DETERMINATION OF LEAD AND COPPER IN HAIR BY NON-FLAME ATOMIC ABSORPTION SPECTROPHOTOMETRY

• NCJ Number: 11716
• Journal: Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 18 Issue: 2 Dated: (APRIL 1973) Pages: 143-151
• Author(s): G D RENSHAW; C A POUNDS
• Date Published: 1973
• Length: 9 pages
• Corporate Author: American Soc for Testing and Materials
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A SENSITIVE METHOD FOR THE DETERMINATION OF TRACE ELEMENT CONCENTRATIONS IN SECTIONS OF HUMAN HAIR AS SMALL AS 1MM IN LENGTH.

Abstract

LEAD AND COPPER CONCENTRATIONS WERE MEASURED IN A POPULATION OF 64 PEOPLE AND ALSO OVER A SINGLE HEAD. THE VARIATIONS IN COPPER AND LEAD CONCENTRATIONS OVER THE SAMPLE WERE FOUND TO BE SIGNIFICANT AND USEFUL IN DISCRIMINATING BETWEEN HAIRS FROM DIFFERENT SOURCES. BY ANALYZING SECTIONS AT VARYING DISTANCES FROM THE SCALP IT WAS DEMONSTRATED THAT THE CONCENTRATION OF COPPER AND LEAD INCREASES FROM ROOT TO TIP. ALSO, THE CONCENTRATION GRADIENT FOR COPPER AND LEAD VARIES FROM PERSON TO PERSON. THE CONSEQUENCES OF SUCH CONCENTRATION GRADIENTS ALONG THE LENGTH OF HUMAN HAIR ARE DISCUSSED IN RELATION TO THE PROBLEM OF HAIR INDIVIDUALIZATION. THE MECHANISMS WHEREBY TRACE ELEMENTS ENTER THE HAIR STRUCTURE ARE ALSO CONSIDERED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)