Data Series 703
AbstractBecause the stable isotopic compositions of hydrogen (δ2H) and oxygen (δ18O) of animal (including human) tissues, such as hair, nail, and urine, reflect the δ2H and δ18O of water and food ingested by an animal or a human and because the δ2H and δ18O of environmental waters vary geographically, δ2H and δ18O values of tap water samples collected in 2007–2008 from 349 sites in the United States and three selected U.S. territories have been measured in support of forensic science applications, creating one of the largest databases of tap water δ2H and δ18O values to date. The results of replicate isotopic measurements for these tap water samples confirm that the expanded uncertainties (U = 2μc) obtained over a period of years by the Reston Stable Isotope Laboratory from δ2H and δ18O dual-inlet mass spectrometric measurements are conservative, at ±2 ‰ and ±0.2 ‰, respectively. These uncertainties are important because U.S. Geological Survey data may be needed for forensic science applications, including providing evidence in court cases. Half way through the investigation (December 2007), an isotope-laser spectrometer was acquired, enabling comparison of dual-inlet isotope-ratio mass spectrometric results with isotope-laser spectrometric results. The uncertainty of the laser-based δ2H measurement results for these tap water samples is comparable to the uncertainty of the dual-inlet isotope-ratio mass spectrometer, with the laser-based instrument measurements having a slightly lower uncertainty. However, the δ18O uncertainty of this laser-based instrument is about a factor of ten higher than that of the dual-inlet isotope-ratio mass spectrometer. |
First posted September 12, 2013 For additional information contact: Part or all of this report is presented in Portable Document Format (PDF); the latest version of Adobe Reader or similar software is required to view it. Download the latest version of Adobe Reader, free of charge. |
Coplen, T.B., Landwehr, J.M., Qi, Haiping, and Lorenz, J.M., 2013, The δ2H and δ18O of tap water from 349 sites in the United States and selected territories: U.S. Geological Survey Data Series 703, 113 p., at https://pubs.usgs.gov/ds/703.
Abstract
Introduction
Methods
Tap Water δ2H and δ18O Measurement Results
Analysis of Uncertainty
Summary
References Cited
Appendix A. Site Location Information for Tap Water Samples
Appendix B. Sample Collection Information and Mean Analytical Results Sorted by Site and Date/Time
Appendix C. Measurement Results for VG Micromass Dual-Inlet Isotope-Ratio Mass Spectrometer δ2H Analyses
Appendix D. Measurement Results for Los Gatos Research Isotope-Laser Spectrometry δ2H Analyses
Appendix E. The δ2H Measurement Results, including Mean and Standard Deviation, for Two Methods of Hydrogen Isotope Analysis
Appendix F. The δ18O Measurement Results, including Mean and Standard Deviations, for Two Methods of Oxygen Isotope Analysis