unsupported Russian chapka, subspecimen 3 1.9 1 0.4 Hospital cap, out of stains 1.8 1 0.3 Sportswear, collar, without cotton layer, subspecimen 2 1.8 1 0.3 Underwear A, subspecimen 3 1.4 1 0.3 Sportswear, trousers, front 1.3 1 0.12 Long john, subspecimen 4 1.3 1 0.4 Underwear B, subspecimen 3 1.3 1 0.4 Underwear B, subspecimen 4 1.3 1 0.6 Underwear B, subspecimen 1 1.2 1 0.2 Longjohn, subspecimen 3 0.8 1 0.2 Russian chapka, subspecimen 2 0.6 1 0.2 Longjohn subspecimen 2 0.5 1 0.2 Socks, not worn, still attached by cotton filament 0.5 1 0.2 IRA collaborators and a local shop Underwear Zimmerli brand A 7.1 1 0.5 Underwear collaborator A, subspecimen 1 3.6 1 0.6 Underwear collaborator B, subspecimen 1 3.4 1 0.6 Underwear collaborator B, subspecimen 2 2.6 1 0.5 Underwear collaborator A, subspecimen 2 1.9 1 0.4 Underwear Zimmerli brand 1.6 1 0.3 Underwear Hanro Brand 1.1 1 0.2 IRA collaborators and a local supermarket Toothbrush, bristles, collaborator D, used 0.33 1 0.20 Toothbrush, bristles, collaborator C, used 0.32 1 0.11 Toothbrush, bristles, collaborator A, used and left untouched for 2 0.22 1 0.10 years Toothbrush, bristles, collaborator B, used 0.19 1 0.10 Toothbrush, local supermarket, unused (new) 0.10 1 0.09 IRA collaborator C, kept 10 y. in an attic in a plastic bag Shirt, back 2.2 1 0.4 Shirt, front 1.6 1 0.3 T-shirt, back 1.6 1 0.4 T-shirt, front 1.5 1 0.4 T-shirt, sleeve 1.4 1 0.3 Shirt, sleeve 1.3 1 0.3 IRA collaborator and E, kept 20 y. in an attic in a plastic bag Children's clothes 1.5 1 0.3 Children's clothes 2.0 1 0.4 Children's clothes 2.0 1 0.4 Children's clothes 0.7 1 0.2 Children's clothes 0.6 1 0.2 Underwear bought new from a local supermarket Underwear A, subspecimen 1 20Underwear B, subspecimen 1 13.3 1 1.4 Underwear B, subspecimen 2 9.8 1 1.8 Underwear A, subspecimen 2 4.7 1 0.6 Underwear B, subspecimen 3 4.3 1 1.2 Underwear B, subspecimen 4 4.2 1 1.0 Underwear B, subspecimen 5 3.1 1 0.6 Underwear B, subspecimen 6 2.6 1 0.9 IRA, shelves products blank Products blank 1 1.9 1 0.3 Products blank 2 1.4 1 0.20 Products blank 3 0.43 1 0.40 Products blank 4 0.16 1 0.07 Products blank 5 0.25 1 0.10 Products blank 6 0.20 1 0.10 Expert forensic report concerning the late President Yasser Arafat 3 /2o -- November 2013 -- Page 24/ 108 1 - I I Cases' stained specimens Cases' unstained specimens - 0 Reference specimens 150- 100<> 33999 ccac 3% 39999 ?5 .33" 3393 g_wD5 D33 (3 3223fifigfii 7 .5 <20y 1.8-7.9 0.33-1.26 Human lung, >20y 0.10-0.93 0.13-0.38 [Khan, 2011] Crab muscle 37-69 4.9-8.9 Crab hepatopancreas 896-1877 38-59 Crab intestine 131-189 4.9--29 [Ak6zcan, 2013] Fish, sardine 54 (14-400) 4.5 (LD--15) Fish, Atlantic mackerel 25 (LD--42) 2.5 (LD--5) Fish, red mullet 30 (LD--60) LD [Musthafa, 2012] seaweeds 13-32 2-4.7 Bivalves 96-113 25-97 Prawns 42-61 0.7-1.4 Fish 41-81 0.7-2 [Calvahlo, 1995] Mussels 132 1 5 2.6 i 0.1 Activity range [mBq/g dry weight] Study Type of specimens mpo Ugur, 2002 Mussels 52-1344 6-167 [Sert, 2011] Lichens and mosses C/adonia convulata Tortilla torturosa 400 (151-593) 500 (310-785) 506 (493-518) 387 (355-419) 286 (230-342) 208 (159-257) 246 (111-360) 384 (253-589) Hypnum /acunosum Hypnum cupresslforme 2013] Wild edible berries 0.6-2.6 0.8-4.1 Mushrooms 4.7-198 2.5-3.3 Human wet tissues have low 21?Po and "?Pb activities, well below 10 mBq/g wet weight, and most of the time only reach 1 mBq/g wet weight. One would not expect a significant contribution of this residual activity to the total body burden in a case of poisoning. On the other hand, tissues of seafood products can have 100 times this activity. 