Characterization of soils containing adipocere

被引:31
作者
Fiedler, S
Schneckenberger, K
Graw, M
机构
[1] Univ Hohenheim, Inst Soil Sci & Land Evaluat, D-70593 Stuttgart, Germany
[2] Univ Munich, Inst Forens Med, D-85737 Munich, Germany
关键词
D O I
10.1007/s00244-004-3237-4
中图分类号
X [环境科学、安全科学];
学科分类号
08 ; 0830 ;
摘要
The formation of adipocere (commonly known as grave wax), a spontaneous inhibition of postmortem changes, has been extensively analyzed in forensic science. However, soils in which adipocere formation occurs have never been described in detail. Therefore, this study is intended as a first step in the characterization of soils containing adipocere. Two grave soils (Gleyic Anthrosols) that prevent the timely reuse of graves due to the occurrence of adipocere and a control soil (Gleyic Luvisol) were selected from a cemetery in the Central Black Forest (Southwest Germany). Descriptions of soil morphology and a wide assay of physical, chemical, and microbiologic soil characteristics were accomplished. In contrast to the control soil, the grave soils were characterized by lower bulk density and pH. The degradation of the soil structure caused by digging led to a higher water table and the expansion of the reducing conditions in the graves where the prevalent absence of oxygen in range of the coffins inhibited decomposition processes. Although the formation of adipocere led to the conservation of the buried corpses, phosphorus, dissolved organic carbon, and cadavarine leaching from the graves was observed. Microbial biomass and microbial activity were higher in the control soil and hence reflected the inert character of adipocere. The study results clearly show the need for additional approaches in forensic, pedologic, and microbiologic research.
引用
收藏
页码:561 / 568
页数:8
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