Journal
JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SCIENCE
Volume 58, Issue -, Pages 26-30Publisher
ACADEMIC PRESS LTD- ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.jas.2015.03.006
Keywords
Synchrotron; Bone; Trace elements
Funding
- Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
- National Research Council Canada
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research
- Province of Saskatchewan
- Western Economic Diversification Canada
- University of Saskatchewan
- US Department of Energy Basic Energy Sciences
- NSERC
- University of Washington
- Canadian Light Source
- Advanced Photon Source
- U.S. DOE [DE-AC02-06CH11357]
- DOE Office of Biological and Environmental Research
- National Institutes of Health, National Institute of General Medical Sciences [P41GM103393]
- National Center for Research Resources [P41RR001209]
- Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Insight Development Grant [430-2012-0236]
- Canada Research Chairs
- NSERC (Canada)
- SHRF
- CIHR
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A mass spectroscopic analysis of bone samples from 17 individuals once buried in a Royal Naval Hospital cemetery (1793-1822) in Antigua revealed a high level of mercury (Hg) in one individual. While the toxic properties of Hg are now recognized, this metal was used for centuries to treat ailments such as syphilis and yellow fever. Synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence imaging (XFI) was employed to determine whether the Hg was present in the bone as a result of environmental contamination or due to biogenic uptake. The XFI study revealed that only a localized subset of the osteons within a 2.5 mm by 1.5 mm scan contained Hg - a finding consistent with biogenic uptake. The near-edge portion of the X-ray absorption spectrum was used to determine that the Hg was present in the bone tissue as an inorganic mercuric sulfide. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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