Forensic investigations decomposition

Carrion itself forms a lucrative substrate for invertebrate colonization however, in outdoor situations the interface between this substrate and the underlying soil, and the soil itself, also form attractive environments for certain organisms. The seepage of nutrient-rich fluids into the soil beneath the corpse significantly alters the microenvironment, affecting the inhabitant fauna. The arthropod assemblage may thus be considered to be affected by and reflective of the decomposition of the corpse and may therefore have some potential in contribution to forensic investigation (Bornemissza 1957). 

More recently, the effect of postmortem interval, excavation methods, and root morphology on the rate of postmortem tooth loss has been investigated from both an archaeological and forensic context (Duric et al. 2004). In both contexts, postmortem tooth loss was shown to be a result of soft-tissue decomposition and therefore directly influenced by the postmortem interval. Additionally, the differences in root morphology were determined to be a significant factor related to postmortem tooth loss. However, an expected correlation between postmortem tooth loss and the excavation methods of the burial environment was not identified. Both of these studies represent preliminary research, and further controlled research is required to establish the value of postmortem tooth loss as a PMI indicator. 

The results from synthesis and structure proof studies demonstrate that the product resulting from a TATP synthesis may be a complex mixture. Furthermore, the products are rich in peroxide functionality and make them relatively unstable, and therefore, unsafe. The thermal-induced decomposition of TATP has been studied and is reported to produce primarily acetone, carbon dioxide, and ozone as decomposition products [22-25], TATP from syntheses catalyzed with sulfuric acid, methanesulfonic acid, and perchloric acid was reported to spontaneously decompose over time to yield DADP, even at low temperatures (i.e., 0°C) [26]. While it may be sufficient in many cases to simply identify the presence of TATP, forensic examination may profit from a more complete analysis of the product mixture that comprises unpurified synthetic TATP. Unpurified TATP may be encountered in terrorism investigations, industrial accidents, and other events that involve the possible formation of organic peroxides from acetone and related ketones. 

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