Development of geographical area prediction model based on human hair and tap water stable isotope

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K19484
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 58040:Forensics medicine-related
• Research Institution: Niigata University
• Principal Investigator: KOYAMA AKIHIDE 新潟大学, 医歯学系, 助教 (90622209)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 身元推定 / 安定同位体比 / 法医学

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this study was to develop a tool to predict human geographic residence based on the stable isotopic composition of human hair and tap water. In this study, we developed a method to narrow down the candidate pool. In this study, the purpose of the research was to narrow down the candidates by focusing on the stable isotopes of oxygen and hydrogen in hair and tap water. As a result, we were able to create an extremely high-resolution tap water isotope map. This result can be an extremely important resource for estimating the location of habitation. Furthermore, the results of stable isotope ratios of hair and bones suggest that the use of stable isotope ratios may be useful for identity estimation.

Free Research Field

法医学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は、安定同位体を用いた地理的居住推定ツールの確立を目的とした研究である。すなわち、これまで不可能だった「出身地・居住地の推定」を可能にするものであり、本研究結果は、その期待に応えることのできる可能性を示すことが出来た。これを従来、身元特定に使われてきた歯型やDNA型と組み合わせることにより、より精度の高い身元特定が可能となることが推定された。また、本研究で取り上げていない元素の検討により、その応用性は広がることが予測される。