Synchrotron X-ray Fluorescence and Trace Metals in the Cementum Rings of Human Teeth

Authors

Ronald R. Martin, University of Western Ontario
Steven J. Naftel, University of Western Ontario
Andrew J. Nelson, University of Western OntarioFollow
Andrea B. Feilen, Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, Germany
Alfredo Narvaez, Instituto Nacional de Cultura, Peru

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

10-2004

Journal

Journal of Environmental Monitoring

Volume

6

Issue

10

First Page

783

Last Page

786

URL with Digital Object Identifier

http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/b408525f

Abstract

Synchrotron micro X-ray fluorescence has been used to study differences in the trace element concentration between the dentine and cementum rings of human teeth. The results show that metals such as zinc are concentrated in the cementum rings. This suggests that if the rings are deposited annually a temporal record of metal exposure may be extracted from this material.

Notes

The Royal Society of Chemistry chose to feature this article as an innovative application of synchrotron XRF: http://www.rsc.org/publishing/chemscience/volume/2004/10/ch0041000c74a.asp