The effects of diet and beauty products on the uptake and storage of 14C in hair and nails: ramifications for the application of bomb pulse dating to forensic anthropological casework

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dc.contributor.authorJohnstone-Belford, EC.en_AU
dc.contributor.authorJacobsen, GEen_AU
dc.contributor.authorFallon, SJen_AU
dc.contributor.authorDipnall, JFen_AU
dc.contributor.authorBlau, S.en_AU
dc.date.accessioned2023-09-29T05:08:17Zen_AU
dc.date.available2023-09-29T05:08:17Zen_AU
dc.date.issued2023-08en_AU
dc.date.statistics2023-09-29en_AU
dc.description.abstractRadiocarbon 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. © Crown Copyright 2023, Published by Elsevier B.Ven_AU
dc.description.sponsorshipThe 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).en_AU
dc.identifier.articlenumber111771en_AU
dc.identifier.citationJohnstone-Belford, E. C., Jacobsen, G., Fallon, S. J., Dipnall, J. F., & Blau, S. (2023). The effects of diet and beauty products on the uptake and storage of 14C in hair and nails: ramifications for the application of bomb pulse dating to forensic anthropological casework. Forensic Science International, 349, 111771. do:10.1016/j.forsciint.2023.111771en_AU
dc.identifier.issn0379-0738en_AU
dc.identifier.journaltitleForensic Science Internationalen_AU
dc.identifier.urihttps://apo.ansto.gov.au/handle/10238/15133en_AU
dc.identifier.volume349en_AU
dc.language.isoenen_AU
dc.publisherElsevier BVen_AU
dc.relation.urihttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2023.111771en_AU
dc.subjectCarbon 14en_AU
dc.subjectAge estimationen_AU
dc.subjectDieten_AU
dc.subjectHairen_AU
dc.subjectNailsen_AU
dc.subjectNuclear forensicsen_AU
dc.subjectHumansen_AU
dc.subjectDeathen_AU
dc.subjectAnthropologyen_AU
dc.titleThe effects of diet and beauty products on the uptake and storage of 14C in hair and nails: ramifications for the application of bomb pulse dating to forensic anthropological caseworken_AU
dc.typeJournal Articleen_AU
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