Stable isotope analysis of modern human hair collected from Asia (China, India, Mongolia, and Pakistan).
We report isotopic data (delta(2)H, delta(18)O n = 196; delta(13)C, delta(15)N n = 142; delta(34)S n = 85) from human hair and drinking water (delta(2)H, delta(18)O n = 67) collected across China, India, Mongolia, and Pakistan. Hair isotope ratios reflected the large environmental isotopic gradients and dietary differences. Geographic information was recorded in H and O and to a lesser extent, S isotopes. H and O data were entered into a recently developed model describing the relationship between the H and O isotope composition of human hair and drinking water in modern USA and pre-globalized populations. This has anthropological and forensic applications including reconstructing environment and diet in modern and ancient human hair. However, it has not been applied to a modern population outside of the USA, where we expect different diet. Relationships between H and O isotope ratios in drinking water and hair of modern human populations in Asia were different to both modern USA and pre-globalized populations. However, the Asian dataset was closer to the modern USA than to pre-globalized populations. Model parameters suggested slightly higher consumption of locally produced foods in our sampled population than modern USA residents, but lower than pre-globalized populations. The degree of in vivo amino acid synthesis was comparable to both the modern USA and pre-globalized populations. C isotope ratios reflected the predominantly C(3)-based regional agriculture and C(4) consumption in northern China. C, N, and S isotope ratios supported marine food consumption in some coastal locales. N isotope ratios suggested a relatively low consumption of animal-derived products compared to western populations.
Thompson
A H
AH
IsoForensics Inc., Salt Lake City, UT 84108. athompson@biology.utah.edu
Chesson
L A
LA
Podlesak
D W
DW
Bowen
G J
GJ
Cerling
T E
TE
Ehleringer
J R
JR
D002244:Carbon / Q000032:analysis; D002247:Carbon Isotopes / Q000032:analysis; D002681:China; D003903:Deuterium / Q000032:analysis; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008986:Mongolia; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000032:analysis; D009587:Nitrogen Isotopes / Q000032:analysis; D010103:Oxygen Isotopes / Q000032:analysis; D010154:Pakistan; D014867:Water / Q000032:analysis; D014881:Water Supply
D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D009587:Nitrogen Isotopes; D010103:Oxygen Isotopes; D014867:Water; D002244:Carbon; D003903:Deuterium; D009584:Nitrogen