Application of laser ablation?inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA?ICP?MS) to investigate trace metal spatial distributions in human tooth enamel and dentine growth layers and pulp

Abstract

Human tooth enamel provides a nearly permanent and chronological record of an individual's nutritional status and anthropogenic trace metal exposure during development; it might thus provide an excellent bio archive. We investigated the micro-spatial distribution of trace metals (Cu, Fe, Mg, Sr, Pb, and Zn) in 196 x 339 microm2 raster pattern areas (6.6 x 10(4) microm2) in a deciduous tooth using laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). Ablated areas include prenatal and postnatal enamel, the neonatal line, the dentine-enamel junction (DEJ), dentine, and the dentine-pulp junction. Topographic variations in the surface elemental distribution of lead, zinc, strontium, and iron intensities in a deciduous tooth revealed heterogeneous distribution within and among regions. 43Ca normalized elemental intensities showed the following order: Sr>Mg>>Zn>Pb>Fe>Cu. Elevated zinc and lead levels were present in the dental pulp region and at the neonatal line. This study demonstrates the ability of LA-ICP-MS to provide unique elemental distribution information in micro spatial areas of dental hard tissues. Elemental distribution plots could be useful in decoding nutrition and pollution information embedded in their bio apatite structure.

Reconstructing the life-time lead exposure in children using dentine in deciduous teeth

“…Previous researchers (Arora et al, 2006;Humphrey et al, 2008;Kang et al, 2004) when reporting trace element analyses of dentine and enamel by LA-ICP-MS have erred on the side of caution, by normalizing ion intensities to calcium. This avoids the problem of not knowing the absolute Ca concentration and/or within-dentine Ca variation.…”

Reconstruction of breastfeeding and weaning practices using stable isotope and trace element analyses: A review

“…Using observable incremental microstructure, dietary changes in early life can be reconstructed with much finer time resolution by applying trace element analysis to tooth enamel. For example, 30 mm diameter ablation pits of laser ablation ICP-MS correspond to 10 days of enamel increment (Humphrey et al, 2007), and trace elemental concentrations "scanned" along the two-dimensional plane of tooth enamel section provide day-unit estimates of weaning ages (e.g., Kang et al, 2004;Hare et al, 2011;Austin et al, 2013).…”

Determinants of childhood lead exposure in the postleaded petrol era: The Tooth Fairy cohort from Newcastle upon Tyne

“…The neonatal line was clearly visible in all sections, allowing identification of pre-and post-natally formed enamel and dentine for sampling. 21,23,24 To investigate tooth lead levels, the individual dental phases (pre and post-natal enamel and dentine) were analysed by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) at the School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds. Analytical details are provided in full elsewhere.…”