The biochemical alteration of soil beneath a decomposing carcass

Benninger, LA; Carter, DO; Forbes, SL

The biochemical alteration of soil beneath a decomposing carcass

Benninger, LA Carter, DO Forbes, SL

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Forensic Science International, 2008, 180 (2-3), pp. 70 - 75
Issue Date:: 2008-09-18

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Benninger, LA	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Carter, DO	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Forbes, SL https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7416-0080	en_US
dc.date.available	2008-07-01	en_US
dc.date.issued	2008-09-18	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Forensic Science International, 2008, 180 (2-3), pp. 70 - 75	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	0379-0738	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/32556
dc.description.abstract	The processes associated with cadaver decomposition in outdoor settings, particularly those that occur during the extended postmortem interval (>30 days) are poorly understood. Thus, few methods are currently available to accurately estimate the extended postmortem interval (PMI). Of these methods, a soils-based approach has the potential to address the postmortem interval between which entomology and anthropology are the most valuable. Although the validity of soil-based methods has previously been established, little work has been conducted to explain the processes that have been designated for forensic application. As a consequence, we investigated the dynamics of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus-based compounds in soil beneath pig (Sus scrofa) cadavers (gravesoil) that were placed on the soil surface over a period of 100 days. Decomposition was assessed through the physical characteristics of the cadaver, soil pH, soil moisture content, and the concentration of total carbon, total nitrogen, soil-extractable phosphorus, and lipid-phosphorus in soil. Cadaver decomposition did not result in a significant difference in soil carbon and moisture content. However, significant (P < 0.05) increases were observed in the concentration of soil pH, total nitrogen, soil-extractable phosphorus, and lipid-phosphorus. Based on the current results, a significant increase in the concentration of gravesoil nutrients represented a maximum PMI of 43 days (lipid-P), 72 days (total nitrogen), or 100 days (soil-extractable phosphorus). This work provides further evidence that a soil-based method has the potential to act as a tool for the estimation of extended PMI. © 2008 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Forensic Science International	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.forsciint.2008.07.001	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Legal & Forensic Medicine	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Animals	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Sus scrofa	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Postmortem Changes	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Carbon	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Nitrogen	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Phosphorus	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Water	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Phospholipids	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Soil	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Spectrophotometry	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Hydrogen-Ion Concentration	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Time Factors	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Forensic Anthropology	en_US
dc.title	The biochemical alteration of soil beneath a decomposing carcass	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	2-3	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	180	en_US
utslib.for	1199 Other Medical and Health Sciences	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science/School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CFS - Centre for Forensic Science
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access
pubs.issue	2-3	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	180	en_US

Abstract:

The processes associated with cadaver decomposition in outdoor settings, particularly those that occur during the extended postmortem interval (>30 days) are poorly understood. Thus, few methods are currently available to accurately estimate the extended postmortem interval (PMI). Of these methods, a soils-based approach has the potential to address the postmortem interval between which entomology and anthropology are the most valuable. Although the validity of soil-based methods has previously been established, little work has been conducted to explain the processes that have been designated for forensic application. As a consequence, we investigated the dynamics of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus-based compounds in soil beneath pig (Sus scrofa) cadavers (gravesoil) that were placed on the soil surface over a period of 100 days. Decomposition was assessed through the physical characteristics of the cadaver, soil pH, soil moisture content, and the concentration of total carbon, total nitrogen, soil-extractable phosphorus, and lipid-phosphorus in soil. Cadaver decomposition did not result in a significant difference in soil carbon and moisture content. However, significant (P < 0.05) increases were observed in the concentration of soil pH, total nitrogen, soil-extractable phosphorus, and lipid-phosphorus. Based on the current results, a significant increase in the concentration of gravesoil nutrients represented a maximum PMI of 43 days (lipid-P), 72 days (total nitrogen), or 100 days (soil-extractable phosphorus). This work provides further evidence that a soil-based method has the potential to act as a tool for the estimation of extended PMI. © 2008 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/32556