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Initial Changes of Fat Deposits During the Decomposition of Human and Pig Remains

NCJ Number
225907
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 54 Issue: 1 Dated: January 2009 Pages: 195-201
Author(s)
Stephanie J. Notter B.Sc.; Barbara H. Stuart Ph.D.; Rebecca Rowe B.Sc.; Neil Langlois M.D.
Date Published
January 2009
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This study examined the early stages of adipocere formation in both pig and human adipose tissue in aqueous environments in order to determine the short-term changes that occurred to fat deposits during decomposition and to ascertain the suitability of pigs as models for human decomposition.
Abstract
The study concluded that although pig adipose tissue is similar to human adipose tissue and is therefore suitable for mimicking human decomposition, some margins of error exist when comparisons are made between species. The findings show that adipocere formation was not detected in the first month of decomposition in an ideal, experimental environment in either human or pig tissue. Differences in the rate of degradation between humans and pigs affected the appearance of adipocere in later months. This difference may be attributed to the total fatty acid composition, which varied between species. Higher levels of total saturated fatty acids in pigs showed adipose tissue decomposition to be more advanced and reflected fatty acid compositions consistent with earlier adipocere formation than in human tissue. Future studies will extend the period of decomposition in order to test for differences in the formation of adipocere and its associated salts over a longer term. The effect of environmental exposure will also be examined in future research, which will significantly impact the types of fatty acid salts formed in adipose tissue. The study compared subcutaneous adipose tissue from both species after immersion in distilled water for up to 6 months. The comparison used Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. 5 figures, 5 tables, and 45 references