The smell of death. State-of-the-art and future research directions

Frontiers in Microbiology · 8 authors, 4 centres

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TL;DR

This narrative review synthesizes current knowledge on volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released from decomposing human remains and evaluates analytical methods for their detection in forensic contexts. The review identifies analytical limitations, particularly for biogenic amines, and highlights promising approaches including TD-GC×GC-TOFMS and amine derivatization for improving postmortem interval estimation.

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The authors describe primary matrices (cadavers, tissue) and secondary matrices (soil, air, water) used for sampling, with headspace collection as the predominant approach. The review identifies that biogenic amines such as putrescine and cadaverine, while central to decomposition odor, are difficult to detect by conventional GC-MS due to their high polarity and low volatility, and proposes derivatization with isobutyl chloroformate as a solution. The authors note that environmental, individual, and methodological factors render VOC profile research highly complex, and that the existing literature base remains limited. Standardization of human corpse odor profiles, development of portable detection devices, and confirmation of pig-to-human VOC similarity for cadaver-dog training are identified as priorities for future research.

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narrative_review

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research methods

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ORIGINAL PAPER

PMC10538644

The smell of death. State-of-the-art and future research directions

Frontiers in Microbiology

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ABSTRACT

Abstract The decomposition of a body is inseparably associated with the release of several types of odors. This phenomenon has been used in the training of sniffer dogs for decades. The odor profile associated with decomposition consists of a range of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), chemical composition of which varies over time, temperature, environmental conditions, and the type of microorganisms, and insects colonizing the carcass. Mercaptans are responsible for the bad smell associated with corpses; however, there are no unified recommendations for conducting forensic analysis based on the detectable odor of revealed corpses and previous research on VOCs shows differing results. The aim of this review is to systematize the current knowledge on the type of volatile organic compounds related to the decomposition process, depending on a few variables. This knowledge will improve the methods of VOCs detection and analysis to be used in modern forensic diagnostics and improve the methods of training dogs for forensic applications. Keywords: odor mortis, volatiles, organic compounds, forensic analysis, mercaptans

CITATION EXPORT

Julia Cieśla, Julia Skrobisz, Bartosz Niciński et al.. The smell of death. State-of-the-art and future research directions. Frontiers in Microbiology. (2023). https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1260869

AUTHORS

8 · 4 CENTRES

Julia Cieśla, Julia Skrobisz, Bartosz Niciński, Magdalena Kloc, Katarzyna Mazur, Artur Pałasz, Gulnaz T Javan, Marcin Tomsia

1Faculty of Medical Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
2Department of Histology, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
3Department of Physical and Forensic Science Programs, Alabama State University, Montgomery, AL, United States
4Department of Forensic Medicine and Forensic Toxicology, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland