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Spatial distributions of carbon, nitrogen and sulfur isotope ratios in human hair across the central United States
Author(s) -
Valenzuela Luciano O.,
Chesson Lesley A.,
O'Grady Shan P.,
Cerling Thure E.,
Ehleringer James R.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
rapid communications in mass spectrometry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.528
H-Index - 136
eISSN - 1097-0231
pISSN - 0951-4198
DOI - 10.1002/rcm.4934
Subject(s) - chemistry , nitrogen , sulfur , carbon fibers , isotopes of carbon , isotope , environmental chemistry , organic chemistry , total organic carbon , nuclear physics , materials science , physics , composite number , composite material
We present data on the carbon (δ 13 C), nitrogen (δ 15 N) and sulfur (δ 34 S) isotope ratios of human hair collected in the central portions of the USA. These elements are incorporated into hair from the diet and thus provide a record of dietary inputs that may also document geospatial patterns. We detected regional differences in hair δ 34 S values across the USA, with the lowest values in the northern Great Plains and increasing values towards the east, west and south. In contrast, no statistically significant patterns were detected in the spatial variation of human hair δ 13 C and δ 15 N values. Using δ 34 S values and a Geographic Information System approach, we created a map (‘sulfur isoscape’). The accuracy of the map was tested using hair samples not included in its generation. We conclude that sulfur isotope analysis may represent a new tool to investigate the movements and/or region‐of‐origin of humans. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.