The comparison of volatile organic compound profiles between human and non-human bones and its application to human remains detection dogs

IF 2.6 3区医学 Q2 CHEMISTRY, ANALYTICAL

Forensic Chemistry Pub Date : 2025-01-23 DOI:10.1016/j.forc.2025.100642

Marissa Tsontakis , Darshil Patel , Frédérique Ouimet , Clifford Samson , Wesley S Burr , Shari L. Forbes

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Abstract

Human Remains Detection (HRD) dogs are specifically trained to aid law enforcement agencies in search operations for deceased victims. Their olfactory sensitivity and specificity highlight the importance of choosing target odor sources for HRD training. While HRD dogs rely on olfactory cues to locate human remains, it is important to identify which volatile organic compounds (VOCs) they are alerting to among those released during the various stages of the human decomposition process. In this study, VOC profiles from human and non-human bones were collected and analyzed using thermal desorption coupled to comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TD-GC × GC-TOFMS). The non-human decomposition VOC profiles were compared to human VOC profiles obtained from sections of amputated human limbs used as HRD training aids. These limb sections were previously decomposed to the dry remains/skeletonization stage. The olfactory responses of HRD dogs in the presence of these training aids and non-human remains were subsequently investigated with results demonstrating their capability in distinguishing human from non-human remains. Highlighting the differences in VOC profiles between human and non-human decomposition may help to enhance the sensitivity of HRD dogs to human remains while recognizing the importance of using human cadaveric material for training purposes.

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人类与非人类骨骼中挥发性有机化合物的比较及其在遗骸检测犬上的应用

人类遗骸探测犬（HRD）是专门训练来帮助执法机构在搜寻死者的行动。它们的嗅觉敏感性和特异性突出了选择目标气味源进行HRD训练的重要性。虽然HRD犬依靠嗅觉线索来定位人类遗体，但重要的是要确定在人体分解过程的各个阶段释放的挥发性有机化合物（VOCs）中，它们需要警惕哪些。本研究采用热解吸-综合二维气相色谱-飞行时间质谱（TD-GC × GC-TOFMS）分析了人骨和非人骨的挥发性有机化合物（VOC）谱。将非人体分解挥发性有机化合物（VOC）剖面与人类挥发性有机化合物（VOC）剖面进行比较，这些VOC剖面是从作为HRD训练辅助工具的人类截肢部分获得的。这些肢体切片先前被分解为干遗骸/骨骼化阶段。随后研究了HRD犬在这些训练辅助物和非人类遗骸面前的嗅觉反应，结果表明它们有能力区分人类和非人类遗骸。强调人体和非人体分解物中挥发性有机化合物特征的差异，可能有助于提高HRD犬对人类遗骸的敏感性，同时认识到使用人类尸体材料进行训练的重要性。

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来源期刊

Forensic Chemistry CHEMISTRY, ANALYTICAL-

CiteScore

5.70

自引率

14.80%

发文量

审稿时长

46 days

期刊介绍： Forensic Chemistry publishes high quality manuscripts focusing on the theory, research and application of any chemical science to forensic analysis. The scope of the journal includes fundamental advancements that result in a better understanding of the evidentiary significance derived from the physical and chemical analysis of materials. The scope of Forensic Chemistry will also include the application and or development of any molecular and atomic spectrochemical technique, electrochemical techniques, sensors, surface characterization techniques, mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance, chemometrics and statistics, and separation sciences (e.g. chromatography) that provide insight into the forensic analysis of materials. Evidential topics of interest to the journal include, but are not limited to, fingerprint analysis, drug analysis, ignitable liquid residue analysis, explosives detection and analysis, the characterization and comparison of trace evidence (glass, fibers, paints and polymers, tapes, soils and other materials), ink and paper analysis, gunshot residue analysis, synthetic pathways for drugs, toxicology and the analysis and chemistry associated with the components of fingermarks. The journal is particularly interested in receiving manuscripts that report advances in the forensic interpretation of chemical evidence. Technology Readiness Level: When submitting an article to Forensic Chemistry, all authors will be asked to self-assign a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) to their article. The purpose of the TRL system is to help readers understand the level of maturity of an idea or method, to help track the evolution of readiness of a given technique or method, and to help filter published articles by the expected ease of implementation in an operation setting within a crime lab.