Lipidic compounds found in soils surrounding human decomposing bodies and its use in forensic investigations – A narrative review. Issue 3 (May 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sousa Queirós, Sara; von der Lühe, Barbara; Silva-Bessa, Angela; Machado Brito-da-Costa, Andreia; Caldas, Inês Morais; Dawson, Lorna; Madureira-Carvalho, Áurea
• Is Part Of: Science & justice. Volume 63:Issue 3(2023)
• Page Start: 303
• Page End: 312
• Publication Date: 2023-05
• Subjects: Adipocere -- Fatty acids -- GC–MS -- Human remains -- Steroids; PMI Post-mortem interval -- GC-MS Gas Chromatography - Mass Spectrometry -- LC-MS Liquid Chromatography - Mass Spectrometry -- TAGs Triacylglycerols -- AFTER Australian Facility for Taphonomic Experimental Research -- ARISTA Amsterdam Research Initiative for Sub-surface Taphonomy and Anthropology -- UK United Kingdom -- LCA Lithocholic acid -- DCA Deoxycholic acid -- ILCA Isolithocholic acid -- CDCA Chenodeoxycholic acid -- TLE Total lipid extract -- DCM Dichloromethane -- SPE Solid phase extraction -- C18:1Δ9 Oleic acid -- C16:0 Palmitic acid -- C18:2 Linoleic acid -- C18:0 Stearic acid -- C16:1Δ9 Palmitoleic acid -- C14:0 Myristic acid -- 10-OH-C18:0 10-Hydroxy stearic acid; Forensic sciences -- Periodicals; Criminal investigation -- Periodicals; Forensic Medicine -- Periodicals; Jurisprudence -- Periodicals; Criminalistique -- Périodiques; Enquêtes criminelles -- Périodiques; Criminal investigation; Forensic sciences; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 363.2505
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scijus.2023.02.001
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1355-0306

Abstract

Abstract: Following decomposition of a human body, a variety of decomposition products, such as lipids, are released into the surrounding environment, e.g. soils. The long-lasting preservation in soils and their high diagnostic potential have been neglected in forensic research. Furthermore, little is known about the preservation, chemical transformation, or degradation of those human derived lipids in soils. To date, several studies identified various lipids such as long-chain free fatty acids and steroids in soils that contained decomposition fluids. Those lipids are preserved in soils over time and could serve as markers of human decomposition in forensic investigations, e.g. for estimating the post-mortem interval or identifying the burial location of a human body. Therefore, this review focuses on the current literature regarding fatty acid and steroid that have been detected in soils and associated with human body decomposition. After a short introduction about human decomposition processes, this review summarises fatty acid and steroid analysis applied in current case studies and studies related to taphonomic research. This review provides an overview of the available studies that have used fatty acids and steroids as identifiers of human decomposition fluid in soils in a forensic context and discusses the potential for developing this innovative field of research with direct application in a forensic context.