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                            Library & Multimedia
 Strontium isotope ratios of human hair from the United States Patterns and aberrations
NCJ Number
              254076
Journal

*Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry* Volume: 5 Issue: 33 Dated: 2019 Pages: 461-472
Author(s)
          B. J. Tipple;
                        et al
Date Published

2019
Length
              12 pages
Annotation
              This article examines the use of strontium isotope ratios of hair as a tool to estimate human provenance.
Abstract
              Strontium isotope ratios of hair may be a valuable tool to estimate human provenance. However, the systematics and mechanisms controlling spatial variation in Sr-87Sr-86 of modern human hair remain unclear. Here, the authors measure Sr-87Sr-86 of hair specimens from across the USA to assess the presence of geospatial relationships. Ninety-eight human hair specimens were collected from salon/barbershop floors in 48 municipalities throughout the conterminous USA. Sr and Sr-87Sr-86 ratios were measured from hair using quadrupole and multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometers, respectively. The Sr and Sr-87Sr-86 ratios of hair were compared with the measured Sr and Sr-87Sr-86 ratios of tap waters from the collection locations. In addition, the Sr-87Sr-86 ratio of hair was compared with the modeled ratios of bedrock and surface waters. Hair color was independent of the Sr-87Sr-86 ratio, but related to Sr. The Sr-87Sr-86 ratios of hair and leachate were not statistically different and were positively correlated; however, in several hair-leachate pairs, the ratios were conspicuously different. The Sr-87Sr-86 ratios of both hair and leachate were linearly correlated with tap water. The Sr-87Sr-86 ratio of hair was also significantly correlated with the modeled ratio of bedrock and surface waters, although the Sr-87Sr-86 ratio of hair was most strongly correlated with the measured ratio of tap water. The Sr-87Sr-86 ratio of hair is related to the ratio of tap water, which varied geographically. The ratio of hair provided geographic information about an individual's recent residence. Differences in the Sr-87Sr-86 ratios of hair and hair leachate may be concomitant with travel and could potentially be used as a screening tool to identify recent movements.
      
  
          Additional Details
Grant Number(s)
        2011-DN-BX-K544


  
  
        
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        Isotope Analyses of Hair as a Trace Evidence Tool to Reconstruct Human Movements: Combining Strontium Isotope with Hydrogen/Oxygen Isotope Data
    
  
  
Date Published: January 1, 2019
    
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