Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Application of Trace Elemental Profile of Known Teeth for Sex and Age Estimation of Ajnala Skeletal Remains: a Forensic Anthropological Cross-Validation Study

  • Published:
Biological Trace Element Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Teeth store crucial information needed for medical, environmental, genomics, public health, and forensic anthropological research work. The prolonged forensic utility of teeth is ensured by their extended postmortem longevity as they can resist almost all sorts of chemical, biological, and physical degradations or destructions. The main aim of the present investigation was to utilize the discriminant functions and regression equations generated from the elemental profile of known teeth for estimating sex and age of unknown human skeletal remains excavated from an abandoned well at Ajnala (Amritsar, India). The written records mentioned that 282 Indian mutineer soldiers were killed in July 1857, their cadavers were dumped in the disused well, and then a religious structure was built over the periphery of the said well. These human remains, along with some contextual items, were excavated non-scientifically in April 2014. Preliminary results obtained from application of different forensic anthropological techniques like stable isotope, pulp-tooth area ratio, and mtDNA analyses have indicated that these remains belonged to adult males. In present study, the elemental concentrations of 100 mandibular molars of known age and sex were estimated from wavelength-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrophotometer (WD-XRF) analyzer. The statistical equations so generated from elemental concentrations of known teeth were applied to estimate the probable age and the sex of unknown mandibular teeth (N = 100) collected from Ajnala skeletal assemblage. The elements Pb and As were detected in ancient teeth only whereas the detection of elements like Ba, Se, and Te was limited to modern teeth samples only. When the statistical equations so generated were applied to elemental concentrations of Ajnala teeth, it was found that 96% teeth belonged to adult males and the remaining ones were classified to be that of females. Though sexual differences were observed in concentrations of majority of elements, statistically significant differences were found in elemental concentrations of very few teeth. Age estimates of unknown teeth were found in the age ranges of 19 to 48 years. Thus, the trace elemental analysis results supported the written records that the victims were adult males. The cross-validated application of elemental profiles of known teeth for establishing the identity of unknown teeth is the first forensic anthropological study reported from India. Though the obtained accuracy levels were not found within acceptable forensic threshold limits, the present study results may guide future researches involving human hard tissues. It may be concluded that trace elemental concentrations of teeth may be influenced by the factors like age and sex of an individual and thus cannot be used for accurate and reliable forensic sex or age estimations. Dental trace elemental composition can be used as a forensic tool only if used in conjunction with other morphological or molecular analysis of the unknown dental remains.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Budd P, Montgomery J, Cox A, Krause P, Barreiro B, Thomas RG (1998) The distribution of lead within ancient and modern human teeth: implications for long-term and historical exposure monitoring. Sci Total Environ 220:121–136

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Shashikiran ND, Reddy SVV, Hiremath MC (2000) Estimation of trace elements in sound and carious enamel of primary and permanent teeth by atomic absorption spectrophotometry: an in vitro study. Indian J Dent Res 18(4):157–162

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Carvalho L, Casaca C, Marques JP, Pinheiro T, Cunha S (2001) Human teeth elemental profiles measured by synchrotron X-ray fluorescence: dietary habits and environmental influence. X-Ray Spectrom 30:190–193

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Carvalho L, Marques P, Marques F, Casaca C (2004) Synchrotron microprobe determination of the elemental distribution in human teeth of the Neolithic period. X-Ray Spectrom 33:55–60

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Kaličanin M, Nikolić S (2008) Potentiometric stripping analysis of zinc and copper in human teeth and dental materials. J Trace Elem Med Biol 22:93–99

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Fischer A, Wiechuła D, Przybyła-Misztela C (2013) Changes of concentrations of elements in deciduous teeth with age. Biol Trace Elem Res 154(3):427–432

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  7. Pemmer B, Roschger A, Wastl A, Hofstaetter JG, Wobrauschek P, Simon R, Thaler W, Roschger P, Klaushofer K, Streli C (2013) Spatial distribution of the trace elements zinc, strontium and lead in human bone tissue. Bone 57(1):184–193

