Analysis of pathological and non-pathological human skeletal remains by FT-IR spectroscopy

Forensic Sci Int. 2008 Feb 25;175(1):55-60. doi: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2007.05.008. Epub 2007 Jun 18.

Abstract

In this study, we report the chemical analyses of various non-pathological, tuberculosis and syphilis infected bone samples from different burial environments by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), in the framework of a general study of diagenesis. Dating human skeletal remains is one of the most important and yet unreliable aspects of forensic anthropology. In this paper, a new method has been suggested, using the crystallinity index and carbonate-phosphate index as a means of distinction between recent and archaeological, anthropological bone samples. Pathological bone samples were analyzed with the same method to see if changes in crystallinity interfere with the process of dating.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Apatites / analysis
  • Bone and Bones / chemistry
  • Calcium Phosphates / analysis
  • Crystallography
  • Female
  • Forensic Anthropology / methods*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Particle Size
  • Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared*

Substances

  • Apatites
  • Calcium Phosphates
  • carboapatite