Application of biochemical and X-ray diffraction analyses to establish the postmortem interval.

Area of Science:

• Forensic Anthropology
• Biochemistry
• Materials Science

Background:

• Accurate determination of the postmortem interval (PMI) from skeletal remains is crucial for legal and scientific purposes.
• Establishing PMI is complex due to numerous intrinsic and extrinsic factors influencing decomposition.
• Existing methods for dating bone remains have limitations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of X-ray diffraction (XRD) and biochemical component analysis in determining the postmortem interval (PMI) of bone remains.
• To compare the utility of medullar and cortical bone zones for dating osseous remains.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of 69 long bones from cadavers with documented interment times (7-54 years).
• Measurement of chemical components: potassium, sulfur, nitrogen, urea, total protein, and phosphorus.
• Assessment of X-ray diffraction (XRD) parameters, specifically the degree of crystallinity in mineral components.

Main Results:

• Both XRD parameters and biochemical analyses showed potential for dating bone remains.
• Specific biochemical markers (urea, potassium, sulfur) demonstrated utility, particularly in the cortical bone zone.
• The combination of XRD and biochemical analysis in the cortical bone zone appears most informative for PMI estimation.

Conclusions:

• The combined use of X-ray diffraction and biochemical analyses, especially for urea, potassium, and sulfur in the cortical bone, presents a viable alternative method for dating osseous remains.
• Cortical bone analysis provides more useful information for calculating the postmortem interval compared to medullar bone.
• This approach could enhance the accuracy and reliability of forensic age estimation from skeletal evidence.