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  8. Kierdorf U, Stoffels D, Kierdorf H (2014) Element concentrations and element ratios in antler and pedicle bone of yearling red deer (Cervus elaphus) stags—a quantitative X-ray fluorescence study. Biol Trace Elem Res 162(1–3):124–133

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Christensen M, Smith A, Thomas M (2012) Validation of X-ray fluorescence spectrometry for determining osseous or dental origin of unknown material. J Forensic Sci 57(1):47–51

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Budd P, Montgomery J, Evans J, Barreiro B (2000) Human tooth enamel as a record of the comparative lead exposure of prehistoric and modern people. Sci Total Environ 263(1–3):1–10

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Castro W, Hoogewerff J, Latkoczy C, Almirall JR (2010) Application of laser ablation (LA-ICP-SF-MS) for the elemental analysis of bone and teeth samples for discrimination purposes. Forensic Sci Int 195:17–27

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Zaichick S, Zaichick V, Karandeshev VK, Moskvina IR (2011) The effect of age and gender on 59 trace-element contents in human rib bone investigated by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Biol Trace Elem Res 143:41–57

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Kumagai A, Fujita Y, Endo S, Itai K (2012) Concentrations of trace element in human dentin by sex and age. Forensic Sci Int 219(1–3):29–32

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Pye K (2004) Isotope analyses of human teeth and bones for forensic purposes. In: Pye K, Croft DJ (eds) Forensic geoscience: principles, techniques, and applications, vol 232. The Geological Society, Special Publications, London, pp 215–236

    Google Scholar 

  15. Bartelink EJ, Berg GE, Beasley MM, Chesson LA (2014) Application of stable isotope forensics for predicting region of origin of human remains from past wars and conflicts. Ann Anthropol Pract 38:124–136

    Google Scholar 

  16. Font L, Van der Peijl G, Van Leuwen C, Van Wetten I, Davies GR (2015) Identification of the geographical place of origin of an unidentified individual by multi-isotope analysis. Sci Justice 55:34–42

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Pinheiro T, Carvalho ML, Casaca C, Barreiros MA, Cunha AS, Chevallier P (1999) Microprobe analysis of teeth by synchrotron radiation: environmental contamination. Nucl Instrum Meth B 158:393–398

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Stoeltzner H (1908) The influence of strontium feeding on the chemical composition of growing bones. Biochem Z 12:119–137

    Google Scholar 

  19. Hodges R, MacDonald N, Nusbaum R, Staearns R, Ezmirlian F, Spain P, McArthur C (1950) The strontium content of human bones. J Biol Chem 185:519–525

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Parker RB, Toots H (1970) Minor elements in fossil bone. Geol Soc Am Bull 81:925–932

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Kohn JM, Morris J, Olin P (2013) Trace element concentrations in teeth—a modern Idaho baseline with implications for archeometry, forensics, and paleontology. J Archaeol Sci 40(4):1689–1699

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Derise NL, Ritchey S (1974) Mineral composition of normal human enamel and dentin and the relation of composition to dental caries: II. Microminerals. J Dent Res 53:853–858

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Lane DW, Peach DF (1997) Some observations on the trace element concentrations in human dental enamel. Biol Trace Elem Res 60(1–2):1–11

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Fischer A, Wiechula D (2016) Age-dependent changes in Pb concentration in human teeth. Biol Trace Elem Res 173(1):47–54

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Nowak B, Kozłowski H (1998) Heavy metals in human hair and teeth—the correlation with metal concentration in the environment. Biol Trace Elem Res 62(3):213–218

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Nowak B (1996) Occurrence of heavy metals, sodium, calcium, and potassium in human hair, teeth, and nails. Biol Trace Elem Res 52(1):11–22

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Reitznerová E, Amarasiriwardena D, Kopcakova M, Barnes RM (2000) Determination of some trace elements in human tooth enamel. Fresenius J Anal Chem 367:748–754

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Bloch P, Shapiro M, Soule M, Close A, Revich B (1998) Assessment of lead exposure of children from K-XRF measurements of shed teeth. Appl Radiat Isot 49(5–6):703–705

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Saiki M, Adachi L, Adachi E (2009) Elemental comparison in sound and carious human teeth by instrumental neutron activation analysis. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 282(1):29–32

