Distribution of trace elements within bones in nasal cavity and labyrinth in humans

Area of Science:

• Forensic Anthropology
• Bioarchaeology
• Trace Element Analysis

Background:

• Trace element concentrations in bone tissue exhibit considerable variability.
• This variation occurs both within a single bone and across different bones in the same individual.
• Understanding these variations is crucial for accurate skeletal analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the factors influencing trace element concentrations in nasal cavity and labyrinth bones.
• To evaluate the utility of X-ray-based methods for measuring trace element variations in bone.

Main Methods:

• Utilized detection of characteristic X-rays for concentration profile measurements.
• Employed X-ray fluorescence (XRF) for millimeter-scale variations.
• Applied micro-pixel (micropixe) techniques for micrometer-scale variations.

Main Results:

• Observed substantial variations in trace element concentrations within and between bones of the nasal cavity and labyrinth.
• Identified metabolic activity, environmental exposure, sex, and age as key influencing factors.
• Demonstrated the convenience and applicability of X-ray-based methods for detailed trace element analysis.

Conclusions:

• Trace element distribution in cranial bones is highly variable and influenced by multiple biological and environmental factors.
• X-ray-based techniques, including XRF and micropixe, are effective tools for quantifying these variations at different scales.
• This research provides a foundation for more precise interpretations in fields relying on skeletal trace element analysis.