Editing Forensic palynology (section)

== Disadvantages ==
One of the main disadvantages in this field is the lack of trained specialists.<ref name=":4" /> As of 2008, there are no academic centers or training facilities for the use of pollen in forensics in the U.S.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":4" /> This is crucial because of the expertise required to identify palynomorphs and to apply the data to geolocation information.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Riley |first1=Kimberly C. |last2=Woodard |first2=Jeffrey P. |last3=Hwang |first3=Grace M. |last4=Punyasena |first4=Surangi W. |date=2015-10-01 |title=Progress towards establishing collection standards for semi-automated pollen classification in forensic geo-historical location applications |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0034666715001207 |journal=Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology |language=en |volume=221 |pages=117–127 |doi=10.1016/j.revpalbo.2015.06.005 |bibcode=2015RPaPa.221..117R |issn=0034-6667}}</ref> Many things could go wrong and invalidate any samples collected, especially if the personnel handling them is not experienced. On the subject of experience, contamination is another major problem that can invalidate the use of a sample as evidence; therefore, it is important that samples are collected early on with collection sites identified depending on the case.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Wiltshire |first=Patricia E. J. |date=2016-01-02 |title=Protocols for forensic palynology |url=https://doi.org/10.1080/01916122.2015.1091138 |journal=Palynology |volume=40 |issue=1 |pages=4–24 |doi=10.1080/01916122.2015.1091138 |bibcode=2016Paly...40....4W |s2cid=131148113 |issn=0191-6122}}</ref>

Limited access to international databases can also prove to be an issue when it comes time for the analyst to identify pollen evidence to a specific family or genus of plants.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Alotaibi |first1=Saqer S. |last2=Sayed |first2=Samy M. |last3=Alosaimi |first3=Manal |last4=Alharthi |first4=Raghad |last5=Banjar |first5=Aseel |last6=Abdulqader |first6=Nosaiba |last7=Alhamed |first7=Reem |date=May 2020 |title=Pollen molecular biology: Applications in the forensic palynology and future prospects: A review |journal=Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences |volume=27 |issue=5 |pages=1185–1190 |doi=10.1016/j.sjbs.2020.02.019 |issn=1319-562X |pmc=7182995 |pmid=32346322|bibcode=2020SJBS...27.1185A}}</ref> Currently, a [[database]] from Austria called PalDat exists but there are no known databases to exist in North America.<ref name=":0" /> However, PalDat is internationally accessible and data from around the world has been published.<ref name=":82"/>

Another disadvantage is in the form of the lack of history and therefore acceptance in the forensic setting and the court of law. Forensic palynology is not used in many countries and the application and methodologies have not been reviewed extensively in the court as this methodology has only been around for 50 years and only in some countries.<ref name=":32">{{Cite journal |last1=Mildenhall |first1=D. C. |last2=Wiltshire |first2=P. E. J. |last3=Bryant |first3=V. M. |date=2006-11-22 |title=Forensic palynology: Why do it and how it works |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0379073806005007 |journal=Forensic Science International |language=en |volume=163 |issue=3 |pages=163–172 |doi=10.1016/j.forsciint.2006.07.012 |issn=0379-0738 |pmid=16920303}}</ref> This means that forensic palynology evidence is rarely submitted due to lack of history in the courts, and lack of application in most countries.