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Frank M, Sargentini-Maier L, Turlot C, Leroy F (1989) Zinc and strontium analyses by energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence in human permanent teeth. Arch Oral Biol 34:593–597

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Buoso MC, Fazinic S, Hague AMI, Moschini G, Volpe A, Caravalho GU (1992) Heavy element distribution profiles in archaeological samples of human tooth enamel and dental using the proton-inducted X-ray emission technique. Nucl Instr Meth Physics Res 68(1–4):269–272

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Rautray T, Das S, Rautray A (2010) In situ analysis of human teeth by external PIXE. Nucl Instr Meth Physics Res B 268:2371–2374

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Baranowska I, Barchański L, Bąk M, Smolec B, Mzyk Z (2004) X-ray fluorescence spectrometry in multielemental analysis of hair and teeth. Pol J Environ Stud 13(6):639–646

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Cooper F (1858) The Crisis in the Punjab: From the 10th of May Until the Fall of India. Smith Elders & Co., London, pp 151–170

    Google Scholar 

  35. Bates C, Carter M (2017) The mutiny at the margins: new perspectives on the Indian uprisings of 1857. 7th vol. Documents of the Indian uprising. Sage Publications India Pvt. Ltd, New Delhi, pp 124–132

    Google Scholar 

  36. Sehrawat JS, Pathak RK, Kaur J (2016) Human remains from Ajnala, India, 2014: short fieldwork report. Bioarchaeol Near East 10:82–90

    Google Scholar 

  37. IBM SPSS (2012) Statistics for Windows, version 21.0. IBM Corp, Armonk, NY

    Google Scholar 

  38. Gonzalez-Rodriguez J, Fowler F (2013) A study on the discrimination of human skeletons using X-ray fluorescence and chemometric tools in chemical anthropology. Forensic Sci Int 231:407 e.1–407 e.6

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Molleson T (1998) Trace elements in human teeth. In: Grupe G et al (eds) Trace elements in environmental history. Springer-Verlag, Berlin Heidelberg, pp 67–82

    Google Scholar 

  40. Mulhem DM (2008) Differentiating human from nonhuman skeletal remains. In: Blau S, Ubelaker DC (eds) Handbook for forensic anthropology and archaeology. Left Coast Press, Walnut Creek, pp 153–163

    Google Scholar 

  41. Schultz JJ (2012) Determining the forensic significance of skeletal remains. In: Dirkmaat DC (ed) A companion to forensic anthropology. Blackwell Publishing Ltd, Hoboken, NJ, pp 66–84

  42. Amr M (2011) Trace elements in Egyptian teeth. Int J Phys Sci 6(27):6241–6245

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Amr MA, Helal AF (2010) Analysis of trace elements in teeth by ICP-MS: implications for caries. J Phys Sci 21(2):1–10

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Liu HY, Chuang CY, Chiu HL, Yang CW, Sun YC (2013) Study of P, Ca, Sr, Ba and Pb levels in enamel and dentine of human third molars for environmental and archaeological research. Adv Archaeol 3(2):71–77

    Google Scholar 

  45. Nganvongpanit K, Buddhachat K, Piboon P, Euppayo T, Mahakkanukrauh P (2017) Variation in elemental composition of human teeth and its application for feasible species identification. Forensic Sci Int 271:33–42

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Teruel J, Alcolea A, Hernández A, Ruiz A (2015) Comparison of chemical composition of enamel and dentine in human, bovine, porcine and ovine teeth. Arch Oral Biol 60(5):768–775

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Sukumar A (2008) Human exposure assessment of element pollution for environmental health implications: teeth as a biomonitoring tool. J Geosci Environ Protect 6:37–53

    Article  Google Scholar 

  48. Reynard B, Balter V (2014) Trace elements and their isotopes in bones and teeth: diet, environments, diagenesis, and dating of archaeological and paleontological samples. Palaeogeogr Palaeoclimatol Palaeoecol 41:4–16

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. Opera C, Szalanski PJ, Gustova MV, Opera IA, Buzguta V (2009) Multivariate comparison of elemental concentrations in human teeth. Appl Radiat Isot 67:2142–2145

