Preserved bodies spring leaks

Although “Body Worlds” -- an anatomical exhibition of corpses and body parts preserved in lifelike poses through a process called plastination -- drew record crowds during its recent engagement at the California Science Center (and spawned a second exhibition, “Body Worlds 2”), a similar display of preserved bodies in San Francisco has developed a nasty problem: Some of the bodies have begun to leak.

Fluid is beading on some of the plasticized corpses on display in “The Universe Within” at the Masonic Center on Nob Hill, a possible sign that the specimens were not properly preserved. The city’s Department of Health has taken samples of the fluid and say it contains no “pathogenic organisms,” but they are still awaiting tests to see exactly what the fluid is.

“If the bodies aren’t properly preserved, we would be concerned that they are decomposing,” Dr. Rajiv Bhatia, director of occupational and environmental health for the department, told the San Francisco Chronicle.

The San Francisco exhibition, developed by Austrian TV producer Gerhard Perner, is not associated with “Body Worlds,” created by German scientist Gunther von Hagens, inventor of the plastination process.

While in Los Angeles, “Body Worlds” had no problems with melting corpses but did suffer the loss of the preserved remains of a 13-week-old fetus that was stolen from the second exhibition in late March.

Museum officials say the fetus, stolen by two women shown on videotape, has not been recovered.

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Diane Haithman