3/20 -- November 5" 2013 -- Page 86/ 108 Expert forensic report concerning the late President Yasser Arafat D. Polonium-210 and lead-210 in soil 210 Table 24: Typical activities of 21?Po and Pb observed in soil and reported in the literature. Activity range [mBq/g] Study Source Type of specimens 210 P0 21?Pb [0zden, 2013]] Turkey Cultivated soils, n=72 28 [12-86] 26 [17--36] Uncultivated soils, n=72 39 [10-134] 35 [23-78] [Jia, 2006] China n=8 36 [8-82] 37 [7-81] [As|ani, 2005] Turkey n=41 41 (13-135) [Saidou, 2007] Northern Uranium enriched area, 81 (19-222) 78 (14-250) Cameroon n=20 21?Po and 21?Pb activities in soil are between a few to 250 mBq/g, with an average around 40 mBq/g . It is very difficult to compare one specific soil activity to another. In this case, soils were compared from different locations in the grave black stained under the corpse compared to reference soil far from the corpse), assuming that the thin (10 cm) layer of soil in the grave on which the body laid had similar 21?Po and 21?Pb activity due to simi|ar226Ra occurrence all over the grave soil. X.1.4 Measurements X.1.4.1. Surface contamination monitoring of personal effects Surface contamination measurements were performed using two surface contamination detectors, a LB--122 monitor (Berthold, Germany) and a CoMo-170 (S.E.A. GmbH, Germany). The CoMo-170 surface contamination detector can discriminate oz and B/y. All personal effects were scanned manually for radioactive contamination. Although the instruments have been verified according to the requirements of the Swiss Institute of Metrology (METAS) for a long list of specific radionuclides, we only used them semi-quantitatively in their native measurement units: counts per second (cps). X.1.4.2. In situ measurement of aIpha/ beta emitters During the exhumation, we carried out a and [3/y measurements on the grave soil and corpse using the CoMo-170 surface contamination monitor (S.E.A. GmbH, Germany), as described in Section X.1.4.1. X.1.4.3. In situ measurement of equivalent dose During the exhumation, ambient dose rate measurement were taken using an Automess (Automess -- Automation und Messtechnik GmbH, Germany), which had been previously verified according to the requirements of METAS. This low dose rate instrument uses a cylindrical organic scintillator detector (diameter height and density 1.032 g/cm3). According to the manufacturer, the instruments range is between 1 nSv/h and 99.9 pSv/h. X.1.4.4. In situ measurement of radon-222 Because is ubiquitous in soil and might have generated a significant burden of 21?Pb and 21?Po, it was necessary to measure the concentration (in Bq/m3) in the grave before opening. This was Expert forensic report concerning the late President Yasser Arafat 1: 3 /2o -- November 2013 -- Page 87/ 108 done on the evening of November 2012 by perforating a 12 mm diameter hole through the grave slab. After insertion of a Tef|on(R) tubing, an AlphaGuard (Genitron Instruments, Germany) was connected and pumped inside the apparatus for 5 minutes until equilibrium was reached. The detector volume was then closed and performed a measurement every minute for 15 minutes in order to allow for potential thoron gas (22?Rn) decay. X.1.4.5. Gamma spectrometry A. Personal effects For spectrometry measurements, the personal effects were pooled into 11 specimens. Each specimen was then measured over 24 hours using a p-type high purity germanium spectrometer coupled with the software Winner 6.0. Artificial radionuclides, such as coba|t--60 caesium--134(134Cs) and caesium--137 (137Cs) were investigated as well as 21?Pb. B. Grave specimens Selected specimens from the grave (3 soils specimens, scalp, rib, shroud (2x) and altered tissues (4x scraped from the femur, iliac crest and rib) were measured in a well type p-type spectrometer coupled with the analysis software Genie 2000 (Canberra, France) in 5 ml vial. The particular low- energy 21?Pb calibration was done using a 21?Pb reference solution (Isotope Product Laboratories (IPL), USA). X.1.4.6. Analytical products If not otherwise stated, all products used in this work were of analytical grade and in some