Isotope and trace element analysis of human teeth and bones for forensic purposes

Isotopic and elemental concentration data can be extremely useful in the identification of human remains. Archaeological, ecological and forensic investigations to date have primarily made use of 87 Sr/ 86 Sr, 143 Nd/ 144 Nd, 18 O/ 16 O and trace element data obtained from analysis of carbonate-hydroxyapatite in bones and teeth, and/or 12 C/ 13 C, 14 N/ 15 N, 18 O/ 16 O and 35 S/ 37 S ratios in bone collagen. However, a wide range of other chemical parameters are potentially useful for intersample comparison and environmental characterization, and increasing attention is being given to hair, nail and skin tissues, which provide dietary and environmental information over shorter time periods than bones and teeth. This paper reviews some of the principles which underlie such work and the current position with regard to modern forensic applications.