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The development of a tool to predict temperature-exposure of incinerated teeth using colourimetric and hydroxyapatite crystal size data

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Abstract

This study presents a novel tool to predict temperature-exposure of incinerated pig teeth as a proxy for understanding impacts of fire on human teeth. Previous studies on the estimation of temperature-exposure of skeletal elements have been limited to that of heat-exposed bone. This predictive tool was developed using a multinomial regression model of colourimetric and hydroxyapatite crystal size variables using data obtained from unheated pig teeth and teeth incinerated at 300 °C, 600 °C, 800 °C and 1000 °C. An additional variable based on the observed appearance of the tooth was included in the tool. This enables the tooth to be classified as definitely burnt (600 °C–1000 °C) or uncertain (27 °C/300 °C). As a result, the model predicting the temperature-exposure of the incinerated teeth had an accuracy of 95%. This tool is a holistic, robust and reliable approach to estimate temperature of heat-exposed pig teeth, with high accuracy, and may act as a valuable proxy to estimate heat exposure for human teeth in forensic casework.

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Acknowledgements

A sincere gratitude to Professor Robert Fitzpatrick from the Acid Sulfate Soils Centre (ASSC)|Centre for Australian Forensic Soil Science (CAFSS). The University of Adelaide for providing expertise, facility and equipment at Water and Land division, CSIRO, Waite, South Australia. RR would like to give a special thanks to Mr. Anthony Wilkes from the School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, the University of Adelaide, for preparing the samples.

Funding

This work was financially supported by the School of Biological Sciences, the University of Adelaide.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, 50603, Malaysia

    Rabiah A. Rahmat

  2. School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, 5006, Australia

    Rabiah A. Rahmat

  3. School of Mathematical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, 5006, Australia

    Melissa A. Humphries

  4. Australian Centre for Ancient DNA, School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, 5006, Australia

    Jeremy J. Austin

  5. College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, 5042, Australia

    Adrian M. T. Linacre

  6. CSIRO, Land and Water, Locked Bag 2, Glen Osmond, South Australia, 5064, Australia

    Peter Self

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  1. Rabiah A. Rahmat
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Correspondence to Rabiah A. Rahmat.

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The handling of the animal remains in this study was conducted according to the University of Adelaide Animal Ethics.

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Rahmat, R.A., Humphries, M.A., Austin, J.J. et al. The development of a tool to predict temperature-exposure of incinerated teeth using colourimetric and hydroxyapatite crystal size data. Int J Legal Med 135, 2045–2053 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-021-02538-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-021-02538-7

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