Forensics: age written in teeth by nuclear tests.
Establishing the age at death of individuals is an important step in their identification and can be done with high precision up to adolescence by analysis of dentition, but it is more difficult in adults. Here we show that the amount of radiocarbon present in tooth enamel as a result of nuclear bomb testing during 1955-63 is a remarkably accurate indicator of when a person was born. Age is determined to within 1.6 years, whereas the commonly used morphological evaluation of skeletal remains and tooth wear is sensitive to within 5-10 years in adults.
Spalding
Kirsty L
KL
Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Medical Nobel Institute, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden.
Buchholz
Bruce A
BA
Bergman
Lars-Eric
LE
Druid
Henrik
H
Frisén
Jonas
J
D000366:Age Determination by Teeth / Q000379:methods*; D001272:Atmosphere / Q000737:chemistry*; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000378:metabolism; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000737:chemistry*; D004032:Diet; D005553:Forensic Dentistry / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D011847:Radioactive Fallout / Q000032:analysis*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013997:Time Factors
D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D011847:Radioactive Fallout; D002245:Carbon Dioxide