Stable isotope relationships between apatite phosphate (δ¹⁸O), structural carbonate (δ¹⁸O, δ¹³C), and collagen (δ²H, δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N, δ³⁴S) in modern human dentine

Abstract

Rationale The use of multi‐isotopic analysis (δ2H, δ13C, δ15N, δ18O, and δ34S values) of modern human body tissues for provenancing of unknown individuals in forensics is increasing. Tooth dentine develops during childhood and adolescence, therefore providing geographical information from that period of life. Tooth apatite δ18O values are commonly used for the reconstruction of drinking water values, and H–C–N–S isotope ratios in collagen supply additional information about the composition of diet. We tested if dentine collagen δ2H values provide similar information to apatite δ18O values with a proof‐of‐concept study. Methods Tooth samples were taken from modern‐day individuals born in different regions of the world. Apatite and collagen were prepared from dentine. Stable isotope analyses were performed on apatite phosphate oxygen (δ18Ophos); oxygen and carbon of the structural carbonate (δ18Ocarb, δ13Ccarb); and hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur of the collagen (δ2Hcoll, δ13Ccoll, δ15N, δ34S). Results δ18Ophos, δ18Ocarb, and δ2Hcoll values are highly correlated in modern human dentine. There are significant relationships of δ18O values in the apatite fraction and δ2H values in the collagen fraction with local δ18O and δ2H precipitation values, respectively. Pearson correlation coefficients indicate no direct relationship between δ15N values and the isotope ratios of any other element. Weak relationships exist between collagen δ34S values and δ18Ocarb or δ18Ophos values. Conclusions The highly significant correlation of δ18Ophos, δ18Ocarb, and δ2Hcoll values in the modern human dentine implies that measurement of δ2H values in collagen or δ18O values in bioapatite will provide reliable information about the climate at the person's whereabouts.

Identification of a female murder victim found in Burgenland, Austria in 1993

“…The isotope composition of hydrogen in human hair and collagen is mainly related to the local precipitation and tap water values [ 16 , 30–35 ]. The hydrogen isotope values in the bone collagen samples here are comparatively high and suggest that the deceased mainly consumed food and drinking water from warm and dry climate zones ( Figure 3 ).…”

“…The analytical details, including the values for the standards used, are reported in Lehn et al. [ 16 ].…”

Osteological, multi-isotope and proteomic analysis of poorly-preserved human remains from a Dutch East India Company burial ground in South Africa

“…CAM plants have not been explicitly discussed in this research due to the complexity of their mechanisms, as they can produce similar dietary δ 13 C values to both C 3 and C 4 pathway plants. The inorganic (apatite) components of human tissue are analysed in this research and represent the total diet, inclusive of the protein component that is typically represented by collagenous dietary isotope analysis 74 , 75 .…”

Introducing Isotòpia: A stable isotope database for Classical Antiquity

“…All these combinations are considered in Isotòpia. These values can be converted into estimates of δ 18 O ingested water [74][75][76]. Given that some publications only reported calculated δ 18 O drinking-water values, Isotòpia includes a field for these.…”