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Detection of decomposition volatile organic compounds in soil following removal of remains from a surface deposition site

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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 (GC×GC–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 GC×GC–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.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Dr. David Bishop, LECO Australia and SGE Analytical Science, for support and equipment for this study. Mention is given to Dr. Jean-Marie Dimandja for providing chemical reference standards. This research was funded in part by the Australian Research Council (ARC) and the University of Technology Sydney (UTS).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Forensic Science, University of Technology Sydney (UTS), PO Box 123, Broadway, NSW, 2007, Australia

    Katelynn A. Perrault, Barbara H. Stuart & Shari L. Forbes

  2. CART, Organic and Biological Analytical Chemistry Group, Chemistry Department, University of Liège, Allée de la Chimie 3, B6c Sart-Tilman, 4000, Liège, Belgium

    Pierre-Hugues Stefanuto & Jean-François Focant

  3. School of Mathematical Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway, NSW, 2007, Australia

    Tapan Rai

Authors
  1. Katelynn A. Perrault
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  2. Pierre-Hugues Stefanuto
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  3. Barbara H. Stuart
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  4. Tapan Rai
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  5. Jean-François Focant
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  6. Shari L. Forbes
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Correspondence to Katelynn A. Perrault.

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Perrault, K.A., Stefanuto, PH., Stuart, B.H. et al. Detection of decomposition volatile organic compounds in soil following removal of remains from a surface deposition site. Forensic Sci Med Pathol 11, 376–387 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-015-9693-5

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