ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Published Online: 1 January 2005
Page Count: 5

Postmortem Production of Ethanol in Different Tissues Under Controlled Experimental Conditions
Vujić, DN
Clinical Center Novi Sad,

Simić, MA
Clinical Center Novi Sad,

Petković, SM
Clinical Center Novi Sad,

(Received 16 March 2004; accepted 8 August 2004)

Abstract

The aim of this study was to follow the postmortem ethanol production phenomenon under controlled experimental conditions (temperature, time interval) in different tissues. Specimens of blood, liver, skeletal muscle and kidney were taken from 30 corpses and no chemical preservatives were used in the specimens collected. Ethanol concentrations were detected by gas chromatography. All specimens stored at -20°C and 4°C did not show any change in ethanol concentration in an eight-day time interval. At 20°C and 30°C, all tissues, except blood, showed statistically significant ethanol production over the time interval tested. However, blood sample kept at 30°C, showed statistically significant increase in ethanol production on the 2nd and 4th day comparing to the controls. Thus, we can state that postmortem ethanol production occurs in different tissues, and is increased at higher temperatures and, in general, it is in accordance with the course of time.

Keywords:
forensic science, forensic toxicology, experimental conditions, postmortem production, ethanol

Paper ID: JFS2004109
DOI: 10.1520/JFS2004109
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