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Open Access 01-01-2021 | Original Article

Microbial neoformation of volatiles: implications for the estimation of post-mortem interval in decomposed human remains in an indoor setting

Authors: Ann-Sofie Ceciliason, M. Gunnar Andersson, Emma Lundin, Håkan Sandler

Published in: International Journal of Legal Medicine | Issue 1/2021

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine if a relationship between microbial neoformation of volatiles and the post-mortem interval (PMI) exists, and if the volatiles could be used as a tool to improve the precision of PMI estimation in decomposed human remains found in an indoor setting. Chromatograms from alcohol analysis (femoral vein blood) of 412 cases were retrospectively assessed for the presence of ethanol, N-propanol, 1-butanol, and acetaldehyde. The most common finding was acetaldehyde (83% of the cases), followed by ethanol (37%), N-propanol (21%), and 1-butanol (4%). A direct link between the volatiles and the PMI or the degree of decomposition was not observed. However, the decomposition had progressed faster in cases with microbial neoformation than in cases without signs of neoformation. Microbial neoformation may therefore act as an indicator of the decomposition rate within the early decomposition to bloating stages. This may be used in PMI estimation based on the total body score (TBS) and accumulated degree days (ADD) model, to potentially improve the model’s precision.

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Title: Microbial neoformation of volatiles: implications for the estimation of post-mortem interval in decomposed human remains in an indoor setting
Authors: Ann-Sofie Ceciliason
M. Gunnar Andersson
Emma Lundin
Håkan Sandler
Publication date: 01-01-2021
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: International Journal of Legal Medicine / Issue 1/2021
Print ISSN: 0937-9827
Electronic ISSN: 1437-1596
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-020-02436-4

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Microbial neoformation of volatiles: implications for the estimation of post-mortem interval in decomposed human remains in an indoor setting

Abstract

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