Detection of decomposition volatile organic compounds in soil following removal of remains from a surface deposition sit
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ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Detection of decomposition volatile organic compounds in soil following removal of remains from a surface deposition site Katelynn A. Perrault1 • Pierre-Hugues Stefanuto2 • Barbara H. Stuart1 Tapan Rai3 • Jean-Franc¸ois Focant2 • Shari L. Forbes1
•
Accepted: 23 June 2015 / Published online: 31 July 2015 Ó Springer Science+Business Media New York 2015
Abstract Purpose Cadaver-detection dogs use volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to search for human remains including those deposited on or beneath soil. Soil can act as a sink for VOCs, causing loading of decomposition VOCs in the soil following soft tissue decomposition. The objective of this study was to chemically profile decomposition VOCs from surface decomposition sites after remains were removed from their primary location. Methods Pig carcasses were used as human analogues and were deposited on a soil surface to decompose for 3 months. The remains were then removed from each site and VOCs were collected from the soil for 7 months
thereafter and analyzed by comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography–time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC9GC–TOFMS). Results Decomposition VOCs diminished within 6 weeks and hydrocarbons were the most persistent compound class. Decomposition VOCs could still be detected in the soil after 7 months using Principal Component Analysis. Conclusions This study demonstrated that the decomposition VOC profile, while detectable by GC9GC–TOFMS in the soil, was considerably reduced and altered in composition upon removal of remains. Chemical reference data is provided by this study for future investigations of canine alert behavior in scenarios involving scattered or scavenged remains.
& Katelynn A. Perrault [email protected]
Keywords Forensic Science Decomposition chemistry Carrion scavenging Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography–time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC9GC–TOFMS) Residual odor
Pierre-Hugues Stefanuto [email protected] Barbara H. Stuart [email protected] Tapan Rai [email protected]
Introduction
Jean-Franc¸ois Focant [email protected]
Scent-detection canines (Canis lupus var. familiaris) are often used to locate evidence of forensic significance. Specifically, cadaver-detection dogs are commonly used by police agencies to search for and locate deceased victims. Their ability to search large areas rapidly and under adverse conditions is beneficial, especially in critical situations where agility is required (i.e., mass disasters, urban search and rescue, missing persons cases). As such, they are regularly used in outdoor scenarios. Although the exact suite of compounds involved in eliciting a positive alert is still unknown, alert behavior is a response of the canine olfactory system to volatile organic
Shari L. Forbes [email protected] 1
Centre for Forensic Science, University of Technology Sydney (UTS), PO Box 123, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia
2
CART, Organic and Biological Analytical Chemistry Group, Chemistry Department, University of Lie
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