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Determination of opiates in postmortem bone and bone marrow.
N Raikos1, H Tsoukali, S N Njau
1Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, Aristotle University, 540 06 Thessaloniki, Greece.
Forensic Science International
|December 1, 2001
Summary
Morphine can be detected in bone and bone marrow even after one year of burial. This study found a significant decrease in morphine concentration over time, offering potential forensic insights for skeletonized remains.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Toxicology
- Postmortem Analysis
- Chemical Analysis
Background:
- Heroin addiction and overdose deaths present challenges in forensic investigations.
- Determining the timeline of drug use or exposure in skeletonized remains is crucial for legal proceedings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the persistence and degradation of morphine in bone and bone marrow over time.
- To assess the potential of bone and bone marrow analysis for postmortem drug detection in buried remains.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of bone and bone marrow samples from a heroin addict using Fluorescence Polarization Immunoassay (FPIA) and Gas Chromatography-Flame Ionization Detection (GC-FID).
- Comparison of morphine concentrations in fresh specimens versus bone buried for one year.
Main Results:
- Morphine was detected in bone marrow (195 ng/g), bone (340 ng/g), and buried bone (155 ng/g).
- A 54.4% reduction in morphine concentration was observed in bone after one year of burial.
- The findings indicate morphine degradation but persistence in skeletal tissues over a year.
Conclusions:
- Bone and bone marrow can retain detectable levels of morphine for at least one year postmortem.
- The degradation rate observed suggests potential for estimating time since death or drug exposure in cases involving skeletonized remains.
- This research supports the utility of skeletal tissue analysis in forensic toxicology.