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The effects of decomposition and environment on antemortem H-Pb-Sr isotope compositions and degradation of human scalp hair: Actualistic taphonomic observations

Forensic science international, 2020-07, Vol.312, p.110336, Article 110336 [Peer Reviewed Journal]

2020 The Author(s) ;Copyright © 2020 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. ;2020. The Author(s) ;ISSN: 0379-0738 ;ISSN: 1872-6283 ;EISSN: 1872-6283 ;DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2020.110336 ;PMID: 32526643

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Title:
The effects of decomposition and environment on antemortem H-Pb-Sr isotope compositions and degradation of human scalp hair: Actualistic taphonomic observations
Author: Kootker, Lisette M. ; von Holstein, Isabella C.C. ; Broeders, Jelle ; Wescott, Daniel J. ; Davies, Gareth R. ; Mickleburgh, Hayley L.
Subjects: Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Anthropology ; Autopsy ; Bioavailability ; Biochemistry ; Biodegradation ; Biokemi ; Bones ; Cleaning protocol ; Decomposition ; Degradation ; Diagenesis ; Diet ; Donations ; Environmental degradation ; Environmental effects ; Environmental Exposure ; Female ; Fibers ; Forensic anthropology ; Forensic Pathology ; Forensic science ; Forensic sciences ; Forensic taphonomy ; Hair ; Hair - chemistry ; Hair analysis ; Human remains ; Human scalp hair ; Humans ; Hydrogen ; Hydrogen - analysis ; Identification ; Isotope composition ; Isotope ratios ; Isotopes - analysis ; Isotopic analysis ; Keratin ; Leaching ; Lead ; Lead - analysis ; Light microscopy ; Mass Spectrometry ; Microscopy ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Middle Aged ; Morphology ; Optical microscopy ; Postmortem Changes ; Postmortem degradation ; Precipitation ; Preservation ; Scalp ; Scanning electron microscopy ; Strontium isotopes ; Strontium Isotopes - analysis ; Taphonomy
Is Part Of: Forensic science international, 2020-07, Vol.312, p.110336, Article 110336
Description: •Within days after exposure, biogenic H–Pb–Sr isotope compositions of hair were altered•Perimortem biogenic H–Pb–Sr isotope signatures could not be retrieved•Laboratory protocols strongly affect δ2H values: HCl leaching step seems essential•No relationship was found between degree of physical hair degradation and isotopic shift•Hair isotope data must be interpreted with caution in medicolegal cases Multi-isotope analysis (e.g., Sr–Pb–O–H–C–N) of human scalp hair is routinely used in forensic investigations of human remains to constrain the geographic origin of unidentified bodies, and to investigate antemortem mobility patterns. However, while it is known that postmortem processes can affect the preservation of, or even overprint, the biogenic isotopic signatures in hair, the speed and nature of these processes have rarely been studied. This study investigates the effects of decomposition and environment on the H–Pb–Sr isotope compositions of human hair as well as the relationship between structural hair shaft degradation and isotopic signature change over time. Human scalp hair samples from four body donations were collected at different stages throughout gross body decomposition. The willed-donated bodies were placed to decompose outdoors at the Forensic Anthropology Research Facility (FARF) at Texas State University. Hair fibers from two of the donations were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and high-resolution light microscopy (HRLM). Chemical and microbiological degradation of hair fibers occurred rapidly after placement of the body outdoors. Measurements of scalp hair isotopic composition demonstrated that H–Pb–Sr isotope ratios were altered within days after environmental exposure, presumably by deposition, leaching and/or exchange with the local bioavailable soil, and vapor. The degree of physical hair degradation and changes in H–Pb–Sr isotope composition were not correlated. We conclude that antemortem isotopic H–Pb–Sr isotope ratios are difficult to recover in hairs derived from decomposing whole bodies.
Publisher: Ireland: Elsevier B.V
Language: English
Identifier: ISSN: 0379-0738
ISSN: 1872-6283
EISSN: 1872-6283
DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2020.110336
PMID: 32526643
Source: MEDLINE
SWEPUB Freely available online
ProQuest Central

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The effects of decomposition and environment on antemortem H-Pb-Sr isotope compositions and degradation of human scalp hair: Actualistic taphonomic observations

2020 The Author(s) ;Copyright © 2020 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. ;2020. The Author(s) ;ISSN: 0379-0738 ;ISSN: 1872-6283 ;EISSN: 1872-6283 ;DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2020.110336 ;PMID: 32526643

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