TY - JOUR
T1 - The effects of diet and beauty products on the uptake and storage of 14C in hair and nails
T2 - ramifications for the application of bomb pulse dating to forensic anthropological casework
AU - Johnstone-Belford, E. C.
AU - Jacobsen, G.
AU - Fallon, S. J.
AU - Dipnall, J. F.
AU - Blau, S.
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors would like to thank Rebecca Esmay and Rachel Wood from the Radiocarbon Dating Laboratory (ANU) for sample preparation help and advice. Author E J-B acknowledges funding provided by the Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship and the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (grant no. AP12807 and AP13474 ).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2023
PY - 2023/8
Y1 - 2023/8
N2 - Radiocarbon dating is a useful tool in the examination of unknown human remains. Recent studies have shown that the analysis of hair and nail samples can provide a highly accurate estimation of the year of death (YOD). However, little research has examined factors that may influence the uptake and storage of 14C in these tissues, such as diet, or the use of beauty products. This study measured the level of 14C in human hair and nail samples collected from living individuals to determine whether diet, and the use of hair dye or nail polish, has a significant impact on the estimation of YOD. The results of this study showed that diet did not appear to impact the radiocarbon content in human hair and nail, and thus should not be considered a limitation when analysing samples obtained from unidentified human remains. The use of nail polish, and in the majority of cases, hair dye, did not significantly impact the 14C concentration in nails and hair. While the results of this study are preliminary, they suggest that in most cases, both hair and nail can be successfully analysed using radiocarbon dating to estimate an individual's YOD. However, best practice should involve the analysis of multiple tissue types, to minimise any error that may be introduced as a result of the decedent's use of beauty products.
AB - Radiocarbon dating is a useful tool in the examination of unknown human remains. Recent studies have shown that the analysis of hair and nail samples can provide a highly accurate estimation of the year of death (YOD). However, little research has examined factors that may influence the uptake and storage of 14C in these tissues, such as diet, or the use of beauty products. This study measured the level of 14C in human hair and nail samples collected from living individuals to determine whether diet, and the use of hair dye or nail polish, has a significant impact on the estimation of YOD. The results of this study showed that diet did not appear to impact the radiocarbon content in human hair and nail, and thus should not be considered a limitation when analysing samples obtained from unidentified human remains. The use of nail polish, and in the majority of cases, hair dye, did not significantly impact the 14C concentration in nails and hair. While the results of this study are preliminary, they suggest that in most cases, both hair and nail can be successfully analysed using radiocarbon dating to estimate an individual's YOD. However, best practice should involve the analysis of multiple tissue types, to minimise any error that may be introduced as a result of the decedent's use of beauty products.
KW - Bomb pulse dating
KW - Estimation
KW - Forensic anthropology
KW - Radiocarbon dating
KW - Year of death
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85162893328&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.forsciint.2023.111771
DO - 10.1016/j.forsciint.2023.111771
M3 - Article
C2 - 37385158
AN - SCOPUS:85162893328
SN - 0379-0738
VL - 349
JO - Forensic Science International
JF - Forensic Science International
M1 - 111771
ER -