Von Daalen et al reported the Aquatic Decomposition Score (ADS) for describing decomposition of human bodies in salt water. This consists of three subscores - facial, body and limbs. The authors are from Isala Hospital, Academic Medical Center Amsterdam, Netherlands Forensic Institute and University of Maastricht.
Patient selection: body recovered from the North Sea
Parameters:
(1) changes of skin and body surface
(2) skeletonization
Facial Skin Changes
Skeletonization
Facial ADS
none
none
1
marbling, skin slippage, and/or hair sloughs off
none
2
bloating of eyelids and/or lips
none
3
gray, matte discoloration with crumbly surface
none
4
NA
partial
5
NA
complete
6
Body Skin Changes
Skeletonization
Body ADS
none
none
1
marbling, skin slippage, and/or hair sloughs off
none
2
bloating of abdomen and/or genitals
none
3
gray, matte discoloration with crumbly surface
none
4
NA
partial
5
NA
complete
6
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