Journal article
Authors list: Sterzik, V.; Holz, F.; Ohlwaerther, T. E. N.; Thali, M.; Birngruber, C. G.
Publication year: 2018
Pages: 933-938
Journal: International Journal of Legal Medicine
Volume number: 132
Issue number: 3
ISSN: 0937-9827
eISSN: 1437-1596
DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-017-1759-3
Publisher: Springer
Abstract:
The study presented here is regarded as a continuation of the experiments of Sterzik et al., who developed a new practical method to distinguish between historical and recent human skeletal remains. Bone cross-sections were illuminated using light with wavelengths of 365 and 490 nm, causing fluorescence. The fluorescence was documented by photography and further analyzed to examine the areal extent of a certain fluorescent color. Contrary to the previous experiments of Sterzik et al., the present study focused on bones with postmortem intervals (PMIs) ae 50 years. Therefore, this study fills the gap created by the former study, pointing towards a correlation between the PMI and the areal extent of the fluorescent surface in both tests. The presence of blue and red fluorescent surfaces < 1% indicated a PMI ae 50 years. Furthermore, the presence of blue and red fluorescent surfaces > 1% can be regarded as a marker to exclude a PMI ae 50 years; in fact, these bones are likely to have a PMI < 30 years.
Citation Styles
Harvard Citation style: Sterzik, V., Holz, F., Ohlwaerther, T., Thali, M. and Birngruber, C. (2018) Estimating the postmortem interval of human skeletal remains by analyzing their fluorescence at 365 and 490 nm, International Journal of Legal Medicine, 132(3), pp. 933-938. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-017-1759-3
APA Citation style: Sterzik, V., Holz, F., Ohlwaerther, T., Thali, M., & Birngruber, C. (2018). Estimating the postmortem interval of human skeletal remains by analyzing their fluorescence at 365 and 490 nm. International Journal of Legal Medicine. 132(3), 933-938. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-017-1759-3
Keywords
Alternative light source (ALS); Forensic light source; Forensic osteology; Forensic photography; Human skeletal remains; Lumatec Superlite 410; Postmortem interval (PMI)
