Spatial distributions of carbon, nitrogen and sulfur isotope ratios in human hair across the central United States

VALENZUELA, LUCIANO O; CHESSON, LESLEY A; O'GRADY, SHANNON P; CERLING, THURE E; EHLERINGER, JAMES R

RAPID COMMUNICATIONS IN MASS SPECTROMETRY : RCM.

JOHN WILEY & SONS LTD

Año: 2011 vol. 25 p. 861 - 868

0951-4198

Here we present data on the carbon (δ13C), nitrogen (δ15N) and sulfur (δ34S) isotope ratios of human hair collected in the central portions of the U.S. 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 δ34S values across the U.S., 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 δ13C and δ15N values. Using δ34S 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.