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Teeth retain different elements at particular stages of life. Hence, the exposure over a selected time span may be characterized by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). A Nd:YAG laser with emission at 266 nm was coupled to a quadrupole ICP-MS for the quantitative study of historical human teeth for Sr and Ba, elements of anthropological significance. A calibration approach incorporating the experimentally derivedkcoefficient is reported. The coefficients were established based on the mean concentrations of the analytes determined by pneumatic nebulization ICP-MS using acid-digested calcium phosphate standards and the intensities recorded during laser ablation of corresponding standards as pellets. Thekvalues were 0.54 ± 0.05 (µg g−1)−1and 4.49 ± 1.09 (µg g−1)−1for Sr and Ba, respectively. This calibration approach provided local quantitative data and demonstrated statistically significant differences in Sr concentrations in enamel and dentine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]