51³Ô¹Ïapp

Dr Sarah Hall is an Associate Professor in Knowledge Exchange/Professional Practice and Forensic Analytical Chemistry. She has over 25 years of experience of teaching and research in HE, with significant contribution and impact on teaching, leadership and mentoring in various senior and academic roles. She has 10 yrs of industrial laboratory managment experience before starting teaching at her previous institute, Anglia Ruskin University.  She is recognised as a leading expert in her research field of the fire behaviour of fabrics when contaminated with emollients and other oil-based personal care products, Which has led to significant contribution to knowledge exchange to non-academic practitioners, non-governmental organisation and groups, including prestigious organisations in the health and fire professional sectors. The research continues to produce publications in international and practitioner-based journals and delivers knowledge exchange and research impact. 

 

Leicester Institute for Pharmaceutical & Health Innovations (Analytical and Forensic Science)

Whitehouse-Tedd, K., Thomas, J., Duckenfield, M., Richards, N.L., Upton, S., Whitehouse-Tedd, G.,Phipps, L., Cale, H and Hall, S.  First assessment of coprophagic feeding behaviour in captive Egyptian Vultures Neophron percnopterus and Hooded Vultures Necrosyrtes monachus: implications for wild vulture health in agricultural landscapes. Sandgrouse, 2024, 46, 30-52. 

Olujimi, A., Gautam, L., Simkhada, P. and Hall S. Herbal Medicine Associated Casualty and Fatality in South West Nigeria; A Retrospective Analysis.  Annapurna Journal of Health Sciences, 2023,4 (1) pp. 28–33. 

Harris, R. L., De Paoli, G., Hall, S. and Nisbet. N. A.  A Review of the Analytical Techniques for the Detection of Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids within biological matrices. WIRES (Forensic Science), 2023, Article e1504. 

McDermott, R., Taylor, L., Housam, N., and Hall, S. The potential fire risk of emollients when dried on viscose bandages.  British Journal of Community Nursing, 2023, 28(2):96-101.

Ridd, M. J., Hall, S., Lane, M.E., Roberts, A., and Williams, H.C. Burns with emollients. The British Medical Journal (practice – adverse drug reactions) 2022, 376, e066102.

Hall, S.W., Blackburn, K.J., Ferguson, L. and Pugh, P. Assessing the potential fire risk of laundered fabrics after contamination with emollients using ATR-FTIR spectroscopy and chemometrics.  Science and Justice, 2021, 61, (6), 799-788.

Blackburn, K., Morrissey, J., Tabert, C., and Hall, S. Evaluating the Communication within Fire and Rescue Services and the NHS on the fire risk of emollients in accordance of the MHRA safety update.  Fire and Material, 2022, 46: 277-286. 

Aina, O., Gautam, L., Simkhada, P., and Hall, S. Prevalence, determinants and knowledge about herbal medicine and non-hospital utilisation in southwest Nigeria: a cross-sectional study. British Medical Journal Open (public health)2020, 10, 9.

Hall, S., Blackburn, K. and Morrissey, J. Exploring the flammability of emollients and skincare products. Fire , 2020, November 57-59.  

Oliveira, A.R., Sardinha-Silva, A., Andrews, P.L.R., Green, D., Cooke, G.M., Hall, S., Blackburn, K., and Sykes, A.V.  Microplastics presence in cultured and wild-caught cuttlefish, Sepia officinalis, Marine Pollution Bulletin, 2020, 160 1-6. 

Hall,  S., Morrissey, J. and Blackburn, K. The awareness of emollient flammability and current research. May 2020, International Fire Professional, The Journal of the Institution of Fire Engineers.  

Peng, Y,.,Gautam, L. and Hall, S. The detection of drugs of abuse and pharmaceuticals in drinking water using solid-phase extraction and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.  Chemosphere,2019, 223, 438-447.  

Hall, S., Franklin, L., Bull, J., Beard, A., Phillips, G and Morrissey, J. The flammability of textiles when contaminated with paraffin base products.  Fire Safety Journal, 2019, 104, 109-116.

 Peng, Y.  Hall, S., and Gautam, L. Drugs of abuse in drinking water - a review of current detection methods, occurrence, elimination, and health risks.  Trends in Analytical Chemistry, 2016.85, 232–240.  

