title: [Diatom test in lung tissue of corpses in water and causes of death].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore potential application of diatom test of lung tissue in investigation of cause of death in victim found in the water.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four hundred and seven cases were collected and analyzed for cause of death and the nature of case. Diatom test was performed in tissues and the amount was quantified. Forty-five rabbits died in the water (antemortem, postmortem and different seasons drowning) were randomly divided into 9 groups and the diatom content in lung tissue were tested with the method of nitric acid.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 407 drowning cases, 372 cases showed a positive result of diatom test. In positive cases, the amount of accidents or suicide were 35 and homicide were 21. Thirty-five cases showed negative result of diatom test and majority were homicide in which bodies were thrown into the water after killing. Some drowning cases were in special circumstances. Animal experiments confirmed that a large amount of diatoms in lung tissue were detected in drowning victim and showed the same type in water. The amount of diatom in lung tissue was usually lower in the summer and winter comparing with spring and autumn.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The diatom test could be considered as an auxiliary evidence in determination of cause of death in body found in the water. The test results were related with manner of death. The nature of case should be synthetically determined based on autopsy, criminal scene and details of the cases, etc.
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Key Laboratory of Crime Scene Evidence, Institute of Forensic Science, Shanghai Public Security Bureau, Shanghai 200083, China.
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Kai-Jun
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Xiao-Dong
authors.initials: XD
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yong-An
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Shang-Gui
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Hai
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jian-Jun
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Yan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002102:Cadaver; D002423:Cause of Death; D017377:Diatoms / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004332:Drowning / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D049429:Forensic Pathology / Q000379:methods*; D005618:Fresh Water; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D011817:Rabbits; D012621:Seasons; D014018:Tissue Distribution