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The determination of drugs and their substitutes in human hairs
17
Forensic Science Internuthal 46 (19901 17-18 Elsevier Scientific Publishers Ireland Ltd.
THE DETERMINATION IN HUMAN HAIRS
OF
DRUGS
AND
THEIR
SUBSTITUTES
WOLFGANG ARNOLD Forensic Laboratory, Hamburg (F.R.G.I
Summary In recent years it has become possible to detect organic pharmaceuticals and drugs in a few milligrams of a person’s hair, using modern analytical methods (RIA, GUMS, GCl, whether this person has taken narcotics and other drugs in past times. With the aid of hair analysis it is possible to examine the drug career of a drug addict for up to 1 year, and sometimes for a longer time. This is mostly of great importance in criminalistics and forensic medicine, in the criminal retrospective examination of addicts. Key words: Drug determination: Hair examination
Morphological, serological and chemical examination of human hair and fingernails for forensic and medical expertise was initiated some years ago. A single human hair is sometimes the only remnant on the scene of the crime. In many cases it serves to confirm or exclude a possible suspect. Comparing morphological features of the incriminating hair can only support the suspicion; it does not, however, constitute a proof. In connection with serological examination and trace analysis there exists a possibility of identification or exclusion, especially when unusual changes of the hair can be detected, which might point to certain diseases or disturbances in metabolism which influence the person’s condition. Chemical analysis of hair and fingernails in order to measure the contents of toxical trace elements can give an indication as to whether these elements were taken from food or from the air. The examination of subsequent parts of contaminated hair makes it possible to estimate the time of exposure or ingestion. If, however, only surface contamination of hair has occurred and the endogenic intake of contamination by hair substance from the blood in comparison to exogenic one is minimal, the estimation is very limited if altogether impossible. In some particular poisonings (arsenic, lead) it has been possible to determine approximately the time when the poison had been taken by means of this method and sometimes indications were presented as to possible perpetrators. Detection of inorganic substances in trace quantities is no longer a problem thanks to modern analytical methods. It is possible to do it in hair on the level of picogenes and by means of directed research results might be achieved that could lead to suitable conclusions. A few years ago 0379-0738/90/$03.50
0 1990 Elsevier Scientific Publishers Ireland Ltd. Printed and Published in Ireland
18
examination of hair for organic substances, especially drugs, was not possib!e. Analytical methods used at that time were not sensitive enough. Examination by means of drugs marked with radioactive isotopes established, however, that these substances can move from blood to hair and are deposited there. Ten years after these first investigations for drug content it was possible to denominate various organic drugs by means of radioimmunologic technique simultaneously in the U.S.A. and West Germany. The substances include, above all, opiates and other narcotics (phencyclidine, amphetamine, methaqualone, cocaine). These immunological reactions could not be initially confirmed by means of another, independent method and that is why they had a restricted value from the point of view of court proceedings. It became possible later when control analyses were used based on mass spectrometry and gas chromatography, although qualitiative denomination, especially on a low level, still creates problems. At the Institute of Legal Medicine at Hamburg University, since 1978, in cases of lethal drug poisonings, hair of the deceased have also been examined for the presence of drugs, especially in cases when the analysis of muscle organs and liquids does not yield unequivocal results, or when the results are negative. By means of hair examination one can find out whether the abuse of drugs or other reasons are the cause of death. In some cases, during the hair analysis it was possible to follow a person’s ‘drug career’ throughout the year and then to come to criminalistic conclusions. Still more effective is this kind of research in relation to alive persons. Sometimes hair analysis can be carried out over a considerably longer period of time and the results are surer than urine and blood tests. During control tests of hair fragments a drug addict is not able to hide the fact of drug abuse. In the case of an addict who takes drugs every few days this fact cannot be proved by means of urine and blood tests even when the tests are repeated. In rehabilitation centres the hair analysis is a control method as it can be repeated with greater time lapses than blood and urine tests. From this point of view it is a cost-saving method. It is also better for interpersonal relations between a doctor and a patient when the hair sample is taken every few months than every week, as in the case of blood and urine tests. What is especially satisfactory in hair analysis method is the fact that it is possible to prove that the person took the drug 6 months before or even earlier, unlike the blood and urine test where it must be done within a few days, as during 72-96 h the drugs are metabolised or got rid of. It is also possible to establish by means of hair analysis whether the person took the drug only once or has been taking it for a long time. These are chosen examples concerning fascinating aspects of drug detection in human hair. The greatest impact of the method, however, stems from the fact that the retrospection of a person’s past in the sense of drug taking can be achieved in this way. From the criminalistic and diagnostic point of view it is of paramount importance. It should be hoped that chemical analysis of hair will, in future, be the object of more interest and contribute to fast detection of certain circumstances both in criminalistics and medicine.
