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Radionuklidanalyse von 228Th und 228Ra

Neue Methode zur Liegezeitbestimmung

Radionuclide analysis of 228Th and 228Ra

New method for estimation of time of death

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Zusammenfassung

Hintergrund

Die Bestimmung des postmortalen Intervalls (PMI) an menschlichen Knochenfunden ist prinzipiell mit erheblichen Unsicherheiten behaftet. Ziel der vorgestellten Studie war daher die Entwicklung einer neuen Methode zur Liegezeitbestimmung durch Analyse des Verhältnisses der spezifischen Aktivität von 228Th zu 228Ra im menschlichen Knochen. Die Grundlagen dieses Modells werden erläutert.

Material und Methoden

Es wurden bisher an 38 Knochenproben α-spektrometrische Bestimmungen der spezifischen Aktivität von Thorium sowie γ-spektrometrische Messungen der Aktivität von Radium durchgeführt und hieraus die spezifischen Aktivitätsverhältnisse von 228Th zu 228Ra berechnet.

Ergebnisse

Die Analysen erbrachten eine gute Übereinstimmung mit den wenigen verfügbaren Literaturdaten. Die angewendeten analytischen Methoden sind ausreichend nachweisstark für die erforderlichen Messungen. Eventuelle Kontaminationen der Knochenproben, die zu einer Verfälschung des berechneten PMI führen würden, können zuverlässig erkannt werden.

Schlussfolgerung

Es konnte gezeigt werden, dass sich die vorgestellte Methode zur Liegezeitbestimmung bei postmortalen Intervallen zwischen ca. 2 Monaten und 10 Jahren eignet und nach noch vorzunehmenden analytischen Verbesserungen hohes forensisches Potenzial besitzt.

Abstract

Background

Reliable determination of the postmortem interval (PMI), based on the evaluation of human skeletons or single bones, is often limited by a lack of specific methods. Therefore an attempt was made to develop a new method to narrow down the PMI based on analyses of the specific activity concentrations of the radionuclides 228Th and 228Ra in human bones. The scientific background of this method is explained.

Material and methods

In samples of 38 human bones α-spectrometric analyses of the specific activity concentration of thorium and γ-spectrometric analyses of the specific activity concentration of radium were performed. The activity ratios between 228Th and 228Ra were calculated.

Results

The performed analyses showed accordance with the few data published in the currently available literature.

Conclusions

The theory that the presented method is useable for determination of a PMI between a period of about 2 months and 10 years was corroborated. Some analytical improvements are required to allow optimal use of this important forensic tool.

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Danksagung

Wir danken der Friedrich-Baur-Stiftung für die finanzielle Förderung des Projekts.

Interessenkonflikt

Die Autoren geben an, dass kein Interessenkonflikt besteht.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Rechtsmedizin, Universität München, Nußbaumstr. 26, 80336, München, Deutschland

    B. Zinka & M. Graw

  2. Institut für Analytische Chemie, Chemo- und Biosensorik, Universität Regensburg, Regensburg, Deutschland

    R. Kandlbinder, G. Haas, R. Schupfner & O. Wolfbeis

Authors
  1. B. Zinka
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  2. R. Kandlbinder
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  3. G. Haas
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  4. R. Schupfner
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  5. O. Wolfbeis
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  6. M. Graw
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to B. Zinka.

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Zinka, B., Kandlbinder, R., Haas, G. et al. Radionuklidanalyse von 228Th und 228Ra. Rechtsmedizin 21, 124–130 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00194-010-0722-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00194-010-0722-0

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