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Updated: Jul 21, 2025

Scanning Skeletal Remains for Bone Mineral Density in Forensic Contexts
Published on: January 29, 2018
[Age prediction based on the examination of bone tissue elemental composition using energy dispersive X-Ray
S M Nefedova1, I A Novikov2, M V Kravchik2
1I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russia.
The Aim Of The Study:
Was to assess the possibility of using chemical analysis of bone mineral content by the means of an energy dispersive X-Ray spectroscopy to determine the age of unidentified corpses for forensic identification. A semi-quantative chemical microanalysis of bone fragments of 85 male and female corpses aged between 21 and 91 was done through the use of energy dispersive X-Ray spectrometer. The association of bone tissue apatite mineral composition with age is confirmed and a formula, connecting age and chemical composition change, is proposed. The possibility of using quantitive evaluation of chemical elements content in the normative mineral to determine the unidentified corpse's age in a standard laboratory, equipped with an energy dispersive X-Ray spectrometer, was proved.
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