NCJ Number
217642
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 52 Issue: 2 Dated: March 2007 Pages: 294-301
Date Published
March 2007
Length
8 pages
Annotation
In order to better understand how soft tissues and associated fatty acids are preserved as adipocere (fatty or waxy substance produced in decomposing corpses exposed to moisture), this study immersed three human cadavers in outside, water-filled pits for over 3 months.
Abstract
The study found that temperature was a major variable in underwater decomposition that affected the rate of adipocere formation. There was a certain range of temperatures required for the formation of adipocere. During the 3-month period, which involved 22 observations, mean water temperature was a little over 9 degrees C., ranging from 0 to 18 degrees C. Mean air temperature for the 3-month period was 11 degrees C. Modes for both sets of temperatures clustered around 7.2 degrees C, during which time adipocere formation was most likely occurring. At the end of the 3 months, however, only two of the three bodies formed adipocere. Results are essentially inconclusive, but do show the typical increase in palmitic fatty acid and decrease in oleic fatty acids characteristically found in adipocere. In the body that did not form adipocere, the polar lipid fatty acid profile revealed the absence of the bacteria C. perfringens, thereby suggesting why adipocere may not have formed on it. A comparison of this study with other similar studies shows that each environment will have its own requirements of adipocere formation. Each environment has unique requirements that must be "just right" for adipocere to form the "Goldilocks Phenomenon". The current study is significant because it provides detailed descriptive observations taken over a 3-month period, which may be compared with cases that involved aquatic deaths, in order to better assess the postmortem interval. This paper discusses the chemistry and variables of adipocere formation and the materials and methods of the study. 5 figures, 1 table, and 63 references