Holiday trip to Norway - a stable isotope project on hair strands of individuals of a travel group from Bavaria

Int J Legal Med. 2023 Jan;137(1):251-258. doi: 10.1007/s00414-022-02839-5. Epub 2022 Jun 4.

Abstract

Hair strands were taken from individuals of a travel group from Bavaria that stayed on the Lofoten Islands/Norway for 3 weeks. By means of serial stable isotope analyses of carbon, nitrogen, sulphur and hydrogen along the hair strands, food-specific changes during travel could be detected. The higher consumption of marine fish led to significant changes of the stable isotope values of nitrogen, sulphur and hydrogen. The highest differences for the values were found in the most proximal part of hair strands which were taken shortly after the trip. The basic values for the isotope distribution of the elements in the hair also indicate specific diets of some individuals that could be confirmed upon request.

Keywords: Bio-elements (C, N, S, H); Diet; Hair segments; Stable isotopes; Travelling.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Carbon Isotopes / analysis
  • Hair / chemistry
  • Holidays*
  • Hydrogen / analysis
  • Nitrogen Isotopes / analysis
  • Nitrogen* / analysis
  • Norway
  • Sulfur

Substances

  • Nitrogen Isotopes
  • Carbon Isotopes
  • Nitrogen
  • Hydrogen
  • Sulfur