Friday, February 29, 2008

Isotope ratios in hair identify local water


Hydrogen and oxygen isotopes from local drinking water leave signatures in human hair that can help identify where someone has lived in recent years. The study was based on hair from barbershops in 65 cities in 18 states. Such information could provide clues about the origin of unidentified human remains.

But, based on the maps, it doesn't look there's a way to differentiate residents of Phoenix from those in Tucson, or for that matter from snowbirds from the upper Midwest.

1 comment:

  1. The study was based on hair from barbershops in 65 cities in 18 states. Such information could provide clues about the origin of unidentified human remains.

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