Pluim Jip M E, Jimenez-Bou Lucas, Gerretsen Reza R R, Loeve Arjo J
Department of Forensic Anthropology, Netherlands Forensic Institute, Laan van Ypenburg 6, 2497GB The Hague, The Netherlands; Department of BioMechanical Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering, Delft University of Technology, F-0-200, Mekelweg 2, 2628CD Delft, The Netherlands.
Department of Forensic Anthropology, Netherlands Forensic Institute, Laan van Ypenburg 6, 2497GB The Hague, The Netherlands.
Forensic Sci Int. 2018 Aug;289:260-267. doi: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2018.05.046. Epub 2018 Jun 6.
When sawing during autopsies on human remains, fine dust is produced, which consists of particles of sizes that may fall within the human respirable range, and can act as vectors for pathogens. The goal of this study was to explore the potential effects of saw blade frequency and saw blade contact load on the number and size of airborne bone particles produced. The methodology involved the use of an oscillating saw with variable saw blade frequencies and different saw blade contact loads on dry human femora. Released airborne particles were counted per diameter by a particle counter inside a closed and controlled environment. Results corroborated with the hypotheses: higher frequencies or lower contact loads resulted in higher numbers of aerosol particles produced. However, it was found that even in the best-case scenario tested on dry bone, the number of aerosol particles produced was still high enough to provide a potential health risk to the forensic practitioners. Protective breathing gear such as respirators and biosafety protocols are recommended to be put into practice to protect forensic practitioners from acquiring pathologies, or from other biological hazards when performing autopsies.
在对人体遗骸进行尸检锯切时，会产生细粉尘，其由可能落在人体可吸入范围内的颗粒组成，并且可以作为病原体的载体。本研究的目的是探讨锯片频率和锯片接触负荷对产生的空气传播骨颗粒数量和大小的潜在影响。该方法涉及使用一台振荡锯，在干燥的人体股骨上采用可变的锯片频率和不同的锯片接触负荷。在封闭且可控的环境中，通过颗粒计数器按直径对释放的空气传播颗粒进行计数。结果与假设相符：较高的频率或较低的接触负荷会导致产生的气溶胶颗粒数量更多。然而，研究发现，即使在对干燥骨骼进行测试的最佳情况下，产生的气溶胶颗粒数量仍然高到足以对法医从业者构成潜在的健康风险。建议实施诸如呼吸器等防护呼吸装备和生物安全规程，以保护法医从业者在进行尸检时不感染疾病或免受其他生物危害。