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. Nganvongpanit K, Buddhachat K, Brown J, Klinhom S, Pitakarnnop T, Mahakkanukrauh P (2016) Preliminary study to test the feasibility of sex identification of human (Homo sapiens) bones based on differences in elemental profiles determined by handheld X-ray fluorescence. Biol Trace Elem Res 173:21–29

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  51. Leventouri T, Antonakos A, Kyriacou A, Venturelli R, Liarokapis E, Perdikatsis V (2009) Crystal structure studies of human dental apatite as a function of age. Int J Biomat 2009:6

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  52. Al-Quattan SI, Elfawal MA (2010) Significance of teeth lead accumulation in age estimation. J Forensic Legal Med 17:325–328

    Article  Google Scholar 

  53. Khandekar N, Raghunath R, Mishra UC (1986) Lead levels in teeth of an urban Indian population. Sci Total Environ 58:231e6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  54. Sehrawat JS, Raj Kamal (2018) Mitochondrial DNA and stable isotope analyses as molecular and chemical signatures of identity victims: a combined approach for provenancing unknown skeletal remains from India. Proceedings of 70th Annual Scientific Meeting of American Academy of Forensic Sciences, Seattle, Washington (USA), February 19-24; pp. 188–189

  55. Sehrawat JS, Singh M, Pathak RK (2017) Age estimation from pulp-tooth area ratio (PTR) of the canines collected from the Ajnala skeletal remains: a forensic anthropological case report. In: Kapoor et al (eds) Anthropology and Forensic Science: The Current Dynamism. Selective & Scientific Books publishers, New Delhi, pp 111–119

    Google Scholar 

  56. Steadman LT, Brudevold F, Smith FA, Gardner DE, Little MF (1959) Trace elements in Indian ancient teeth. J Dental Res 38(2):285–292

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  57. Bandyopadhyay E, Sehrawat JS, Rai N, Raghavan M (2017) Ancient genomics in India: clarifying the maternal origins of 160-yearold human remains. Can J Biotechnol 1:13

    Article  Google Scholar 

  58. Zimmerman HA, Meizel-Lambert CJ, Schultz JJ, Sigman ME (2015) Chemical differentiation of osseous, dental and non-skeletal materials in forensic anthropology using elemental analysis. Sci Justice 55:131–138

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  59. Lugli F, Cipriani A (2018) Comment on: metals in bones of the middle-aged inhabitants of Sardinia island (Italy) to assess nutrition and environmental exposure[Bocca et al. (2018), Environ Sci Pollut Res]. Environ Sci Pollut Res 25:33827–33831. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-3330-2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  60. Fischer A, Wiechuła D, Postek-Stefanska L, Kwapulinski J (2009) Concentration of metals in maxilla and mandible deciduous and permanent human teeth. Biol Trace Elem Res 132(1–3):19–26

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

Authors wish to thank all the individuals who gave their consent for using their extracted teeth for the study. We are also thankful to the staff of Oral Health Centre of Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector-32, Chandigarh, India, for their support in collecting the samples. We are highly indebted to the anonymous reviewers whose valuable suggestions and inputs helped authors further improve the scientific quality of this manuscript.

Funding

Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), Department of Science and Technology (DST) Govt. of India, New Delhi, provided financial support sanctioned to the First author in the form of ‘Core Research Grant’ (Animal Sciences) vide Grant No SERB/F/4790/2018-2019, which helped in conceptualization, experimentation, and designing of present brief communication. Second author is thankful to UGC, New Delhi for granting Senior Research Fellowship (No. 6423884/(NET 2013)) which helped in preparation of this manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anthropology, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160014, India

    J.S. Sehrawat

  2. UGC-SRF, Institute of Forensic Science and Criminology, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India

    Monika Singh

Authors
  1. J.S. Sehrawat
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Monika Singh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to J.S. Sehrawat.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Sehrawat, J., Singh, M. Application of Trace Elemental Profile of Known Teeth for Sex and Age Estimation of Ajnala Skeletal Remains: a Forensic Anthropological Cross-Validation Study. Biol Trace Elem Res 193, 295–310 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-019-01712-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-019-01712-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation