Estimating the postmortem interval of human skeletal remains by analyzing their optical behavior

Abstract

The aim of this study was to figure out a new practically applicable method to distinguish between historical and recent human skeletal remains. Therefore, the optical behavior of bone cross sections was investigated using the combination of two methods: a modification of an already established test (UV-induced fluorescence) and a new method (490 nm-induced fluorescence). We evaluated the areal extent of fluorescence of 30 bone cross sections with known postmortem interval (PMI) using ultraviolet light and 490 nm light. For analysis, the areal extend of fluorescent surface was determined using photos of the samples and an image editing software. The results prove that there is a correlation between PMI and the areal extent of fluorescent surface in both tests. Furthermore, the combination of both methods is a good indicator to distinguish within the forensic relevant post mortem interval between PMI < 30 years and PMI > 30 years.

Evaluation of Parameters for Estimating the Postmortem Interval of Skeletal Remains Using Bovine Femurs: A Pilot Study

“…Many researchers have focused on the development of novel methods, including infrared (IR)/Raman microscopic imaging techniques [1,2], inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) [3], or microcomputed tomography (µCT) [4,5]. In addition, combinations of techniques have been reported, such as the combined use of different physicochemical methods [6], luminol and microscopic techniques to screen bones before the use of radiocarbon dating [7], ultraviolet (UV)-induced fluorescence and 490 nm induced fluorescence [8], and µCT, mid-infrared microscopic imaging, and energy-dispersive X-ray mapping [9]. Molecular biology approaches have been used to evaluate the relationships between environmental insults and DNA degradation [10][11][12][13].…”

The impact of burial period on compact bone microstructure: Histological analysis of matrix loss and cell integrity in human bones exhumed from tropical soil

“…When performing bone analyzes, it is possible to differentiate human and nonhuman bones [1], predict time of burial [2,3] and age at death, diseases [4] and other many questions of forensic relevance [5][6][7][8]. However, these analyzes can reveal many difficulties regarding interpretation.…”

“…Pankovich et al [5] and Sharpe [3], who suggested that among other bone changes, the lumina of Haversian canals are often larger in old people if compared to younger. Intragroup comparison also showed that osteocyte lacunae total area was directly proportional to age at death but not correlated with the time of burial.…”

Use of an Alternate Light Source to Detect Tooth and Bone

“…A similar result was reported in a previous study (5), but the authors of that study did not evaluate the difference in brightness between the biological material and the background. Sterzik et al (9) found out that the strongest fluorescence reaction for bone was caused by 490 nm wavwlength in combination with a dark red filter. However, those authors worked only with bone and researched the fluorescence to estimate the postmortem interval.…”