Forensic taphonomy: Characterization of the gravesoil chemistry using a multivariate approach combining chemical and volatile analyses

Martin, Clément; Maesen, Philippe; Minchilli, Damien; Francis, Frédéric; Verheggen, François

doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2020.110569

Article (Scientific journals)

Forensic taphonomy: Characterization of the gravesoil chemistry using a multivariate approach combining chemical and volatile analyses

Martin, Clément; Maesen, Philippe; Minchilli, Damien et al.

2021 • In Forensic Science International

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

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https://hdl.handle.net/2268/254071

DOI
10.1016/j.forsciint.2020.110569

PubMed
33248327

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Keywords :

Forensic science; Volatile organic compounds; Soil texture; Animal decomposition; Gravesoil chemistry

Abstract :

[en] Soil thanatochemistry, defined as the study of the chemical changes occurring during the decomposition of buried corpses, is a young and inadequately documented field of research. In this study, we aim to determine the effects of decomposition on soil physico-chemical properties by combining pedological, chemical, and volatile analyses of soils surrounding buried animals. We examined chemical and volatile changes over time occurring throughout the soil column in two common soil-texture types (sandy loam and loam). We buried dead rats and let them decompose for two months. During their excavations, we characterized the physico-chemical conditions of three soil layers above the rats and one layer below, including (1) pH, dry matter, and electrical conductivity, (2) organic carbon and total nitrogen, (3) bioavailable nutrients (K, Na, Mg, Ca, and P), and (4) volatile organic compounds. Multivariate analyses (permMANOVA) revealed that a decaying rat is associated with changes in soil chemical characteristics in both soil types. However, the observed changes were not homogenous throughout the soil columns. Conditions in soil layers nearest the cadavers changed most during decomposition. We generated a predictive model by combining chemical and volatile analyses (10 % error rate), allowing us to identify key gravesoil indicators that could be used to reveal the former existence of a buried corpse in loam and sandy loam (indicators in order of importance): organic carbon, calcium, pH, conductivity, dimethyl- disulfide, and nitrogen.

Disciplines :

Life sciences: Multidisciplinary, general & others

Author, co-author :

Martin, Clément ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département GxABT > Gestion durable des bio-agresseurs

Maesen, Philippe ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Dvlpt. méth. chimie app. à l'agri., l'agro-ali. et/ou l'env.

Minchilli, Damien

Francis, Frédéric ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département GxABT > Gestion durable des bio-agresseurs

Verheggen, François ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département GxABT > Gestion durable des bio-agresseurs

Language :

English

Title :

Forensic taphonomy: Characterization of the gravesoil chemistry using a multivariate approach combining chemical and volatile analyses

Alternative titles :

[en] Taphonomie judiciaire : caractérisation de la chimie de sols de tombe via l'utilisation d'une approche multivariée combinant des analyses chimiques et volatils

Publication date :

2021

Journal title :

Forensic Science International

ISSN :

0379-0738

eISSN :

1872-6283

Publisher :

Elsevier, Netherlands

Peer reviewed :

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

Available on ORBi :

since 18 December 2020

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