occasion of Suprapur(R) quality from Merck, Fluka or Carlo Erba suppliers. Water used for dilution was made by using an SG Ultra Clear UV system 0.05 us/cm) and in some occasions by dilution with U|trapur(R) water (Merck). Glassware and Teflon(R) bakers were decontaminated before and after use in an ultrasonic bath containing 10% RBS, then washed in a washing machine specific for analytical glassware (Renggli WA Combi, Switzerland). X.1.4.7. Polonium-210 determination in textile, altered tissues (wax), scalp and shroud A specimen of 2 to 3 of textile (mostly cotton wool) or 0.2 to 1.1 of shroud, altered tissues or scalp, was traced with 50 i 0.3 of 2?9Po then charred with 10 ml of concentrated HZSO4 at about The specimen was cautiously oxidized by adding 5 3 ml portions of concentrate HNO3. When NO, production almost stopped, the solution was left covered with a watch glass for 2 hours at Afterwards the complete removal of organic matter was performed in a microwave digester under pressure (U|traclave IV, Milestone, Germany). The conditions for microwave mineralization were: initial pressure 50 bars; maximal temperature: mineralization time: 30 minutes. If fibers were present, the solution was filtered because they are not soluble. 21?Po was co-precipitated from the acidic solution along with iron hydroxide. After centrifugation, the precipitate was dissolved ascorbic acid was added and the polonium spontaneously electrodeposited on a silver disc during 4 hours at or overnight at room temperature. The sources were counted (170 000 to 400 000 s) on a PIPS detector (silicon detector of 450 mmz) in an alpha spectrometer (Canberra Alpha Analyst, France). Our quality control process was validated by the annual PROCORAD interlaboratory comparison for the determination of 21?Po in urine (2008- 2011, average bias: Expert forensic report concerning the late President Yasser Arafat El 3 /2o -- November 2013 -- Page 88/ 108 X.1.4.8. Polonium-210 determination in soil A specimen (1-2 g) of soil was traced with 50 i 0.3 of 2?9Po and 20 ml of HNO3 8 was added. The final removal of organic matter, as well as polonium leaching, was performed in a microwave digester under high pressure (U|traclave IV, Milestone, Germany). The conditions for microwave mineralization were: initial pressure 50 bars; maximal temperature: mineralization time: 30 minutes. The residue was filtered and polonium was co-precipitated from the supernatant solution with iron--hydroxides. After centrifugation, the precipitate was dissolved in 80 ml 1 HCI, 500 mg of ascorbic acid was then added and the polonium spontaneously electrodeposited on a silver disc overnight at room temperature. The sources were counted (170 000 to 400 000 s) on a PIPS detector (silicon detector of 450 mmz) in an alpha spectrometer (Canberra Alpha Analyst, France). X.1.4.9. Polonium-210 determination in bones The determination of 21?Po accumulated in bone specimens through metabolic mechanism (thereafter biogenic) required the removal of 21?Po coming from the contamination by the progeny (thereafter diagenetic 21?Po). This was done after removal of the organic matter (mostly residual altered tissues) and solubility profiling: a fragment of bone (rib, vertebrae, sternum, femur and iliac crest were tested) was weighed in a beaker and covered by 1 M. The solution was heated up to during one hour. The saponification of residual grease and wax helps the solubilization of the organic matter. After rinsing with ultrapure water the fragment was introduced in a Teflon beaker for total mineralization in 10% H202 in a microwave digester under pressure (Ultrac|ave IV, Milestone, Germany). The conditions for microwave mineralization were: initial pressure 50 bars; maximal temperature: mineralization time: 30 minutes. After this treatment, the bone was perfectly white and the trabecular structure