title: Using Carbon, Oxygen, Strontium, and Lead Isotopes in Modern Human Teeth for Forensic Investigations: A Critical Overview Based on Data from Bulgaria.
abstract: Isotopic data obtained from human remains can provide information about an individual's origin, migration, and diet. We evaluate the usefulness of carbon, oxygen, strontium, and lead isotopes for forensic investigations by comparing data from Bulgarian teeth with data from other regions. Geo-referencing based on oxygen or strontium isotopes can be misleading due to overlap with other countries in Europe and other continents. Carbon and lead isotopes, in combination with oxygen and strontium isotopes, provide the most useful information for identification of local vs foreigner status. In particular, high-precision Pb isotopes show a distinct "Bulgarian" range; however, it is possible that individuals from other countries in Eastern Europe and/or central to western Asia could have overlapping isotopic values. Additional high-precision multi-isotope data from modern humans from different regions in the world are required to transition from speculative to more quantitative estimation of a geographical place of origin for unidentified human remains.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geological Sciences, University of Florida, 241 Williamson Hall, Gainesville, FL, 32611.
authors.forename: George D
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6041-6687
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Kamenov
authors.affiliation: Department of Geological Sciences, University of Florida, 241 Williamson Hall, Gainesville, FL, 32611.
authors.forename: Jason H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Curtis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002031:Bulgaria; D002247:Carbon Isotopes / Q000032:analysis*; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000737:chemistry*; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants; D005843:Geography; D006801:Humans; D007554:Isotopes / Q000032:analysis; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010103:Oxygen Isotopes / Q000032:analysis*; D013325:Strontium Isotopes / Q000032:analysis*; D014070:Tooth / Q000737:chemistry*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D007554:Isotopes; D010103:Oxygen Isotopes; D013325:Strontium Isotopes; D007854:Lead
keywords: carbon isotopes; forensic science; lead isotopes; oxygen isotopes; place of origin; strontium isotopes; unidentified human remains