Human bone and teeth fragments can be useful evidence when found in crime scenes and/or mass
burials sites. The elemental and isotopic composition of these samples can provide information about
environmental exposure events and could also be used to distinguish different individuals. The
development and application of robust analytical methods for the quantification of trace elements in
these biological matrices may lead to a better understanding of the potential utility of these
measurements in forensic analyses.
In this paper, we demonstrate the possibility of conducting quantitative analysis of trace metals found
in bone remains and suggest a strategy to discriminate between individuals, based on this information. A
LA-ICP-SF-MS method using non-matrix matched standard calibration was developed and optimized
with bone standard reference materials (SRMs) and subsequently applied to the analysis of real samples.
The developed method requires micrograms amount of sample (vs. milligrams required for solutionbased
analysis) while also reducing the analysis time and resulting in good accuracy (typically