Fe and Fe isotopes (δ56Fe) in the human body: What do they tell us about us?

This presentation reveals the heterogenous distribution of δ56Fe in human body and the potential function of Fe and Fe isotope as a biomarker in tracing metabolic processes in human. The theoretical discussion within the Environmental Isotope Chemistry (Inorganic) 208 MSc Geoecology module, SS2017 has been based on the following papers: 1) Natural Iron Isotope Variations in Human Blood; Thomas Walczyk & Friedhelm von Blanckenburg. Science, 295, 2065-2066 (2002), and 2) Isotopic signatures of iron in body tissues as a potential biomarker for iron metabolism; Karin Hotz, Heinz Augsburgerb, Thomas Walczyk. J. Anal. At. Spectrom., 26, 1347-1353 (2011).