Qualitative Analyses of Textile Damage (Cuts and Tears) Applied to Fabrics Exposed to the Decomposition of Carcasses and Associated Insect Activity in an Austral Summer
Fatal stabbings are the leading cause of homicide in countries with restricted access to firearms, such as Australia. The analysis of damage on clothing imparted by a sharp object can assist in the characterization of the weapon. However, decomposition and carrion insects can modify the features of...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-07-01
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| Series: | Insects |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/14/7/618 |
| _version_ | 1797588944057008128 |
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| author | Sotirios Ziogos Ian R. Dadour Kari Pitts Paola A. Magni |
| author_facet | Sotirios Ziogos Ian R. Dadour Kari Pitts Paola A. Magni |
| author_sort | Sotirios Ziogos |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Fatal stabbings are the leading cause of homicide in countries with restricted access to firearms, such as Australia. The analysis of damage on clothing imparted by a sharp object can assist in the characterization of the weapon. However, decomposition and carrion insects can modify the features of the damage, impeding textile damage analysis and crime reconstruction. This study aimed to identify and characterize the modifications of textile damage over 47 days of decomposition during the summer season in Western Australia. Fabric modifications were analyzed on cotton, synthetic, and blended fabrics with standardized cuts and tears, wrapped on 99 stillborn piglets. Six unclothed piglets acted as controls, with three being stabbed. All piglets were placed simultaneously in the field alongside swatches of fabric. Analyses considered taphonomy, insect interactions, and any textile damage using optical microscopy and SEM. The results showed that carrion insects can modify existing cuts and tears and introduce new artifacts on textiles. The 100% cotton fabric was the most affected by mechanical and chemical degradation, especially cuts and areas stained with blood or decomposition fluids. The study highlights the combined effect of multiple factors on textile damage, including the type of fabric, initial damage, bloating, insect activity, and biodegradation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T00:59:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f71652b8590f49dab1db2e61be846228 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-4450 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T00:59:14Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Insects |
| spelling | doaj.art-f71652b8590f49dab1db2e61be8462282023-11-18T19:49:03ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502023-07-0114761810.3390/insects14070618Qualitative Analyses of Textile Damage (Cuts and Tears) Applied to Fabrics Exposed to the Decomposition of Carcasses and Associated Insect Activity in an Austral SummerSotirios Ziogos0Ian R. Dadour1Kari Pitts2Paola A. Magni3School of Medical, Molecular & Forensic Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6150, AustraliaSchool of Medical, Molecular & Forensic Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6150, AustraliaPhysical Evidence, Forensic Science Laboratory, ChemCentre, Bentley, WA 6983, AustraliaSchool of Medical, Molecular & Forensic Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6150, AustraliaFatal stabbings are the leading cause of homicide in countries with restricted access to firearms, such as Australia. The analysis of damage on clothing imparted by a sharp object can assist in the characterization of the weapon. However, decomposition and carrion insects can modify the features of the damage, impeding textile damage analysis and crime reconstruction. This study aimed to identify and characterize the modifications of textile damage over 47 days of decomposition during the summer season in Western Australia. Fabric modifications were analyzed on cotton, synthetic, and blended fabrics with standardized cuts and tears, wrapped on 99 stillborn piglets. Six unclothed piglets acted as controls, with three being stabbed. All piglets were placed simultaneously in the field alongside swatches of fabric. Analyses considered taphonomy, insect interactions, and any textile damage using optical microscopy and SEM. The results showed that carrion insects can modify existing cuts and tears and introduce new artifacts on textiles. The 100% cotton fabric was the most affected by mechanical and chemical degradation, especially cuts and areas stained with blood or decomposition fluids. The study highlights the combined effect of multiple factors on textile damage, including the type of fabric, initial damage, bloating, insect activity, and biodegradation.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/14/7/618taphonomycarrion insectsdegradationhomicidestabbingcotton |
| spellingShingle | Sotirios Ziogos Ian R. Dadour Kari Pitts Paola A. Magni Qualitative Analyses of Textile Damage (Cuts and Tears) Applied to Fabrics Exposed to the Decomposition of Carcasses and Associated Insect Activity in an Austral Summer Insects taphonomy carrion insects degradation homicide stabbing cotton |
| title | Qualitative Analyses of Textile Damage (Cuts and Tears) Applied to Fabrics Exposed to the Decomposition of Carcasses and Associated Insect Activity in an Austral Summer |
| title_full | Qualitative Analyses of Textile Damage (Cuts and Tears) Applied to Fabrics Exposed to the Decomposition of Carcasses and Associated Insect Activity in an Austral Summer |
| title_fullStr | Qualitative Analyses of Textile Damage (Cuts and Tears) Applied to Fabrics Exposed to the Decomposition of Carcasses and Associated Insect Activity in an Austral Summer |
| title_full_unstemmed | Qualitative Analyses of Textile Damage (Cuts and Tears) Applied to Fabrics Exposed to the Decomposition of Carcasses and Associated Insect Activity in an Austral Summer |
| title_short | Qualitative Analyses of Textile Damage (Cuts and Tears) Applied to Fabrics Exposed to the Decomposition of Carcasses and Associated Insect Activity in an Austral Summer |
| title_sort | qualitative analyses of textile damage cuts and tears applied to fabrics exposed to the decomposition of carcasses and associated insect activity in an austral summer |
| topic | taphonomy carrion insects degradation homicide stabbing cotton |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/14/7/618 |
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