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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 31, 2026

Sampling and Pretreatment of Tooth Enamel Carbonate for Stable Carbon and Oxygen Isotope Analysis
07:57

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A new method for relative Sr determination in human teeth enamel.

Fernando Alvira1, Fernando Ramirez Rozzi, Gustavo Torchia

  • 1Centro de Investigaciones Opticas, (CONICET La Plata, CIC), CC 124, 1900, La Plata, Argentina.

Journal of Anthropological Sciences = Rivista Di Antropologia : JASS
|July 16, 2011
PubMed
Summary

This study introduces femtosecond Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (fs-LIBS) to map strontium in teeth. This method precisely measures Sr/Ca ratios in dental enamel, aiding diet and mobility studies in ancient and modern humans.

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Area of Science:

  • Paleoanthropology
  • Biogeochemistry
  • Analytical Chemistry

Background:

  • Strontium to calcium (Sr/Ca) ratios in dental tissues can reflect diet and mobility.
  • Accurate and precise methods are needed to analyze these ratios in hard dental tissues.
  • Micro-analysis of enamel provides detailed insights into life history.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To present a novel method for determining Sr/Ca changes in dental enamel.
  • To validate the use of femtosecond Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (fs-LIBS) for micro-mapping Sr/Ca ratios.
  • To assess the precision and sensitivity of fs-LIBS for analyzing enamel microstructures.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized femtosecond Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (fs-LIBS) for micro-mapping.
  • Analyzed Sr/Ca ratios in the enamel of human lower third molars.
  • Investigated Sr/Ca variations along the striae of Retzius.

Main Results:

  • fs-LIBS successfully detected variations in relative Sr/Ca ratios within enamel.
  • Consistent Sr/Ca ratios were observed along individual striae.
  • The method demonstrated a precision better than 95% and sensitivity to inter- and intra-striae variations.

Conclusions:

  • fs-LIBS is a precise and sensitive technique for analyzing Sr/Ca ratios in dental enamel.
  • This method offers a fast and simple way to infer diet and mobility.
  • Applicable to both modern human populations and fossil hominids for paleoenvironmental reconstructions.