Frank Hülsemann1, Christine Lehn2, Sabine Schneider3, Glen Jackson4, Sarah Hill5, Andreas Rossmann6, Nicole Scheid3, Philip J H Dunn5, Ulrich Flenker1, Wilhelm Schänzer1. 1. Institute of Biochemistry, German Sport University Cologne, Am Sportpark Müngersdorf 6, 50933, Köln, Germany. 2. Institute of Forensic Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Nußbaumstr. 26, 80336, München, Germany. 3. Forensic Science Institute, Federal Criminal Police Office, Unit Central Analytics II, Thaerstraße 11, 65193, Wiesbaden, Germany. 4. Forensic and Investigative Science, C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, 308 Oglebay Hall, Morgantown, WV, 26506-6121, USA. 5. LGC, Queens Road, Teddington, TW11 0LY, UK. 6. isolab GmbH, Laboratorium für Stabile Isotope, Woelkestrasse 9/I, 85301, Schweitenkirchen, Germany.
Abstract
RATIONALE: Natural stable carbon (δ(13)C) and nitrogen isotope ratios (δ(15)N) of humans are related to individual dietary habits and environmental and physiological factors. In forensic science the stable isotope ratios of human remains such as hair and nail are used for geographical allocation. Thus, knowledge of the global spatial distribution of human δ(13)C and δ(15)N values is an essential component in the interpretation of stable isotope analytical results. METHODS: No substantial global datasets of human stable isotope ratios are currently available, although the amount of available (published) data has increased within recent years. We have herein summarised the published data on human global δ(13)C andδ(15)N values (around 3600 samples) and added experimental values of more than 400 additional worldwide human hair and nail samples. In order to summarise isotope ratios for hair and nail samples correction factors were determined. RESULTS: The current available dataset of human stable isotope ratios is biased towards Europe and North America with only limited data for countries in Africa, Central and South America and Southeast Asia. The global spatial distribution of carbon isotopes is related to latitude and supports the fact that human δ(13)C values are dominated by the amount of C4 plants in the diet, either due to direct ingestion as plant food, or by its use as animal feed. In contrast, the global spatial distribution of human δ(15)N values is apparently not exclusively related to the amount of fish or meat ingested, but also to environmental factors that influence agricultural production. CONCLUSIONS: There are still a large proportion of countries, especially in Africa, where there are no available data for human carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios. Although the interpretation of modern human carbon isotope ratios at the global scale is quite possible, and correlates with the latitude, the potential influences of extrinsic and/or intrinsic factors on human nitrogen isotope ratios have to be taken into consideration.
RATIONALE: Natural stable carbon (δ(13)C) and nitrogen isotope ratios (δ(15)N) of humans are related to individual dietary habits and environmental and physiological factors. In forensic science the stable isotope ratios of human remains such as hair and nail are used for geographical allocation. Thus, knowledge of the global spatial distribution of human δ(13)C and δ(15)N values is an essential component in the interpretation of stable isotope analytical results. METHODS: No substantial global datasets of human stable isotope ratios are currently available, although the amount of available (published) data has increased within recent years. We have herein summarised the published data on human global δ(13)C andδ(15)N values (around 3600 samples) and added experimental values of more than 400 additional worldwide human hair and nail samples. In order to summarise isotope ratios for hair and nail samples correction factors were determined. RESULTS: The current available dataset of human stable isotope ratios is biased towards Europe and North America with only limited data for countries in Africa, Central and South America and Southeast Asia. The global spatial distribution of carbon isotopes is related to latitude and supports the fact that human δ(13)C values are dominated by the amount of C4 plants in the diet, either due to direct ingestion as plant food, or by its use as animal feed. In contrast, the global spatial distribution of human δ(15)N values is apparently not exclusively related to the amount of fish or meat ingested, but also to environmental factors that influence agricultural production. CONCLUSIONS: There are still a large proportion of countries, especially in Africa, where there are no available data for humancarbon and nitrogen isotope ratios. Although the interpretation of modern humancarbon isotope ratios at the global scale is quite possible, and correlates with the latitude, the potential influences of extrinsic and/or intrinsic factors on humannitrogen isotope ratios have to be taken into consideration.
Authors: Victoria Bernhardt; Thomas Holdermann; Nicole Scheid; Thomas Schäfer; Marcel A Verhoff; Jens Amendt Journal: Int J Legal Med Date: 2017-11-30 Impact factor: 2.686
Authors: Lesley A Chesson; Janet E Barnette; Gabriel J Bowen; J Renée Brooks; John F Casale; Thure E Cerling; Craig S Cook; Charles B Douthitt; John D Howa; Janet M Hurley; Helen W Kreuzer; Michael J Lott; Luiz A Martinelli; Shannon P O'Grady; David W Podlesak; Brett J Tipple; Luciano O Valenzuela; Jason B West Journal: Oecologia Date: 2018-06-28 Impact factor: 3.225
Authors: Michael I Bird; Stefani A Crabtree; Jordahna Haig; Sean Ulm; Christopher M Wurster Journal: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A Date: 2021-05-11 Impact factor: 11.205