preserved. After drying in an oven at the bone was grinded to a fine powder in a mortar and 1.0 was transferred to a conical plastic test tube. After adding 10 ml of an acetate buffer (0.2 M, pH 4.5), the tube was placed in an ultrasonic bath for exactly five minutes. Afterwards the solution was centrifuged. The supernatant was filtered on a syringe (0.45 pm glass fiber filter, Milipore) in a 50 ml flask. This constituted the first acetate washing. The washing was repeated a second time and filtered in the same 50 ml flask. This flask was labeled: washing 1+2. The washing operations were repeated until we obtained two more 50 ml flask labeled: washing 3+4 and washing 5+6. One ml of each flask was sampled for calcium determination with ICP-OES (Perkin Elmer Optima 3300 DV). After the last centrifugation, the bone residue was dissolved taken off for calcium determination), then 500 mg of ascorbic acid was added and the polonium spontaneously electrodeposited on a silver disc overnight at room temperature. The sources were measured between 170000 and 400000 with a PIPS detector (silicon detector of 450 mmz) in an alpha spectrometer (Canberra Alpha Analyst, France). Concentrated HCI was added to the washings to obtain a solution HCI 1 M, and they were analyzed for 21?Po as described above. X.1.4.10. Supported polonium-210 determination To precisely determine the quantity of 21?Po present in the sample, which is due to the presence of 21?Pb, it is necessary to first remove the residual 21?Po from the solution, and wait at least for 3 months of 21?Po--ingrowing in the sample before being able to measure 21?Po in growth. We did this because the sensitivity of the (1 measurement of 21?Po (detection limit: about 0.5 mBq) is much higher than the sensitivity of the direct measurement of 21?Pb (detection limit about: 0.2 Bq). Expert forensic report concerning 4* 3 /20 N0Vembe" 5th 2013 P389 89/108 the late President Yasser Arafat After depositing "?Po on an Ag? disc, the solution was evaporated to dryness and concentrated HNO3 portions were added to destroy all remaining ascorbic acid. The residue was dissolved in 10 ml 9 HCI and this solution was passed through an anionic chromatography column (2 ml of Dowex to extract [PoCl5]2'. 21?Pb will pass into the elution solution, which was evaporated to dryness. The residue was dissolved in 80 ml 1 HCI and left in the refrigerator for at least 3 months (35% re- growth of 21?Po from 21?Pb). Afterwards, 50 of 2?9Po was added and polonium was electrodeposited on a silver disc as before. The method was checked for consistency by measuring the co-precipitation yield of lead (stable) iron hydroxides (98 i by ICP-OES (Perkin-Elmer Optima 3300 DV). We also checked that the column (Dowex AG 1x8, 2 ml, Bio-Rad, Switzerland) used to separate 21?Pb from 21?Po was able to produce a pure 21?Pb source without 21?Po. To do this, three aliquots were spiked with 168 of 21?Pb and 21?Po at equilibrium and Pb was separated from P0. No 21?Po was found in the 21?Pb fraction, which means that the method quantitatively separated 21?Pb from 21?Po. Using stable Pb and ICP-OES measurements, it was also confirmed that Pb was not extracted on the Dowex AG 1x8 column (extraction X.1.4.11. Determination of polonium-210 purity We checked that the 21?Po deposited on the Ag? disk did not contain co--deposited 21?Pb. To accomplish this, 21 sources (3 from Arafat's belongings, 18 from items taken from the grave) were remeasured three months after the first measurement. From the measurement at t=0 and t=3 months, the apparent half-life of 21?Po deposited on the source was calculated to check its purity. The 21 apparent half-life values are within 125 and 152 days, with a mean value of 143 days (target value 138 days). This shows that the 21?Po sources produced by the analytical methods are very pure and do not contain co--deposited 