Alcohol in decomposed bodies: postmortem synthesis and distribution

Area of Science:

• Forensic Toxicology
• Postmortem Chemistry
• Medicolegal Death Investigation

Background:

• Blood alcohol (ethanol) in decomposed bodies presents interpretation challenges, potentially stemming from antemortem ingestion or postmortem endogenous production.
• Accurate differentiation is critical for medicolegal investigations to determine the cause and manner of death.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate blood alcohol concentrations and their distribution in various body fluids and tissues of decomposed individuals.
• To establish criteria for distinguishing between endogenous alcohol production and antemortem ingestion in medicolegal cases.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 286 medicolegal autopsies involving decomposed bodies.
• Classification of alcohol source (endogenous production, ingestion, undetermined) based on ethanol levels in multiple body fluids, distribution patterns, scene information, and presence of C3 alcohols.
• Analysis of alcohol concentrations in blood, bile, urine, and vitreous fluid.

Main Results:

• Alcohol was attributed to endogenous production in 55 cases and ingestion in 130 cases.
• In 62 cases, the source of alcohol remained undetermined.
• Endogenous alcohol production in blood could reach concentrations as high as 0.15%, with typical findings including alcohol in blood and bile while urine and vitreous humor were negative or had lower levels.

Conclusions:

• Endogenous alcohol production can lead to significant blood alcohol concentrations (up to 0.15%) in decomposed bodies.
• Specific patterns of alcohol distribution in body fluids (e.g., blood and bile positive, urine/vitreous negative) can indicate endogenous production.
• The study provides valuable criteria for differentiating alcohol sources in complex medicolegal cases involving decomposition.