The effect of the burial environment on adipocere formation

Forbes, Shari L.; Stuart, Barbara H.; Dent, Boyd B.

doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2004.09.107

Cited by 124 publications

(100 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…This study also suggests that two of the other important site variables (apart from temperature and depth of burial) would be the local soil type and burial environment as suggested in previous reports [34,44,48,71]. To address these issues, this study compared current study results with a previous conductivity study from a simulated clandestine grave, from an urban depositional environment [65].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 74%

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Preliminary soilwater conductivity analysis to date clandestine burials of homicide victims

Pringle

Cassella

Jervis

2010

Forensic Science International

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This study reports on a new geoscientific method to estimate the post-burial interval (PBI) and potential post-mortem interval (PMI) date of homicide victims in clandestine graves by measuring decomposition fluid conductivities. Soil water analysis from a simulated clandestine grave (which contained a domestic pig carcass) in a semi-rural environment had significantly elevated conductivity measurements when compared to background values. A temporal rapid increase of the conductivity of burial fluids was observed until one year post burial, after this values slowly increased until two years (end of the study period). Conversion of x-axis from post-burial days to 'accumulated degree days' (ADD) resulted in an improved fit for multiple linear regression analyses. ADD correction allowed comparison with two other conductivity grave studies and demonstrated it was possible to date a discovered grave and hence the victim if past local temperatures could be obtained and burial depth measured. Contemporary soil moisture sampling was also undertaken to quantify this potential variable. Research also has implications to time illegal animal burials. Further research is required to extend the monitoring period, to use human cadavers and investigate other soil types and depositional environments. NOTICE: this is the author's version of a work that was accepted for publication in Forensic Science International. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Forensic Science International, v. 198, May 2010, doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2010 Determining PMI of recently deceased individuals have been extensively researched using a variety of methods and revisions to said methods. However, dating PMI over a longer time period or importantly the Post-Burial Interval (PBI) emplacement within a burial site is more uncertain and lacking a simple technique.This manuscript is the first to document a new and simple technique to date PMI or estimate how long a body may have been buried for using the conductivity of the decomposition fluids. Our previous FSI paper ( Jervis et al. 2009) has suggested that these fluids are the primary reason why electrical resistivity surveys work to detect the positions of clandestine burials of homicide victims. Our new suggested PBI/PMI technique, based on a two year monitoring study, is to simply measure the conductivity of decomposing fluids as we have found this has a two-step, linear relationship. Results are reinforced by comparison to another study as well as to a simulated "discovered" burial, where a ~16% error was found between the conductivity estimated date compared to the true burial date. We have also converted post-burial days into accumulated degree days (ADD) which improved the date mis-match error (to ~12%) and will...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 74%

“…Environmental factors include pH [39], redox conditions [38], ambient temperatures [40][41][42], and hence associated decomposition rate changes [43][44], seasonality, time of burial [45] and depth below ground level [46], soil type and texture [34,44,47] and moisture content [37,44], local land use and environment [48][49].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Preliminary soilwater conductivity analysis to date clandestine burials of homicide victims

Pringle

Cassella

Jervis

2010

Forensic Science International

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“…The formation of adipocere is promoted by bacteria, especially the anaerobic Clostridium, and by an anaerobic environment, warm temperatures and a mildly alkaline pH (Forbes et al 2005;Mellen et al 1993;Vass 2001). The main components involved in adipocere formation are fats that may become hydrolysed and hydrogenated, even though adipocere is mostly a mixture of insoluble fatty acids and hydroxy stearic acids [Mant and Furbank 1957;Ruttan and Marshall 1917;reviewed by Takatori (2001) and Ubelaker and Zarenko (2011)].…”

Section: Subaquatic Decomposition and Adipocerementioning

confidence: 99%

Re-evaluating Moodie’s Opisthotonic-Posture Hypothesis in Fossil Vertebrates Part I: Reptiles—the taphonomy of the bipedal dinosaurs Compsognathus longipes and Juravenator starki from the Solnhofen Archipelago (Jurassic, Germany)

Reisdorf

Wuttke

2012

Palaeobio Palaeoenv

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“…Early on, Wetherill (1860) identified fat and moisture as key factors in the formation of adipocere. Additionally, mildly alkaline pH, an anaerobic microenvironment (e.g., the carcass itself, even in an aerobic environment), warm temperatures and the activity of bacteria, especially the anaerobic Clostridium, are known to promote the formation of adipocere (Mellen et al 1993;Forbes et al 2005;Tomita 1975;Vass 2001). Since the experiments by Wetherill (1860), much chemical research has concentrated on methodolegal advancement (review articles : Takatori 2001;Ubelaker and Zarenko 2011;Wetherill 1860).…”

Section: Comments On Sedimentology and Preservationmentioning

confidence: 99%

From tree to shining sea: taphonomy of the arboreal lizard Geiseltaliellus maarius from Messel, Germany

Smith

Wuttke

2012

Palaeobio Palaeoenv

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Much has been written about the palaeoenvironment of the middle Eocene fossil Lagerstätte of Messel, Germany, and of the taphonomy of the vertebrates found in it, but taphonomic phenomena among the reptiles in this locality are virtually unstudied. The iguanid Geiseltaliellus maarius is the most common lizard species in Messel. We present taphonomic data for this species and analyse it. Specimens of G. maarius can be divided into three preservation classes, one of which is distinguished purely by decompositional phenomena. Most specimens sank quickly to the bottom of Lake Messel after entering it, but one floated for some time prior to emplacement. In theory, overlying pressure should not preclude the accumulation of gases of decay in submerged carcasses. In one specimen, such gases appear to have built up intracoelomically for many weeks, but did not cause the carcass to rise because of overlying water pressure. Eruption of the gases through the oral and cloacal openings, possibly initiated by a coincident turbidity current, scattered the bones of the skull, the pelvic region, and the proximal part of the tail. G. maarius had evolved a form of intervertebral urotomy (pseudoautotomy), which is indicative of arboreal habits. The waxy substance adipocere, formed after breakdown of fat, has been neglected in discussions of taphonomy, but may constitute an important factor in stabilising carcasses and enabling three-dimensional preservation before diagensis.

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The effect of the burial environment on adipocere formation

Cited by 124 publications

References 9 publications

Preliminary soilwater conductivity analysis to date clandestine burials of homicide victims

Preliminary soilwater conductivity analysis to date clandestine burials of homicide victims

Re-evaluating Moodie’s Opisthotonic-Posture Hypothesis in Fossil Vertebrates Part I: Reptiles—the taphonomy of the bipedal dinosaurs Compsognathus longipes and Juravenator starki from the Solnhofen Archipelago (Jurassic, Germany)

From tree to shining sea: taphonomy of the arboreal lizard Geiseltaliellus maarius from Messel, Germany

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