Decomposition

For other uses, see Decomposition (disambiguation).

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A body will begin to decompose shortly after death. Decomposition can be simplified in two stages: In the first stage, human decomposition is limited to the production of vapors. In the second stage of human decomposition, fluidic materials form and the flesh begins to decompose.

Historically, the progression of human decomposition has been described as taking place in four stages: fresh (autolysis), bloat (putrefaction), decay (putrefaction and carnivores) and dry (diagenesis).

Constituent factors

• Temperature
• The availability of Oxygen
• Prior Embalming
• Cause of death
• Access by insects
• Burial, and depth of burial
• Access by scavengers
• Trauma, including wounds and crushing blows
• Humidity, or dryness
• Rainfall
• Body size and weight
• Clothing
• The surface on which the body rests

Generally an unembalmed adult body buried six feet deep in ordinary soil without a Coffin normally takes ten to twelve years to decompose fully to a skeleton, given a Temperate Climate. A basic guide for the effect of environment on decomposition is given as Casper's Law (or Ratio). This states that when there is free access of air a body decomposises twice as rapidly as if immersed in water and eight times as rapidly than if buried in earth, a ratio of 1:2:8 for air, water and under pressure of earth respectively. The skeleton itself is not permanent; acids in soils can reduce it to unrecognisable components as well (this is one reason given for the lack of human remains found in the wreckage of the Titanic, even in parts of the ship considered inaccessible to scavengers). Freshly skeletonized bone is often called "green" bone and has a characteristic greasy feel. Under certain condition (normally cool, damp soil) bodies may undergo a process known as saponification and develop a waxy substance called Adipocere, caused by the action of soil chemicals on the body's proteins and fats. The formation of adipocere slows decomposition by inhibiting the bacteria that cause putrefaction.

In extremely dry or cold conditions the normal process of decomposition is halted, by either lack of moisture or temperature controls on bacterial and enzymatic action, causing the body to be preserved as a Mummy. Frozen mummies commonly restart the decomposition process when thawed whilst heat dessicated mummies remain so unless exposed to moisture.

The bodies of newborns who never ingested food are an important exception to the normal process of decomposition. They lack the internal microbial flora that generate much of decomposition and quite commonly mummify if kept in even moderately dry conditions.

Decomposition process