Odor analysis of decomposing buried human remains

Area of Science:

• Forensic Anthropology
• Analytical Chemistry
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Understanding the chemical composition of decomposition odors is crucial for forensic investigations.
• Previous research has identified volatile compounds, but a comprehensive database and signature analysis were lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and rank the primary chemical constituents defining the odor of human decomposition at shallow burial sites.
• To establish unique chemical "odor signatures" for buried human remains.
• To provide data for improving canine training and developing analytical detection instruments.

Main Methods:

• Air samples were collected from shallow burial sites (1.5-3.5 ft deep) over four years using triple sorbent traps.
• Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was employed to analyze volatile compounds.
• Data were integrated into the Decompositional Odor Analysis (DOA) Database.

Main Results:

• Identified eight major chemical classes comprising 478 specific volatile compounds associated with human decomposition.
• Established distinct chemical "odor signatures" specific to buried human remains.
• Provided semi-quantitation and chemical trends for identified compounds.

Conclusions:

• This study significantly advances the understanding of human decomposition volatile organic compounds.
• The identified odor signatures have direct applications in forensic science, particularly in cadaver dog training.
• The findings support the development of portable analytical instruments for locating buried human remains.