Carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis

Ambrose, S.H. 1986 Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis of human and animal diet in Mrica. Journal of Human Evolution 15 707-731. 

Fig. 1.9 Tamsin O Connell and students preparing samples of bone and hair for carbon and nitrogen isotopes analysis in the Dorothy Garrod Laboratory for Isotopic Analysis at Cambridge University...

Sampling protocols for carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis are fairly simple, as is the extraction procedure. This method requires the extraction of the protein collagen from bone, and then the further purification of this collagen for isotope analysis. SIA often requires only a few hundred milligrams of bone, less if the bone is well preserved. 

Reed, D.M. 1994 Ancient Maya diet at Copan, Honduras, as determined through the analysis of stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes. In Sobolik, K.D., ed., Paleonutrition The Diet and Health of Prehistoric Americans. Occasional Paper 22, Center for Archaeological Investigations, Carbondale, University of Southern Illinois 210-221. 

Sealy, J. (1997) Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios and coastal diets in the Later Stone Age of South Africa a comparison and critical analysis of two data sets. Ancient Biomolecules 1, 131 147. 

Hobson KA, Alisauskas RT, Clark RG (1993) Stable-nitrogen isotope emiehment in avian tissnes dne to fasting and nutritional stress implications for isotopic analysis of diet. Condor 95 388-394 Hobson KA, Schell DM (1998) Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope patterns in baleen from eastern Arctie bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus). Can J Fish Aquat Sci 55 2601-2607... 

Pathways of carbon flow in natural environments have also been reconstracted using bulk stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes as well as compound-specific isotopic analysis of individual biomarker lipid component (Hayes et al, 1990) based on the fractionations involved during primary (photosynthetic) and secondary (heterotrophic) processes. Recently, compound-specific radiocarbon analysis of individual biomarker hpid has been shown to be a valuable technique to determine the source of marine organic matter (Eglinton et al., 1997). 

An analyzer for the analysis of hydrogen and oxygen isotope values only has one pyrolysis furnace, as opposed to the combustion and reduction tubes in the EA for the measurement of carbon and nitrogen isotope values. The reaction tube packing can be varied depending on the application. 

Paint and Varnish Finnigan Mat [86] analyzed the carbon and nitrogen isotope values in paint and varnish samples using an EA-IRMS. Differentiation of these samples was achieved based on a combination of the isotope values of the two elements. Farmer et al. [87] provide an overview of research conducted to determine the stable isotope composition of 51 white architectural paints. Carbon, oxygen and hydrogen isotope values were measured and likehhood ratio analysis applied to the data. While samples originating from different sources were differentiated, a false-positive rate of 2% was observed. 

Soil Croft, as dted by Phillips et al. [23], and Croft and Pye [97] discuss research on the analysis of soil samples by EA-IRMS. The studies demonstrate that carbon and nitrogen isotope data can be useful when trying to differentiate different soil types and samples from different origins. Pye et al. [98] also measured the bulk carbon and nitrogen isotope values of different soil samples. Two different sites of interest could be discriminated based on the stable isotope data however, the need for a multitechnique approach was emphasized. 

Belanger, as cited by Phillips et al. [23], discusses the analysis of the isotopic composition of various explosives (including AN, gunpowder, TNT, cyclotrimethyl-enetrinitramine [RDX], and nitroglycerine [NG]). The work confirmed that there was a range of carbon and nitrogen isotope ratio values in the samples when analyzed with EA-IRMS. The analyses of oxygen and sulfur isotope ratios in various samples were also discussed. 

Ehleringer et al. [148] report on the analysis of carbon and nitrogen isotopes in heroin and cocaine using EA-IRMS. 

De Korompay et al. [168] discuss a method for the extraction of MDMA from Ecstasy tablets for analysis by GC-MS and IRMS (bulk carbon and nitrogen isotope data). 

For oxidation and carbon or nitrogen isotopic analysis the components are then swept sequentially through a furnace converting them to N2, CO2 and H2O. Water is removed and CO2 is removed cryogen-ically if measurements are to be made. For d C analysis alone, nitrogen, if present, also enters the ion source. It does not interfere with the measurement. 

We proposed to study diet and health by combining bone chemistry and histomorphometry. Diet would be determined by analysis of stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen in bone protein and some preserved hair. In addition, trace elements would be quantitatively analyzed in preserved bone mineral. Abonyi (1993) participated in the study by reconstructing the diet from historical sources and analyzing various foods. Having analyzed human tissues for stable isotopes and trace elements, and foods for the same variables, we hoped to learn more about 19th century diet in southern Ontario, and at the same time, learn more about paleodiet reconstruction. 

Stable isotope analyses of the organic fraction of bone and of food samples was carried out on a Micromass Prism Mass Spectrometer in the Stable Isotope Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Calgary, under the direction of H.R. Krouse. Collagen samples were combusted in a Carlo Erba gas analyser which provides information on the carbon and nitrogen content of the samples andintroduces Nior CO gases into the mass spectrometer for analysis of nitrogen or carbon stable isotopes, respectively. 

Katzenberg, M.A. 1991 Analysis of stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen. In Pfeiffer, S. and Williamson, R.F., eds.. Snake Hill An Investigation of a Military Cemetery from the War of 1812. Toronto, Dundrun Press 247-255. 

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