title: An Analysis of Systematic Elemental Changes in Decomposing Bone.
abstract: The aim of this pilot study was to investigate compositional changes in bone during decomposition. Elemental concentrations of barium, calcium, iron, potassium, magnesium, zinc and phosphorus in porcine bone (as an experimental analog for human bone) were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). The samples were taken from porcine bone subjected to shallow burial and surface depositions at 28-day intervals for a period of 140 days. Results indicated that ICP-OES elemental profiling has potential to be developed as a forensic test for determining whether a bone sample originates from the early stages of soft tissue putrefaction. Significant changes in iron, sodium and potassium concentrations were found over 140 days. These elements are known to be primarily associated with proteins and/or tissue fluids within the bone. Changes in their respective concentrations may therefore be linked to dehydration over time and in turn may be indicative of time since deposition.
authors.affiliation: School of Engineering, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3XQ, UK.|School of History, Archaeology and Religion, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3XQ, UK.
authors.forename: Steven J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Walden
authors.affiliation: School of History, Archaeology and Religion, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3XQ, UK.
authors.forename: Jacqui
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mulville
authors.affiliation: School of Engineering, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3XQ, UK.
authors.forename: Jeffrey P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Rowlands
authors.affiliation: School of Engineering, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3XQ, UK.
authors.forename: Sam L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Evans
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001464:Barium / Q000378:metabolism; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000378:metabolism*; D002048:Burial; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism; D008274:Magnesium / Q000378:metabolism; D023421:Models, Animal; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000378:metabolism; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011180:Postmortem Changes; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism; D013057:Spectrum Analysis; D013552:Swine; D015032:Zinc / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001464:Barium; D010758:Phosphorus; D012964:Sodium; D007501:Iron; D008274:Magnesium; D015032:Zinc; D011188:Potassium; D002118:Calcium
keywords: anthropology; bone; decomposition; forensic science; spectroscopy