Zusammenfassung
Reliable determination of time since death in human skeletons or single bones often is limited by methodically difficulties. Determination of the specific activity ratio of natural radionuclides, in particular of Th-232 (Thorium), Th-228 and Ra-228 (Radium) seems to be a new appropriate method to calculate the post mortem interval. These radionuclides are incorporated by any human being, mainly ...
Zusammenfassung
Reliable determination of time since death in human skeletons or single bones often is limited by methodically difficulties. Determination of the specific activity ratio of natural radionuclides, in particular of Th-232 (Thorium), Th-228 and Ra-228 (Radium) seems to be a new appropriate method to calculate the post mortem interval. These radionuclides are incorporated by any human being, mainly from food. So with an individual's death the uptake of radionuclides ends. But the decay of Th-232 produces Ra-228 and Th-228 due to its decay series, whereas Th-228 is continuously built up in the human's bones. Thus, it can be concluded that in all deceased humans at different times after death different activity ratios of Th-228 to Ra-228 will develop in bone. According to this fact it should be possible to calculate time since death of an individual by first analysing the specific activities of Th-228 and Ra-228 in bones of deceased and then determining the Th-228/Ra-228 activity ratio, which can be assigned to a certain post-mortem interval.
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