| Title: | The Search for a Volatile Human Specific Marker in the Decomposition Process |
| Author(s): | Rosier E; Loix S; Develter W; Van de Voorde W; Tytgat J; Cuypers E; |
| Address: | "Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, Toxicology and Pharmacology, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Leuven, Belgium. Imaging & Pathology Department, Division Forensic Biomedical Sciences, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Leuven, Belgium" |
| DOI: | 10.1371/journal.pone.0137341 |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1932-6203 (Electronic) 1932-6203 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "In this study, a validated method using a thermal desorber combined with a gas chromatograph coupled to mass spectrometry was used to identify the volatile organic compounds released during decomposition of 6 human and 26 animal remains in a laboratory environment during a period of 6 months. 452 compounds were identified. Among them a human specific marker was sought using principle component analysis. We found a combination of 8 compounds (ethyl propionate, propyl propionate, propyl butyrate, ethyl pentanoate, pyridine, diethyl disulfide, methyl(methylthio)ethyl disulfide and 3-methylthio-1-propanol) that led to the distinction of human and pig remains from other animal remains. Furthermore, it was possible to separate the pig remains from human remains based on 5 esters (3-methylbutyl pentanoate, 3-methylbutyl 3-methylbutyrate, 3-methylbutyl 2-methylbutyrate, butyl pentanoate and propyl hexanoate). Further research in the field with full bodies has to corroborate these results and search for one or more human specific markers. These markers would allow a more efficiently training of cadaver dogs or portable detection devices could be developed" |
| Keywords: | Animals Autopsy Cadaver *Forensic Sciences *Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Humans Principal Component Analysis Species Specificity Volatile Organic Compounds/*analysis; |
| Notes: | "MedlineRosier, E Loix, S Develter, W Van de Voorde, W Tytgat, J Cuypers, E eng 2015/09/17 PLoS One. 2015 Sep 16; 10(9):e0137341. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0137341. eCollection 2015" |
