Developing a quantitative method to assess the decomposition of embalmed human cadavers

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dc.contributor.authorBalta, Joy Y.en
dc.contributor.authorBlom, Giorgioen
dc.contributor.authorDavidson, Alisonen
dc.contributor.authorPerrault, Katelynnen
dc.contributor.authorCryan, John F.en
dc.contributor.authorO'Mahony, Siobhain M.en
dc.contributor.authorCassella, John P.en
dc.date.accessioned2023-10-18T10:25:34Z
dc.date.available2023-10-18T10:25:34Z
dc.date.issued2020-03-29en
dc.description.abstractEmbalmed human cadavers are an essential educational tool in forensic science and medicine. Cadavers are often embalmed to extend the period they can be used. Qualitative observations such as odours, tissue texture and colour are the only methods currently used by anatomists to assess the decomposition progress of embalmed cadavers. The aim of this study was to provide a first proof-of-concept to determine whether methylamine, putrescine, and cadaverine could be detected and monitored over time from embalmed human tissues. The hypothesis was that these three compounds would exhibit temporal trends to quantitate progress of decomposition in embalmed cadavers. Two human cadavers were embalmed using McGown solution and liver samples were analysed over 35 days. Liver samples were extracted, homogenised and derivatised to quantify the presence of methylamine, cadaverine and putrescine by gas chromatography - mass spectrometry. All three amines were detected in the tissue samples throughout the duration of the study. Both cadavers had elevated methylamine levels over putrescine and cadaverine at early stages postmortem. This was followed by peaking and reducing in different patterns by the two cadavers; however, the three compounds from a single cadaver changed in a similar pattern. The proposed experimental procedure provides a foundation for further development of quantitative biogenic amine methods to determine decomposition progress in embalmed human cadavers.en
dc.description.statusPeer revieweden
dc.description.versionAccepted Versionen
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen
dc.identifier.articleid100235en
dc.identifier.citationBalta, J. Y., Blom, G., Davidson, A., Perrault, K., Cryan, J. F., O'Mahony, S. M. and Cassella, J. P. (2020) 'Developing a quantitative method to assess the decomposition of embalmed human cadavers', Forensic Chemistry, 18, 100235 (6pp). doi: 10.1016/j.forc.2020.100235en
dc.identifier.doi10.1016/j.forc.2020.100235en
dc.identifier.eissn2468-1709en
dc.identifier.endpage6en
dc.identifier.journaltitleForensic Chemistryen
dc.identifier.startpage1en
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10468/15130
dc.identifier.volume18en
dc.language.isoenen
dc.publisherElsevier B.V.en
dc.rights© 2020, Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. This manuscript version is made available under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 license.en
dc.rights.urihttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/en
dc.subjectForensic chemistryen
dc.subjectForensic taphonomyen
dc.subjectAnatomyen
dc.subjectMethylamineen
dc.subjectCadaverineen
dc.subjectPutrescineen
dc.titleDeveloping a quantitative method to assess the decomposition of embalmed human cadaversen
dc.typeArticle (peer-reviewed)en
oaire.citation.volume18en
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