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Dynamics of Ninhydrin‐Reactive Nitrogen and pH in Gravesoil During the Extended Postmortem Interval
Author(s) -
Anderson Brianna,
Meyer Jessica,
Carter David O.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of forensic sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.715
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1556-4029
pISSN - 0022-1198
DOI - 10.1111/1556-4029.12230
Subject(s) - ninhydrin , postmortem changes , nitrogen , zoology , chemistry , biology , biochemistry , medicine , pathology , amino acid , organic chemistry
Estimating the postmortem interval of skeletal remains is difficult, as few tools exist to do so. To address this problem, we conducted a field experiment to measure the chemistry of swine ( S us scrofa domesticus L innaeus) gravesoil after 1 year and 3 years postmortem. Carcasses were placed on the soil surface of a pasture during J une in a cold ( D fa) climate. Significant ( p < 0.05) increases in ninhydrin‐reactive nitrogen, pH , total nitrogen, and nitrate in gravesoil were detected 1 year postmortem. Significant differences in gravesoil chemistry were not detected 3 years postmortem. These observations coincided with gaps in plant growth 1 year postmortem and the development of lush vegetation 3 years postmortem. We conclude that these phenomena can be used to assist the decision‐making process regarding the allocation of resources during the early stages of a death investigation.