你是否在拉腊米城小酌了一口柠檬水，还是在丹佛舔了一下台克利酒，抑或在波士顿畅饮了一顿自酿啤酒？一项新的研究显示，通过分析毛发中的化学痕迹，你所拜访的这些地方都在科学家的眼前展露无遗。
据美国《科学》(Science)杂志在线新闻报道，这是缘于水分子的同位素比会有些许的差异，而这取决于水源中的矿物质。研究人员发现，根据同位素比，采自美国33个城市的水样都可以被追溯出它们的源头。由于人体能够分解水中的氢原子和氧原子以构建形成毛发细胞的蛋白质，因此这些细胞无形中也就保存了一个人的旅行记录。这些信息将帮助检举人查找一名嫌疑犯身处犯罪现场的证据，或者为一名无辜的被告洗清罪名。研究人员在最新一期的《农业与食物化学杂志》上报告了这一发现。(生物谷Bioon.net)
生物谷推荐原文出处：
J.Agric.Food Chem. DOI: 10.1021/jf1003539
Links between Purchase Location and Stable Isotope Ratios of Bottled Water, Soda, and Beer in the United States
Lesley A. Chesson*?§, Luciano O. Valenzuela?§, Shannon P. O’Grady?, Thure E. Cerling?§# and James R. Ehleringer?§
? IsoForensics Inc., Suite 205, 423 Wakara Way, Salt Lake City, Utah 84108
§ Department of Biology, University of Utah, 257 South 1400 East, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112
# Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Utah, 135 South 1460 East, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112
This study investigated the impact of purchase location on the stable isotope ratios of beverages by measuring the δ2H and δ18O values of bottled water, soda, beer, and tap water collected across the contiguous United States. Measured beverage δ2H and δ18O values generally fit the Global Meteoric Water Line (GMWL), suggesting region-of-origin information is recorded in beverage water. Tap water δ2H and δ18O values were strongly correlated with the stable isotope ratios of bottled water and soda purchased in the same location. Beer water δ2H and δ18O values were also correlated with tap water, although not as strongly. Variability in δ2H and δ18O values among beverages purchased at a single location ranged from 2 to 41‰ and from 0.3 to 5.2‰, respectively, but was generally moderate in most locations. It was concluded that the isotopic composition of local tap water is a reasonable proxy for consumers’ fluid intake in most U.S. cities.
