NCJ Number
206383
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 49 Issue: 3 Dated: May 2004 Pages: 566-574
Date Published
2004
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This study demonstrated the chemical process of conversion from adipose (fatty) tissue to adipocere, a postmortem decomposition product that forms from a body's adipose tissue.
Abstract
Adipocere is a grayish-white postmortem decomposition product that can vary in consistency from crumbly to paste-like. In the early stages of formation, it produces a strong distinctive odor that can be recognized by cadaver dogs trained to detect human remains. The decomposition of adipose tissue begins almost immediately upon death. Decomposition trials being conducted in Western Australia allowed the authors to obtain 10 soil and adipocere samples for this study. The decomposition trials were conducted with 45 kg pigs that had been reared at a pig farm on identical diets. Pigs were chosen for the research because they best mimic human decomposition. Each pig was buried in a shallow grave, and the duration of burial time was varied so as to provide a range of decomposition intervals. The samples collected from the decomposition trials included soil sampled from the region directly beneath the decomposing remains and adipocere sampled directly from the cadaver. Samples of adipocere were collected from the abdominal/lower trunk region. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry was used to quantify the fatty acid composition of pig adipocere. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used as a confirmatory test and to identify other components such as triglycerides and calcium salts of fatty acids. One interesting finding of the study was the lack of correlation between the stage of adipocere formation and the decomposition interval, suggesting that the process of adipocere formation is affected by factors other than decomposition interval; these factors are most likely present in the decomposition environment. Future studies should investigate the various factors present in a decomposition environment and their effect on adipocere formation. Another result of the study was the intimation that adipocere that had leached into the surrounding soil generally showed a chemical composition much less advanced than the composition of adipocere sampled directly from the cadaver. This study serves as a preliminary investigation into the stages of adipocere formation and the chemical process by which it forms in soils. 7 figures, 2 tables, and 22 references