Application of laser ablation (LA-ICP-SF-MS) for the elemental analysis of bone and teeth samples for discrimination purposes

Abstract Human bone and teeth fragments can be useful evidence when found in crime scenes and/or mass burials sites. The elemental and isotopic composition of these samples can provide information about environmental exposure events and could also be used to distinguish different individuals. The de...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Forensic science international 2010-02, Vol.195 (1), p.17-27
Main Authors: Castro, Waleska, Hoogewerff, Jurian, Latkoczy, Christopher, Almirall, José R
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Accuracy
Biological and medical sciences
Bones
Classification
Criminal investigations
Dental Cementum - chemistry
Dental Enamel - chemistry
Dentin - chemistry
Deoxyribonucleic acid
Discriminant Analysis
Discrimination
DNA
Elemental analysis
Enamel
Femur - chemistry
Forensic Anthropology
Forensic Dentistry
Forensic medicine
Forensic odontology
Forensic osteology
Forensic sciences
General aspects
Human remains
Humans
Humerus - chemistry
Hydroxyapatite
ICP-SF-MS
Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects)
Isotopes
LA-ICP-SF-MS
Lasers
Mass Spectrometry
Medical sciences
Pathology
Public health. Hygiene
Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine
Teeth
Tooth - chemistry
Trace Elements - analysis
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Summary:Abstract Human bone and teeth fragments can be useful evidence when found in crime scenes and/or mass burials sites. The elemental and isotopic composition of these samples can provide information about environmental exposure events and could also be used to distinguish different individuals. The development and application of robust analytical methods for the quantification of trace elements in these biological matrices may lead to a better understanding of the potential utility of these measurements in forensic analyses. In this paper, we demonstrate the possibility of conducting quantitative analysis of trace metals found in bone remains and suggest a strategy to discriminate between individuals, based on this information. A LA-ICP-SF-MS method using non-matrix matched standard calibration was developed and optimized with bone standard reference materials (SRMs) and subsequently applied to the analysis of real samples. The developed method requires micrograms amount of sample (vs. milligrams required for solution-based analysis) while also reducing the analysis time and resulting in good accuracy (typically
ISSN:0379-0738
1872-6283
DOI:10.1016/j.forsciint.2009.10.029