Stable isotope relationships between apatite phosphate (δ18 O), structural carbonate (δ18 O, δ13 C), and collagen (δ2 H, δ13 C, δ15 N, δ34 S) in modern human dentine.

Abstract

The use of multi-isotopic analysis (δ2 H, δ13 C, δ15 N, δ18 O, and δ34 S 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 δ18 O 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 δ2 H values provide similar information to apatite δ18 O values with a proof-of-concept study. 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 (δ18 Ophos ); oxygen and carbon of the structural carbonate (δ18 Ocarb , δ13 Ccarb ); and hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur of the collagen (δ2 Hcoll, δ13 Ccoll , δ15 N, δ34 S). δ18 Ophos , δ18 Ocarb , and δ2 Hcoll values are highly correlated in modern human dentine. There are significant relationships of δ18 O values in the apatite fraction and δ2 H values in the collagen fraction with local δ18 O and δ2 H precipitation values, respectively. Pearson correlation coefficients indicate no direct relationship between δ15 N values and the isotope ratios of any other element. Weak relationships exist between collagen δ34 S values and δ18 Ocarb or δ18 Ophos values. The highly significant correlation of δ18 Ophos , δ18 Ocarb , and δ2 Hcoll values in the modern human dentine implies that measurement of δ2 H values in collagen or δ18 O values in bioapatite will provide reliable information about the climate at the person's whereabouts.