Multi-isotopes in human hair: A tool to initiate cross-border collaboration in international cold-cases

Clément P. Bataille*, Saskia T.M. Ammer, Shelina Bhuiyan, Michelle M.G. Chartrand, Gilles St-Jean, Gabriel J. Bowen

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Unidentified human remains have historically been investigated nationally by law enforcement authorities. However, this approach is outdated in a globalized world with rapid transportation means, where humans easily move long distances across borders. Cross-border cooperation in solving cold-cases is rare due to political, administrative or technical challenges. It is fundamental to develop new tools to provide rapid and cost-effective leads for international cooperation. In this work, we demonstrate that isotopic measurements are effective screening tools to help identify cold-cases with potential international ramifications. We first complete existing databases of hydrogen and sulfur isotopes in human hair from residents across North America by compiling or analyzing hair from Canada, the United States (US) and Mexico. Using these databases, we develop maps predicting isotope variations in human hair across North America. We demonstrate that both δ2H and δ34S values of human hair are highly predictable and display strong spatial patterns. Multi-isotope analysis combined with dual δ2H and δ34S geographic probability maps provide evidence for international travel in two case studies. In the first, we demonstrate that multi-isotope analysis in bulk hair of deceased border crossers found in the US, close to the Mexico-US border, help trace their last place of residence or travel back to specific regions of Mexico. These findings were validated by the subsequent identification of these individuals through the Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner in Tucson, Arizona. In the second case study, we demonstrate that sequential multi-isotope analysis along the hair strands of an unidentified individual found in Canada provides detailed insights into the international mobility of this individual during the last year of life. In both cases, isotope data provide strong leads towards international travel.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere0275902
Pages (from-to)1-21
Number of pages21
JournalPLoS ONE
Volume17
Issue number10
Early online date26 Oct 2022
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2022

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Funding:Thisprojectwassupportedbythe Chemical,Biological,Radiological-Nuclearand ExplosivesResearchandTechnologyInitiative [AwardNo.CRTI08-0116RD]awardedtoG.S.J., theCanadianSecurityandSafetyProgram TargetedInvestment[CSSP-2018-TI-2385] awardedtoC.P.B.Thisresearchwasfurther supportedbytheAmericanAcademyofForensic Sciences(AAFS)HumanitarianandHumanRights ResourceCenter(HHRRC)grant,supportedbythe AAFSandNationalInstituteofJustice(U.S. DepartmentofJustice),awardedtoS.T.M.A.Work byG.J.B.wassupportedbyUSNationalScience FoundationgrantsDBI-1565128andDBI-1759730.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 Bataille et al.

Funding

Funding:Thisprojectwassupportedbythe Chemical,Biological,Radiological-Nuclearand ExplosivesResearchandTechnologyInitiative [AwardNo.CRTI08-0116RD]awardedtoG.S.J., theCanadianSecurityandSafetyProgram TargetedInvestment[CSSP-2018-TI-2385] awardedtoC.P.B.Thisresearchwasfurther supportedbytheAmericanAcademyofForensic Sciences(AAFS)HumanitarianandHumanRights ResourceCenter(HHRRC)grant,supportedbythe AAFSandNationalInstituteofJustice(U.S. DepartmentofJustice),awardedtoS.T.M.A.Work byG.J.B.wassupportedbyUSNationalScience FoundationgrantsDBI-1565128andDBI-1759730.

FundersFunder number
HumanitarianandHumanRights ResourceCenter
Hunan Hybrid Rice Research CenterFoundationgrantsDBI-1565128andDBI-1759730
Hunan Hybrid Rice Research Center

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