Earth, Air, Water, and Fire: Histopathology of Environmental Death

Interpretation of deaths in hostile environments may be informed by postmortem microscopic examination of injured tissues. In context with their macroscopic correlates, the commonly observed histologic changes seen in environmental deaths are reviewed—these include exposure (i.e., hypothermia and hyperthermia), fire, electrocution, and water. Rarely observed pathognomonic findings are highlighted. While it may not yield specific findings, microscopic examination is one of the necessary steps of a thorough postmortem examination