Bioelectrical Impedance as a Technique for Estimating Postmortem Interval,, |
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| Authors: | Eriek S. Hansen Ph.D. Christiane Baigent M.Sc. Sophia I. Reck B.S. Melissa Connor Ph.D. |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Biological Sciences, Colorado Mesa University, Grand Junction, CO;2. Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Forensic Investigation Research Station, Colorado Mesa University, Grand Junction, CO |
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| Abstract: | Estimation of postmortem interval (PMI) is a critical component of death investigation. A cadaver can be hypothesized to be a resistor–capacitor (RC) circuit the impedance (Z) of which changes in a quantifiable manner as the cadaver decomposes. This hypothesis was tested using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) equipment to apply a current with a fixed amplitude at a single frequency to four cadavers over time and measuring two components of Z, resistance (R) and reactance (Xc). Quadratic regression analysis between Z and accumulated degree days (ADD) showed a statistically significant parabolic relationship. The parabolic relationship poses an initial challenge to the use of the method, and additional research is needed to address this issue. However, the results of the reported research support the hypothesis that Z measured using BIA has a relationship to PMI. |
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| Keywords: | forensic science forensic taphonomy forensic pathology forensic anthropology postmortem interval human decomposition bioelectrical impedance analysis |
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