title: Evaluation of the efficacy of spatiotemporal Pb isoscapes for provenancing of human remains.
abstract: Geospatially distributed isotopes (isoscapes) from biogeochemically fractionated processes have been applied in many forensic investigations, such as authentication of food and sourcing of drugs. Provenancing of human remains using isotopes has been hindered by a lack of appropriate isoscapes, by changes in these isoscapes over time, and by various homogenization processes. In this study we create spatiotemporal isoscapes for anthropogenic lead (Pb) for the contiguous United States and Europe using literature data from dated sediments, soils and biological tissues. We compare (206)Pb/(207)Pb isoscapes with isoscapes of δ(13)C, δ(18)O and (87)Sr/(86)Sr to determine their relative efficacy for the forensic identification of human remains. We do this comparison using third molar enamel data from 22 United States Air Force Academy cadets with known life trajectories born between 1983 and 1985. We use these spatiotemporal isoscapes with osteologic analyses, hospital records and isotopic analyses of tooth enamel carbonate from permanent teeth to help identify 32 individuals from unmarked graves found in a forgotten 19th century mental asylum cemetery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Colorado College, 14 E. Cache La Poudre, Colorado Springs, CO 80903, United States. Electronic address: austin474@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Austin T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Keller
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, 2355 Faculty Drive, Suite 2P389, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO 80840-6226, United States. Electronic address: Laura.Regan@usafa.edu.
authors.forename: Laura A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Regan
authors.affiliation: Department of Geology, University of Illinois, 605 E. Springfield, MC-235, Champaign, IL 61820, United States. Electronic address: lundstro@illinois.edu.
authors.forename: Craig C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Lundstrom
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Colorado College, 14 E. Cache La Poudre, Colorado Springs, CO 80903, United States. Electronic address: nbower@coloradocollege.edu.
authors.forename: Nathan W
authors.initials: NW
authors.lastname: Bower
mesh_terms: D000071298:Body Remains; D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000737:chemistry*; D017753:Ecosystem; D044707:Forensic Sciences; D006801:Humans; D006859:Hydrogen; D007554:Isotopes; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis*; D008964:Molar, Third / Q000737:chemistry; D010103:Oxygen Isotopes; D013325:Strontium Isotopes; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D007554:Isotopes; D010103:Oxygen Isotopes; D013325:Strontium Isotopes; D007854:Lead; D006859:Hydrogen
keywords: (206)Pb/(207)Pb; Anthropology; Forensic science; Isoscape; Radiogenic; Stable isotope