Analysis of human teeth and bones from the chalcolithic period by X-ray spectrometry

Synchrotron microprobe and X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRFS) were used to analyse several teeth and pieces of bone, respectively, originating fro m subjects of the chalcolithic period. A synchrotron microprobe with 100 mu m resolution and monochromatic photons of 18 keV were used to scan teeth f rom the root to the enamel. Bones were analysed by XRFS for their amount of trace elements, using a spectrometer based on a three-axial geometry and a n incident beam of 17.4 keV. The detected elements for both analytical proc edures were P, K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Pr, Sr and Pb. The results show high concentrations of Mn, Fe and Cu for different tooth regions when compared w ith data from contemporary subjects. Moreover, the high levels of Br and Sr can be associated with environment influence and dietary habits rich in pr otein, especially seafood. It is remarkable that lead is always of the orde r of magnitude of the detection limit, which is 1-2 mu g/g in all analysed teeth. Furthermore, the microprobe analysis of these samples showed that th e highest concentration of the heavy metals increases from the outer enamel to the inner dentine root. For the analysed bone samples of women and men, the most important aspects concerning the elemental concentrations are the high levels of Mn and Br and the low concentrations of Pb, as found for te eth. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.