SAFETYLIT WEEKLY UPDATE

We compile citations and summaries of about 400 new articles every week.
RSS Feed

HELP: Tutorials | FAQ
CONTACT US: Contact info

Search Results

Journal Article

Citation

Byard RW. J. Forensic Sci. 2018; 63(3): 899-901.

Affiliation

Forensic Science SA and Adelaide Medical School, The University of Adelaide, Medical School Nth, Frome Rd, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, American Society for Testing and Materials, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/1556-4029.13614

PMID

28810068

Abstract

Background hypothesis: That bodies immersed in freshwater (rivers) may show greater changes of decomposition than bodies immersed in saltwater (sea). Fifty de-identified river drownings and 50 sea drownings were randomly selected from autopsy files at Forensic Science SA, Adelaide, Australia and assessed for decomposition.

RESULTS: The river cases consisted of 43 males and seven females (M:F 6:1); age range of 2-92 years (mean 46.8 years); decomposition-16/50 (32%); postmortem interval 1-14 days, average 3.8. The sea cases consisted of 36 males and 14 females (M:F 2.6:1); age range of 9-81 years (mean 50.7 years); decomposition-2/50 (4%) (p < 0.001%); postmortem interval 1-6 days, average 2.8. As decomposition reduces information obtained at autopsy, postmortem examination of deaths in rivers may be less informative than deaths that have occurred in the sea. The reasons for less decomposition in the sea include cooler temperatures, exposure to salt and shorter postmortem intervals.

© 2017 American Academy of Forensic Sciences.


Language: en

Keywords

death; decomposition; drowning; forensic science; freshwater; putrefaction; saltwater

NEW SEARCH


All SafetyLit records are available for automatic download to Zotero & Mendeley
Print