Abstract
Analysing the isotope ratio of light elements in human tissue of an unknown person helps to reconstruct the life history with regard to geographical origin and/or typical food supply. In this study the isotope ratios of the bio-elements in hair samples of 111 persons from 13 different countries all over the world were measured with the aim of provenance determination. The results indicated that individuals from Costa Rica and Brazil can be differentiated from typical European individuals by δ13C, Australians by δ34S and δ2H in hair samples. The combination and evaluation of the data by multivariate statistical analysis considerably improved origin assignment. Investigation of hair samples from a number of individuals from one particular region (southern Germany) yielded remarkable variation of isotopic values indicating different nutritional habits. The possibilities and limitations of this method in its current state are demonstrated and discussed.
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Acknowledgments
The project was financially supported by The Friedrich Baur Foundation, Munich, and the Police Headquarters of Munich. The samples were partly provided by different Police Departments in Germany, especially from the Police Headquarters of Munich. Scalp hair samples from different parts of the world were collected by members of the Institute of Forensic Medicine, Munich and numerous donors all over the world. Dr. Monika Kriner from the Institute of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology, University of Munich, reviewed the statistical interpretations.
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Mützel (Rauch), E., Lehn, C., Peschel, O. et al. Assignment of unknown persons to their geographical origin by determination of stable isotopes in hair samples. Int J Legal Med 123, 35–40 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-008-0286-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-008-0286-7