News From the Field

WSU researchers extract nicotine from ancient dental plaque for the first time


February 27, 2018

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A team of scientists from Washington State University (WSU) has shown for the first time that nicotine residue can be extracted from dental plaque on the teeth of ancient tobacco users. Their research provides a new method for determining who was consuming tobacco in the ancient world and could help trace the use of tobacco and other intoxicating plants further back into prehistory.Full Story

Source
Washington State University

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