Originally Posted by
double_barrel
I am surprised and very impressed that it was possible to quantify CO-Hb in a body that had been underwater for so long - I trust they are really confident. I would have expected all the post mortem changes of pH and osmolarity to mess-up the protein 3d structure and destroy the binding sites. I guess they measure the ratio of COHb : O2Hb, but they must break down at a differential rate depending on all sorts of factors. Of course it must be very cold at depth in the English Channel which will help. I am not doubting the result, but I must say a 2nd body with the same evidence would have greatly increased the confidence this this wasn't some kind of artifact.
Would this explain why it took so long for the AAIB to disclose these results? (i.e. the testing procedure in these circumstances is very protracted)