21?Pb or other interfering radionuclides. X.1.4.12. Isotopic ratio of lead-207/lead-206 The Institute of Radio- and Environmental Chemistry of the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) in Switzerland was contacted in order to measure isotopic lead ratios. The 2?7Pb/2?6Pb ratio was measured using their mass spectrometer (Element 2, Thermo Scientific). Isotopic and on-spectrometry measurements are both destructive. We were therefore not able to measure both quantities on the exact same specimens. A. Sources preparations All the reactants used in this experimental section were of Ultrapur or Suprapur quality, from Merk (Darmstadt, Germany). Before experiment, all the vessels (Teflon) were cleaned by immersion in 1 HNO3 during one week. Lead was isolated from the bone matrix following the method described by Yoshinaga (1996). Briefly, 0.5--1.0g of mineralized bone (see X.1.4.X.1.4.9) was dissolved in 5 ml concentrated HNO3 and the solution is heated to dryness. The residue was dissolved in 5 ml 0.5 and loaded on an anion exchange column (AG 1-x8, 100-200 mesh, 1 ml) preconditioned with water, 6 HCI, water and 0.5 The resin bed was washed with 5 ml 0.5 and the extracted lead was eluted with 10 ml 6 HCI. After evaporation, the residue was dissolved in 1% HNO3 prior to mass spectrometry. Expert forensic report concerning 3 /20 N?''embe'' 5t 2013 Page 90/108 the late President Yasser Arafat Soils specimens (0.5 g) were leached by two fractions of 8 HNO3 (5 ml) at during one hour. After centrifugation and evaporation, the residue was treated as for bone specimens. Scalp specimen was mineralized in a mixture of concentrated HZSO4 and HNO3. After evaporation (not total for HZSO4), the residue was dissolved in 5 ml 0.5 and treated as for soils specimens. B. SOUFCES measurement The specimens were analyzed in PSI (Paul Scherrer Institute, Villigen, Switzerland) using an Element 2 (Thermo Scientific). Measurements were referenced to the isotope scale using NIST certified reference material and another internal laboratory standard. Because the level of lead is very low, we focused the analysis on the 2?5Pb/2?7Pb ratio only. X.1.4.13. Measure of fission product: strontium-90 9?Sr is a bone--seeking radionuclide produced by the fission of 235U. Thus 9?Sr might be an impurity present in a 21?Po source made by irradiation of a 2?9Bi source in a fission reactor. We thought it necessary to check for the presence of this radionuclide in the bones specimens in the grave. The measurements were carried out on an aliquot of the vertebra and femur specimens. 9?Sr was analyzed through its daughter product, which is in secular equilibrium with 9?Sr in bones [Froidevaux, 2010]. After addition of 10 mg of carrier, the mineralization of 2 to 5 of bone was performed in a microwave digester under pressure in 8M HNO3 (U|traclave IV, Milestone, Germany). The conditions for microwave mineralization were: initial pressure 50 bars; maximal temperature: mineralization time: 30 minutes. The acidic solution was diluted to 300 ml and oxalic acid added. The precipitation of alkaline-earth cations was initiated by adding 25% NH4OH. The oxalate precipitate was mineralized in concentrated HNO3 in a microwave digester under pressure. The acidic solution was diluted to 300 ml with water and the pH adjusted to 3. Yttrium was extracted on a 10 ml yttrium-specific ion--imprinted polymer [Chauvin, 2006]. After elution of yttrium from the extraction resin, yttrium oxalate was precipitated and filtered out. The source was counted in a low level proportional counter (Canberra Tennelec LB 4100w, France). X.1.4.14. Computation of lead-210 as an impurity in the fabrication of source of polonium-210 Stable lead (isotopes 2?6Pb, 2?7Pb and 2?8Pb in Figure 26) is probably always present in 2?9Bi. For instance, high purity 2?9Bi sold by the manufacturer Sigma--Aldrich