Assignment of unknown persons to their geographical origin by determination of stable isotopes in hair samples

Abstract

Analysing the isotope ratio of light elements in human tissue of an unknown person helps to reconstruct the life history with regard to geographical origin and/or typical food supply. In this study the isotope ratios of the bio-elements in hair samples of 111 persons from 13 different countries all over the world were measured with the aim of provenance determination. The results indicated that individuals from Costa Rica and Brazil can be differentiated from typical European individuals by delta(13)C, Australians by delta(34)S and delta(2)H in hair samples. The combination and evaluation of the data by multivariate statistical analysis considerably improved origin assignment. Investigation of hair samples from a number of individuals from one particular region (southern Germany) yielded remarkable variation of isotopic values indicating different nutritional habits. The possibilities and limitations of this method in its current state are demonstrated and discussed.

Relationships among Mercury Concentration, and Stable Isotope Ratios of Carbon and Nitrogen in the Scalp Hair of Residents from Seven Countries: Effects of Marine Fish and C4 Plants Consumption

“…The δ 13 C and δ 15 N values in the Brazilian samples were the highest among the seven countries (Table 1). In agreement with our data, a high level of δ 13 C was reported in the scalp hair [26] and fingernails [25] from Brazilian donors. Not only their C4 plant-enriched diet but also geographical factors may contribute to these high δ 13 C and δ 15 N values.…”

“…The scatter plot of δ 13 C versus Hg concentration for Brazilians (Fig 1) may be typical of donors consuming a C4-plant-enriched diet. High levels of δ 13 C were reported in the scalp hair and fingernails of Brazilians [25], [26], although the Hg concentrations in those tissues were not determined. Interestingly, the δ 13 C values found in the shark muscle sold in the Brazilian markets were negatively correlated with the Hg concentrations (p<0.05).…”

Dietary Heterogeneity among Western Industrialized Countries Reflected in the Stable Isotope Ratios of Human Hair

“…The stable carbon, nitrogen and sulfur isotope ratios presented in our study are consistent with values previously published in smaller datasets of hair and fingernail isotope ratios for a few European countries [20]–[22], [24], [35], [38]. The absolute ranges of carbon (4.5‰), nitrogen (2.5‰) and sulfur (3.5‰) values calculated for the European dataset were smaller than for USA hair samples (6.9‰, 3.2‰ and 11.1‰ for δ 13 C, δ 15 N and δ 34 S values, respectively; Figure 2).…”

“…Corn and other C 4 plants on average have δ 13 C values approximately 14‰ higher than temperate grasses and other C 3 plants (fruits and vegetables; [37]). However, with the exception of the studies on assignment of dietary preferences for residents of Germany conducted by Cornelia C. Metges, Klaus-Jürgen Petzke and many colleagues (see [23] for a review), limited isotopic data exist for modern hair samples of healthy individuals from industrialized European nations other than the United Kingdom (see also [38]). …”

Wie viel Regionalität steckt in Körpergewebe?

“…Zur Bestimmung von geografischer Herkunft und Aufenthaltsorten unbekannter Personen werden an Körperge-weben eines Individuums I.V.-Analysen verschiedener Bioelemente [Wasserstoff (H), Kohlenstoff (C), Stickstoff (N), Sauerstoff (O) und Schwefel (S)] sowie der Geoelemente [Blei (Pb) und Strontium (Sr)] durchgeführt [3,12,14,15]. Alle Menschen nehmen über Nahrung, Getränke und Umwelt die natürlich vorkommenden Isotope der genannten Elemente auf (.…”