TY - JOUR
T1 - The correlation between the Aquatic Decomposition Score (ADS) and the post-mortem submersion interval measured in Accumulated Degree Days (ADD) in bodies recovered from fresh water
AU - Reijnen, Guido
AU - Gelderman, H. Tamara
AU - Grotebevelsborg, Bernice F. L. Oude
AU - Reijnders, Udo J. L.
AU - Duijst, Wilma L. J. M.
PY - 2018/9/1
Y1 - 2018/9/1
N2 - The Aquatic Decomposition Score (ADS) made by van Daalen et al., was developed to approximate the Post-Mortem Submersion Interval (PMSI) in bodies recovered in salt water. Since the decomposition process in salt water differs from the process in fresh water due to salinity, the temperature, and the depth of the water, we wanted to investigate whether there is a correlation between the ADS and the PMSI and if the ADS can be used to make an estimation of the PMSI in bodies recovered from fresh water. For the latter, the PMSI was measured using Accumulated Degree Days (ADD). In our study we included seventy-six human remains found outdoors in fresh water. Their decomposition was measured using the ADS. A strong correlation was found between the ADS and the PMSI. Also, it was found that the ADS can significantly estimate the ADD. Despite the more varied circumstances under which bodies in fresh water are found when compared to those found in salt water, the ADS can be used to measure the decomposition and accurately estimate the ADD, and thus the PMSI. More research is needed to validate our method and make a prediction model with smaller confidence intervals.
AB - The Aquatic Decomposition Score (ADS) made by van Daalen et al., was developed to approximate the Post-Mortem Submersion Interval (PMSI) in bodies recovered in salt water. Since the decomposition process in salt water differs from the process in fresh water due to salinity, the temperature, and the depth of the water, we wanted to investigate whether there is a correlation between the ADS and the PMSI and if the ADS can be used to make an estimation of the PMSI in bodies recovered from fresh water. For the latter, the PMSI was measured using Accumulated Degree Days (ADD). In our study we included seventy-six human remains found outdoors in fresh water. Their decomposition was measured using the ADS. A strong correlation was found between the ADS and the PMSI. Also, it was found that the ADS can significantly estimate the ADD. Despite the more varied circumstances under which bodies in fresh water are found when compared to those found in salt water, the ADS can be used to measure the decomposition and accurately estimate the ADD, and thus the PMSI. More research is needed to validate our method and make a prediction model with smaller confidence intervals.
KW - Post-mortem submersion interval
KW - Decomposition
KW - Aquatic Decomposition Score
KW - Accumulated Degree Days
KW - Drowning
KW - Fresh water
KW - HUMAN REMAINS
U2 - 10.1007/s12024-018-9987-5
DO - 10.1007/s12024-018-9987-5
M3 - Article
C2 - 29799098
SN - 1547-769X
VL - 14
SP - 301
EP - 306
JO - Forensic Science Medicine and Pathology
JF - Forensic Science Medicine and Pathology
IS - 3
ER -