Quantitative analysis of volatile compounds useful for evaluating postmortem ethanol production in decomposed autopsy specimens.

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K18983
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 58040:Forensics medicine-related
• Research Institution: University of the Ryukyus
• Principal Investigator: IKEMATSU Natsuki 琉球大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 助教 (20848410)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 腐敗性揮発成分 / エタノール死後産生 / ガスクロマトグラフ質量分析装置 / GC-MS/MS / 法医剖検例

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Ethanol analysis in decomposed autopsy cases can be difficult to determine alcohol consumption. One reason for this is that n-propanol, which is used as an indicator of postmortem Ethanol production, is not always detected. In this study, we re-evaluated n-propanol and search for a more suitable alternative compound as a putrefactive indicator by using the femoral muscles of autopsy cases. It was found that the presence of n-propanol is useful as an indicator of decomposition, although the detection rate is low. It was suggested that the ethanol/acetaldehyde concentration ratio could be used as a criterion for determining alcohol consumption.

Free Research Field

法医中毒学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

法医学の教科書では，エタノールの死後産生は同時に検出されるn-プロパノールによって判断出来ると記述されているが，実務ではn-プロパノールの検出がない，あるいはとても微量で，その定量値による飲酒判定は困難な場合が多い．今回の成果によって，n-プロパノールを腐敗指標として使うことの有用性とその限界が示された．また，n-プロパノールに代わる飲酒判定の基準としてエタノール／アセトアルデヒド濃度比が利用できる可能性が示唆された．解剖死体の生前飲酒を誤って解釈しないために有用な研究成果となった．