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Gas analysis of exhumed cadavers buried for 30years: a case report about long time alteration

Varlet, V. ; Bruguier, C. ; Grabherr, S. ; Augsburger, M. ; Mangin, P. ; Uldin, T.

In: International Journal of Legal Medicine, 2014, vol. 128, no. 4, p. 719-724

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    Titre
    • Gas analysis of exhumed cadavers buried for 30years: a case report about long time alteration
    Auteur
    • Varlet, V.. Forensic Chemistry and Toxicology Unit, University Center of Legal Medicine Lausanne-Geneva, Bugnon 21, 1011, Lausanne, Switzerland
    • Bruguier, C.. Forensic Imaging Unit, University Center of Legal Medicine Lausanne-Geneva, Bugnon 21, 1011, Lausanne, Switzerland
    • Grabherr, S.. Forensic Imaging Unit, University Center of Legal Medicine Lausanne-Geneva, Bugnon 21, 1011, Lausanne, Switzerland
    • Augsburger, M.. Forensic Chemistry and Toxicology Unit, University Center of Legal Medicine Lausanne-Geneva, Bugnon 21, 1011, Lausanne, Switzerland
    • Mangin, P.. Forensic Chemistry and Toxicology Unit, University Center of Legal Medicine Lausanne-Geneva, Bugnon 21, 1011, Lausanne, Switzerland
    • Uldin, T.. University Center of Legal Medicine Lausanne-Geneva, University of Geneva, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland
    Type de document
    • Postprint
    Langue
    • Anglais
    Publié dans
    • International Journal of Legal Medicine, 2014, vol. 128, no. 4, p. 719-724. Springer Berlin Heidelberg
    Autre version électronique
    Identifiant OAI-PMH
    • oai:doc.rero.ch:325596
    Summary
    Due to important alteration caused by long time decomposition, the gases in human bodies buried for more than a year have not been investigated. For the first time, the results of gas analysis sampled from bodies recently exhumed after 30years are presented. Adipocere formation has prevented the bodies from too important alteration, and gaseous areas were identified. The sampling was performed with airtight syringes assisted by multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) in those specific areas. The important amount of methane (CH4), coupled to weak amounts of hydrogen (H2) and carbon dioxide (CO2), usual gaseous alteration indicators, have permitted to confirm methanogenesis mechanism for long period of alteration. H2 and CO2 produced during the first stages of the alteration process were consumed through anaerobic oxidation by methanogenic bacteria, generating CH4.