Bioapatite is probably
the key factor in the unreplicated success of vertebrates. Chemical
data on bioapatite composition can be achieved on a solid sample by
using different analytical tools such as spectroscopic and spectrometric
methods. As analytical outputs can be affected by the physical–chemical
characteristics of the sample matrix, an internal standard is usually
required to correct and validate the results. Bioapatite lattice can
accommodate iso- and heterovalent substitutions during life or diagenesis
varying its chemical composition through (geological) time. If on
the one hand, this makes bioapatite a unique archive of physical and
chemical information for both the living cycle and the events occurring
after death, on the other, it excludes the identification of a sole
internal standard. Here, we propose a method to measure major element
concentration with specific care for P, Ca, Mg, Na, K, Si, Al, and
Fe, which are the main substituent atoms in bioapatite, through homemade
matrix-matched external calibration standards for laser ablation inductively
coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICPMS). We tested the method
on living and fossil shark teeth, critically comparing the results
obtained using other analytical techniques and certified external
standards. We demonstrated that matrix-matched calibration in LA-ICPMS
is mandatory for obtaining a reliable chemical characterization even
if factors such as matrix aggregation variability, diverse presence
of volatile compounds, the fossilization footprint, and the instrumental
variability can represent further variability parameters.