E-nose could sniff out time of death
American chemists are developing an 'electronic nose' capable of accurately assessing the 'time since death' of a corpse by detecting and identifying vapours and odours produced by decomposition.
In the latest New Scientist, chemists from Oak Ridge National Laboratories, Tennessee, report their research where chemicals created by a decomposing human corpse are monitored to identify which chemical changes correlate to different periods of time since death.
"A body passes through three stages after death: liquefaction of cells autolysis), bacterial decomposition of tissue (putrefaction) and skeletonisation" said lead investigator, Arpad Vaas.
"Volatile gasses are released, organs liquefy and complex fats and proteins are broken down", he said. However, the rates at which these processes occur are dependent upon environmental conditions.
Team members are monitoring morgue temperature and humidity changes and the effect upon the decomposition of different organs and body tissues, as well as the odours and vapours present.
Vaas hopes to develop a device, which when waved over a corpse, can identify the vapours and odours present, as well as the relative quantities of chemicals and related compounds.
The readings of the electronic nose would then be compared to the compared to the team's collated results, thus identifying the stage of decomposition.