Hall, S., Gautam, L and White, G. The development of a novel adsorbent for collecting ignitable liquid residues from a fire scene.  Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis, 2016.122, 304–314. (IF 3.5)

Richards, N.L., Hall, S., Harrison, N.M., Gautam, L., Scott, K., Dowling, G., Zorilla, Z. and Fajardo, I. Merging Wildlife and Environmental Monitoring Approaches with Forensic Principles: Application of Unconventional and Non-Invasive Sampling in Eco-Pharmacovigilance. Forensic Research, 2014 5:3.

Kuleya, C., Cole, M., Hall, S., Gautam, L. An optimised gas chromatographic – mass spectrometric method for the chemical characterisation of benzylpiperazine and 1-arypiperazine based drugs. Analytical Methods, 2014. 6, 156-163. 

Mewnesongole, E., Gautam, L. Hall, S., Waterhouse, J., and Cole, M.D.,Simultaneous Detection of Controlled Substances in Wastewater.  Analytical Methods, 2013, 5, 3248-3254. 

Richards, N.L., Hall, S., Scott, K.S. & Harrison, N.M. First detection of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug flunixin in sheep’s wool. 2011. Environmental Pollution, 159, 1446-1450. 

Richards, N.L., Cooke, G. Hall, S., Scott, K., Simpson, V. & Harrison, N.M. Qualitative detection of the NSAIDs diclofenac and ibuprofen in the hair of Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra) occupying UK waterways with GC-MS (short communications). European Journal of Wildlife Research, 2011, 57, 1107-1114

REF 2021 Impact case study as principal investigator for ARU “Reducing the Fire Risk from Emollient-impregnated Fabrics” (UoA3)

REF 2021 3* paper contribution for 51³Ô¹Ïapp (UoA3)

REF 2014 3* paper contribution for ARU (UoA4). 

Sarah’s main area of research expertise is investigating the fire behaviour of textiles when contaminated with oil-based products including emollients, owing to their potential contribution in fire deaths and serious incidents. This also includes, exploring the awareness of this fire risk within different organisations in the UK with the healthcare sector and Fire and Rescue Services.

Currently she is researching the potential of fabrics such as towels and bedding when contaminated with emollients or other oil-based personal care products to ignite during laundering processes.

 

Other areas of research include a) the analysis of environmental and non-invasive samples for traces of pharmaceuticals in efforts to find exposure routes to vulnerable species such as vultures b) the analysis of fire debris and methods for sampling accelerants from fire scenes.  

Analytical Forensic Chemistry, Fire and Explosion Investigations and Forensic Chemistry

PhD in Chemistry “The Generation of Chlorine Dioxide from the Reaction between Sodium Chlorite and Acetic Anhydride” 

BSc (hons) Chemistry and Environmental Sciences

BSc (hons) Forensic Science

MSc Forensic Science

BSc (hons) Chemistry

BSc (hons) Crime and Investigative Studies

Winner of national patient safety award of the Pharmacy PrescQipp Awards 2020 with local NHS health and social care providers (PACCCG), Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service and Anglia Ruskin University. “Emollient safety campaign”.  Gold 2020 PrescQipp winner – an additional award voted for by all award attendees at the event. 

Excellence in Fire and Emergency Awards 2019 ‘collaboration of the year’ with West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, London Fire Brigade, Essex Fire and Rescue Service. Presented to a team that has participated in a collaboration(s) which has made a discernible improvement to the community they serve. The winner demonstrates innovation and ingenuity, providing best practice and best value, and showing flexible and effective working practices. 

Student/NUS based “made a difference awards” 2017 (ARU) for recognition of Fantastic feedback and Communication given to students 

Times Higher Awards: Short listed for Research Project of the Year: STEM2021 “The safer use of emollients and national impact” (short listed to the last six) 

• • Expert panel member and stakeholder with Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) on the fire risk associated with emollients.
  • Partner of MHRA Emollient Safety campaign
  • Stakeholder and partner in the Emollient and Fire Safety Campaign with Cambridgeshire and Peterborough CCG and NHS foundation trust, Cambridge University Hospitals, Northwest Anglia NHS foundation trust, Cambridge Community Services NHS trust, Peterborough Public Health, Cambridge and Peterborough Pharmacies, Papworth Hospital NHS foundation trust,  Cambridge County Council, and Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service
  • Stakeholder on the emollient safety group with Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS trust and Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Services
  • National Fire Chiefs Council emollient group.
  • Scottish multidisciplinary working group on emollient burns.
  • Member of the East Midlands Forensic Network

Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry

Member of the UK-Association of Fire Investigators

Member of the Society of Wildlife Forensic Science

Senior Fellow of the HEA

Currently :

Investigating the self-oxidation of personal care products residues on fabrics such as bedding and clothing

Investigating the fire behaviour of emollients and oil-based personal care products when dried on fabrics

The awareness of the fire risk of emollients and their potential contribution in fire fatalities and serious incidents (partnering with Lincolnshire NHS trust and the National Fire Chiefs Council)

 

Invited talks:

Emollients and the Fire Risk: New research on viscose bandages and other fabrics. Mark Housam, Nicola Housam & Sarah Hall. UK Association of Fire Investigators, annual summer training conference July 2023 

 Hall, S., Morrissey, J., Ferguson, L. and Pugh., P. “The investigation of the flammability of fabrics when contaminated with emollients and the link with fire fatalities” International Conference of the Biotechnology Society of Nepal (ICBSN) - Healthcare and Forensics, virtual conference, 12-14^th of February 2021.

Hall, S. and Tabert, C. “Emollients, Fire and Sprinkler Activation”. The national Fire Sprinkler Network conference, Derby 23^rd of May 2019.

Hall, S., Morrissey, J. and Bell, C.  “The fire hazed associated with fabrics contaminated with skin care products” UK Association of Fire Investigators, 16^th annual training conference: A fatal fire investigation master class, Leeds, U.K. January 2019. 

Other presentations:

 

Shajan, G., Farrugia, K., and Hall S. “Emollient flammability and future research into detection in post fire debris” . East Midlands Forensic Capability Network academic and practitioners joint meeting April 2023.

Hall S.,Future research into emollient flammability and funding. Home safety Committee of the NFCC. 12^th of May 2022.

“The fire hazard associated with clothing contaminated with paraffin based emollients” invited talk for the Office of the Chief Scientific Officer (medical directorate) of NHS England at the Home Oxygen National Patient Safety Group, 9^th May 2018. Hall, S and Morrissey, J.

 “The fire hazard associated with clothing contaminated with paraffin based emollients” presentation to the NHS East of England Home Oxygen Service Education Event, 22^nd May 2018. Hall, S and Morrissey, J. 

Vertical flammability testing of textiles (particurly those contaminated with oil-based products)

Chemical analysis of non-invasive samples (manure, feathers etc.)

51³Ô¹Ïapp PhD supervisor (1^st) Richard Brawn: An Integrated organic-inorganic approach for the recovery and analysis of gunshot residue from garment substrates.  

51³Ô¹Ïapp PhD supervisor (1^st) George Shajan: Investigating the fire risk of fabrics with dried on emollients and their detection in post fire debris.   

51³Ô¹Ïapp PhD supervisor (2^nd) Kayleigh Hunwin: High-Resolution NMR Investigations of the molecular nature of metal ions in human saliva, including those derived from dental implants and amalgams.

51³Ô¹Ïapp PhD supervisor (2^nd) Katie Hewitt: Novel Applications of Artificial Intelligence-Supported High-Resolution NMR Analysis in Forensic Science. 

51³Ô¹Ïapp PhD supervisor (2^nd) Leisa Nichol Drew: Optimisation of the development and visualisation of marks on leather surfaces, utilising fluorescence, for the advancement of crime scene investigation.  

51³Ô¹Ïapp PhD supervisor (2^nd) Georgia-Lee Colven: An Analysis of the Effect of Fingermark Enhancement Techniques on Other Types of Evidence.  

External PhD supervisor (2^nd) Richard Harris: The Exploration of Recreational Polydrug Use in Anabolic-Androgenic Steroid User”  (Dundee University)

Previous - 7 successful PhD completions.

Emollient an skin products and safety webinar in partnership with the NFCC (Norfolk adults safeguarding and intervention) Jan. 2025. (257 attendees)

Beds, Cambs and Herts regional fire investigation training event on the fire risk of emollients in partnership with the NFCC.  Sept. 2025 

Staffordshire fire investigation training even on the the fire risk of emollients in partnership with the NFCC. Sept. 2025