Monitoring human decomposition products collected in clothing: an infrared spectroscopy study

Collins, Sharni; Stuart, Barbara H.; Ueland, Maiken

doi:10.1080/00450618.2019.1593504

Cited by 13 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…Additional characteristic functional groups at 720, 1645 and 1540 cm -1 reduced in intensity when the fabric was buried, discordant with literature recording increased peak intensity at such markers associated with a post burial interval (PBI) of 120 days (22). Retrieved carrion-associated viscose indicated absorption of lipolysis and proteolysis products at 2920 cm -1 and 2850 cm -1 (CH2 wagging) and 1650-1580 cm -1 (N-H bending) characteristic of amide I and II (11,15). Polyester fabric remained intact for the duration of the 170-day study irrespective of carrion presence.…”

Section: Clothing Burial and Decompositionsupporting

confidence: 69%

“…To a lesser extent, protein decomposition markers between 1650-1580 cm -1 were absorbed into the carrion-associated polyester samples. In particular, these protein indictor bands have been utilised to track proteolysis progression and PMI in porcine decomposition studies (11,23,24).…”

Section: Spectral Interpretation Of Polyester Indicated Deterioration...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…FT-IR spectra of soil were firstly investigated qualitatively to identify any patterns in spectral regions that were attributable to cadaveric by-products. The spectral regions of 3100 -2700 and 1800-1000 cm -1 were selected as spectral ranges of interest for decomposition and CDI products (6,8,11). Soil-only microcosm spectra (n=3) were characterised by little fluctuation in the spectra from day 0 to day 170 (Figure 4).…”

Section: Atr-ft-ir As a Tool For Discriminating Gravesoilmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…License: CC BY-NC 4.0 total extractable phosphorus and ninhydrin-reactive nitrogen (NRN) showed promise as a tool for the estimation of PMI (8,10). However, the novel tracking of cadaveric fluids into cotton and polyester, as described by both Ueland and Collins (6,11) infer that the natural migration of these measurable decomposition fluids into the surrounding environment may be subsequently impeded in both human and porcine models. It is also well understood that the presence, type and, weight of wrapping or clothing can delay or enhance progression through the decomposition stages (12,13).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Gravesoil derived postmortem interval using attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and the influence of carrion-associated fabric.

Watson,

Assi,

Ralebitso Senior

2024

Preprint

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Establishing time elapsed for unattended death scenes is crucial in formulating a timeline of events facilitating death investigations. However, traditional postmortem interval (PMI) methods rely on visually evaluating physical atrophy and are closely influenced by both biotic and abiotic variables associated with carrion. During the bloat stage, carrion produces a characteristic landscape known as the cadaver decomposition island (CDI), through the propagation of fluids rich in decomposition by-products. Here, attenuated total reflectance- Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FT-IR) was employed as a non-invasive, low input, low preparation interface for determining PMI from simulated Mus musculus burial gravesoil. Furthermore, understanding the influences of environmental and inter-individual differences in gaining accurate PMI is important to validate, prior to implementation to enhance the current forensic toolkit. It is documented that the presence, type and weight of clothing interferes with progression through decomposition. The subsequent impacts of clothing material (cotton, polyester, viscose) on CDI footprint development will be reflected in the biological and chemical characteristics of this ecosystem. Principal component analysis (PCA) of the IR spectra showed two clusters of samples corresponding to control and gravesoil. PC loadings plot showed that the 3100 - 1000 cm-1 spectral range attributed for over 95% of the variance. Bands within this range are ascribed to the presence of lipids, proteins and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as byproducts of mammalian decomposition. Overall, presence and fabric type impacted decomposition, spectral CDI detection and grave discrimination. This study questions the efficacy of proxy size and microcosm design in conducting applicable forensic research in lieu of taphonomy facilities or ethical constraints.

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Section: Clothing Burial and Decompositionsupporting

confidence: 69%

Section: Spectral Interpretation Of Polyester Indicated Deterioration...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Atr-ft-ir As a Tool For Discriminating Gravesoilmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Gravesoil derived postmortem interval using attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and the influence of carrion-associated fabric.

Watson,

Assi,

Ralebitso Senior

2024

Preprint

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“…The cages measured 60 x 30 x 26 cm for the smaller cadavers and 60 x 60 x 52 cm for the larger cadavers. These cages were chosen as they replicate those used in other taphonomic studies [34][35][36][37][38][39][40] as they do not impede insect colonisation or affect the cadavers' temperature while also protecting samples from larger scavengers, which could signi cantly disrupt or eliminate samples.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using Total Body Score and Percentage Mass Change to Measure the Impact of Body Size on Decomposition Rate in Juvenile Sus Scrofa Remains

Tynan,

Aris,

Rattenbury

2023

Preprint

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Purpose This study aimed to investigate whether there is a relationship between the body size of a cadaver and the rate of decomposition, specifically focusing on juvenile remains. The research sought to address the lack of comprehensive studies on how juvenile-sized cadavers decompose compared to adults, which has direct relevance to forensic science and crime statistics involving juvenile victims.Methods The study utilized pig cadavers representing two size groups, with regular monitoring of total body score (TBS) and percentage mass change (PMC) over an 18-week period. To ensure the reliability of the TBS system, three independent observers assessed the cadavers.Results Findings revealed that larger cadavers, ranging (12.3–16.1 kilograms), decomposed more rapidly during the initial stages of decomposition. However, smaller cadavers, weighing between (6.6–7.1 kilograms), consistently exhibited accelerated decomposition rates compared to larger cadavers from weeks four to twelve when assessed using TBS. Importantly, the inter-rater evaluation of the TBS system demonstrated a high inter-rater reliability.Conclusion This study addresses a critical gap in forensic science research by shedding light on the decomposition patterns of juvenile-sized remains. The findings have significant implications for crime statistics, particularly in cases involving juvenile victims, where a comprehensive understanding of decomposition rates can aid investigations. Given the high rates of unsolved cases involving juvenile victims, this research underscores the need for further studies in this specific area, particularly within a UK context. Such research can potentially lead to more effective crime-solving strategies and contribute to improving the handling of juvenile remains in forensic investigations.

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Carrion Ecology

Brundage¹

2021

Wildlife Biodiversity Conservation

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Monitoring human decomposition products collected in clothing: an infrared spectroscopy study

Cited by 13 publications

References 20 publications

Gravesoil derived postmortem interval using attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and the influence of carrion-associated fabric.

Gravesoil derived postmortem interval using attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and the influence of carrion-associated fabric.

Using Total Body Score and Percentage Mass Change to Measure the Impact of Body Size on Decomposition Rate in Juvenile Sus Scrofa Remains

Carrion Ecology

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