Forensic Science Internuthal 46 (19901 17-18 Elsevier Scientific Publishers Ireland Ltd.
THE DETERMINATION IN HUMAN HAIRS
OF
DRUGS
AND
THEIR
SUBSTITUTES
WOLFGANG ARNOLD Forensic Laboratory, Hamburg (F.R.G.I
Summary In recent years it has become possible to detect organic pharmaceuticals and drugs in a few milligrams of a person’s hair, using modern analytical methods (RIA, GUMS, GCl, whether this person has taken narcotics and other drugs in past times. With the aid of hair analysis it is possible to examine the drug career of a drug addict for up to 1 year, and sometimes for a longer time. This is mostly of great importance in criminalistics and forensic medicine, in the criminal retrospective examination of addicts. Key words: Drug determination: Hair examination
Morphological, serological and chemical examination of human hair and fingernails for forensic and medical expertise was initiated some years ago. A single human hair is sometimes the only remnant on the scene of the crime. In many cases it serves to confirm or exclude a possible suspect. Comparing morphological features of the incriminating hair can only support the suspicion; it does not, however, constitute a proof. In connection with serological examination and trace analysis there exists a possibility of identification or exclusion, especially when unusual changes of the hair can be detected, which might point to certain diseases or disturbances in metabolism which influence the person’s condition. Chemical analysis of hair and fingernails in order to measure the contents of toxical trace elements can give an indication as to whether these elements were taken from food or from the air. The examination of subsequent parts of contaminated hair makes it possible to estimate the time of exposure or ingestion. If, however, only surface contamination of hair has occurred and the endogenic intake of contamination by hair substance from the blood in comparison to exogenic one is minimal, the estimation is very limited if altogether impossible. In some particular poisonings (arsenic, lead) it has been possible to determine approximately the time when the poison had been taken by means of this method and sometimes indications were presented as to possible perpetrators. Detection of inorganic substances in trace quantities is no longer a problem thanks to modern analytical methods. It is possible to do it in hair on the level of picogenes and by means of directed research results might be achieved that could lead to suitable conclusions. A few years ago 0379-0738/90/$03.50
0 1990 Elsevier Scientific Publishers Ireland Ltd. Printed and Published in Ireland
18
examination of hair for organic substances, especially drugs, was not possib!e. Analytical methods used at that time were not sensitive enough. Examination by means of drugs marked with radioactive isotopes established, however, that these substances can move from blood to hair and are deposited there. Ten years after these first investigations for drug content it was possible to denominate various organic drugs by means of radioimmunologic technique simultaneously in the U.S.A. and West Germany. The substances include, above all, opiates and other narcotics (phencyclidine, amphetamine, methaqualone, cocaine). These immunological reactions could not be initially confirmed by means of another, independent method and that is why they had a restricted value from the point of view of court proceedings. It became possible later when control analyses were used based on mass spectrometry and gas chromatography, although qualitiative denomination, especially on a low level, still creates problems. At the Institute of Legal Medicine at Hamburg University, since 1978, in cases of lethal drug poisonings, hair of the deceased have also been examined for the presence of drugs, especially in cases when the analysis of muscle organs and liquids does not yield unequivocal results, or when the results are negative. By means of hair examination one can find out whether the abuse of drugs or other reasons are the cause of death. In some cases, during the hair analysis it was possible to follow a person’s ‘drug career’ throughout the year and then to come to criminalistic conclusions. Still more effective is this kind of research in relation to alive persons. Sometimes hair analysis can be carried out over a considerably longer period of time and the results are surer than urine and blood tests. During control tests of hair fragments a drug addict is not able to hide the fact of drug abuse. In the case of an addict who takes drugs every few days this fact cannot be proved by means of urine and blood tests even when the tests are repeated. In rehabilitation centres the hair analysis is a control method as it can be repeated with greater time lapses than blood and urine tests. From this point of view it is a cost-saving method. It is also better for interpersonal relations between a doctor and a patient when the hair sample is taken every few months than every week, as in the case of blood and urine tests. What is especially satisfactory in hair analysis method is the fact that it is possible to prove that the person took the drug 6 months before or even earlier, unlike the blood and urine test where it must be done within a few days, as during 72-96 h the drugs are metabolised or got rid of. It is also possible to establish by means of hair analysis whether the person took the drug only once or has been taking it for a long time. These are chosen examples concerning fascinating aspects of drug detection in human hair. The greatest impact of the method, however, stems from the fact that the retrospection of a person’s past in the sense of drug taking can be achieved in this way. From the criminalistic and diagnostic point of view it is of paramount importance. It should be hoped that chemical analysis of hair will, in future, be the object of more interest and contribute to fast detection of certain circumstances both in criminalistics and medicine.