is advertised with 99.99% purity and a maximal metal content of 100 ppm, including lead [Sigma--Aldrich]. In the present expertise, we wanted to know if 21?Pb could be produced during the neutron irradiation of 2?9Bi performed during the fabrication of 21?Po. We, therefore, asked the team of Prof. Andreas Pautz from the Laboratory for Reactor Physics and System Behavior at EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland to estimate the quantity of 21?Pb that could be present in the fabrication of 21?Po. The computation was performed at the Paul Scherrer Institut (PSI) and the final report was established on August 2013 [Pecchia, 2013]. They assumed several quantities of impurity of stable 2?8Pb that could naturally be present within a source of 2?9Bi and calculated the impurity factor of 21?Pb and 21?Po versus the duration of the neutron irradiation and for different types of neutron fluxes. As can be deduced from Figure 26, this involves the transmutation of 2?8Pb into 2?9Pb by absorption of one neutron, followed by another neutron absorption to transform 2?9Pb into 21?Pb. The cross sections involved, as well as the half-life of 2?9Pb, are relatively small. Orders of magnitudes of the impurity Expert forensic report concerning *4 3 /20 2013 P389 91/103 the late President Yasser Arafat factor (21?Pb/21?Po) are displayed in Table 25. Although 21?Pb is actually produced, the quantities appear to be small. Table 25: Order of magnitude of the impurity factor (21?Pb/u?Po) computed according to [Pecchia, 2013] after about 700 days of irradiation. 208 Proportion of Pb Impurity factor present in the 2?9Bi source (21?Pb/21?Po) 0.001% 101" -- 101" 0.01% 101" -- 1013 0.1% 1011 -- 1011 1% 1011 -- 1011 5% 1011 -- 101? 10% 1011 -- 101? 25% 1011 -- 10? 50% 101? -- 10? 80% 101? - 10? 95% 10? - 101 X.1.4.15. Lead-210 as impurity in a marketed source of polonium-210 On September 2013, we received a 21?Po source (Czech Metrology Institute, see Figure 27) of 2.91 of activity in 2M HCI (4.9310 with no carrier added. This source was measured as received during 86 400 by spectrometry in a well geometry with a p- type detector (GCW4523, 45% relative efficiency) from Canberra (France) and the spectrum treated with the APEX GENIE 2000 software. Afterwards, the vial was opened in a hot laboratory (B- cell gloves box) to proceed with the radiochemical separation of 21?Pb from 21?Po: 1.5 ml of the solution was made 8 HCI by adding 3.5 ml of concentrated HCI. This solution was passed through a 2 ml AG 1x 4 (100-200 mesh) anionic extraction resin conditioned by 10 ml of 9 HCI (Bio-Rad econo-column). Polonium is extracted as [PoCl5]2' complex while lead is not retained. The column was washed with 10 ml 9 All the eluates were conserved and slowly evaporated on a hot plate. The separation was carried out two more times, afterwards an aliquot of 0.5 ml was collected from the 15 ml elution solution to determine the level of residual 21?Po. 0.5 mg of Fe?" was added to the solution and iron hydroxides precipitated by adding 25% NH4OH. The iron hydroxides precipitate was filtered off on 0.22 pm filter (Millipore GSWPOZSOO 0.22 m) and the filter counted during 90 times 4 hours in a low-level proportional counter (Tennelec LB 4100w, Canberra, France). What remained of the initial source (3.5 ml) was sealed again in a glass vial and measured once again during 450 000 by spectrometry in a well geometry. After counting, a second 1.5 ml aliquot of the source was treated as before to obtain a second filter that was also measured by proportional counting. Expert forensic report concerning *1 3 /20 N?Vembe' 5t 2013 Page 92/108 the late President Yasser Arafat Figure 27: CZECH METROLOGY INSTITUTE I INSPECTORATE FOR IONIZING RADIATION Ratfiovi 1. 10200 Pub: 10 CERTIFICATE Cert. E9: 9031 -01. -501/13 ER 280613-1430001 M210 Balms; 138-4 days figtivigyz 2910 i