Vass Arpad A, Smith Rob R, Thompson Cyril V, Burnett Michael N, Dulgerian Nishan, Eckenrode Brian A
Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Life Sciences Division, Oak Ridge, TN 37831-6101, USA.
J Forensic Sci. 2008 Mar;53(2):384-91. doi: 10.1111/j.1556-4029.2008.00680.x.
This study, conducted at the University of Tennessee's Anthropological Research Facility (ARF), lists and ranks the primary chemical constituents which define the odor of decomposition of human remains as detected at the soil surface of shallow burial sites. Triple sorbent traps were used to collect air samples in the field and revealed eight major classes of chemicals which now contain 478 specific volatile compounds associated with burial decomposition. Samples were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and were collected below and above the body, and at the soil surface of 1.5-3.5 ft. (0.46-1.07 m) deep burial sites of four individuals over a 4-year time span. New data were incorporated into the previously established Decompositional Odor Analysis (DOA) Database providing identification, chemical trends, and semi-quantitation of chemicals for evaluation. This research identifies the "odor signatures" unique to the decomposition of buried human remains with projected ramifications on human remains detection canine training procedures and in the development of field portable analytical instruments which can be used to locate human remains in shallow burial sites.
这项在田纳西大学人类学研究设施（ARF）开展的研究，列出并排列了在浅埋遗址土壤表面检测到的、定义人类遗体分解气味的主要化学成分。使用三重吸附剂捕集阱在野外采集空气样本，发现了八类主要化学物质，目前包含478种与埋葬分解相关的特定挥发性化合物。样本采用气相色谱 - 质谱联用仪（GC - MS）进行分析，在4年时间跨度内，于4具遗体的深埋遗址（深度为1.5 - 3.5英尺，即0.46 - 1.07米）的遗体下方、上方以及土壤表面进行采集。新数据被纳入先前建立的分解气味分析（DOA）数据库，以提供化学物质的鉴定、化学趋势以及半定量评估。这项研究确定了埋葬人类遗体分解所特有的“气味特征”，预计会对人类遗体探测犬训练程序以及可用于在浅埋遗址定位人类遗体的现场便携式分析仪器的开发产生影响。
