LAUSR

ABSTRACT Teeth retain different elements at particular stages of life. Hence, the exposure over a selected time span may be characterized by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). A Nd:YAG laser with emission at 266 nm was coupled to a quadrupole ICP-MS for the quantitative study of historical human teeth for Sr and Ba, elements of anthropological significance. A calibration approach incorporating the experimentally derived k coefficient is reported. The coefficients were established based on the mean concentrations of the analytes determined by pneumatic nebulization ICP-MS using acid-digested calcium phosphate standards and the intensities recorded during laser ablation of corresponding standards as pellets. The k values were 0.54 ± 0.05 (µg g−1)−1 and 4.49 ± 1.09 (µg g−1)−1 for Sr and Ba, respectively. This calibration approach provided local quantitative data and demonstrated statistically significant differences in Sr concentrations in enamel and dentine.