Arsenic in hair

The use of activation analysis in criminal investigations (forensic activation analysis) is also well established. The basic idea here is to match the trace-element distributions found in bullets, paint, oil, and so on found at the scene of a crime with the trace-element distributions in objects found with criminal suspects. Such identification is rapid and nondestructive (allowing the actual evidence to be presented in court). Moreover, the probability of its correctness can be ascertained quantitatively. Other prominent examples of the use of forensic activation analysis involve confirmation of the notion that Napoleon was poisoned (by finding significant amounts of arsenic in hair from his head) and the finding that the activation analysis of the wipe samples taken from a suspect s hand can reveal not only if he or she has fired a gun recently but also the type of gun and ammunition used. 

Part of the evidence that Napoleon Bonaparte suffered poisoning during his exile at St. Helena Island rests upon finding increased concentrations of arsenic in hair samples taken from the emperor s scalp. 

Normal levels of arsenic in hair, nails, organs and bone were taken from several basic studies (e.g. Smith, 1964 Liebscher and Smith 1968 Hopps, 1977 Lindh et al., 1980 Brune et al., 1980 Aalbers et al. 1987, Sabbioni et al., 1992). The studies for kidney, liver. 

If mainly inorganic arsenic in hair, organs and body fluids has to be determined, e.g. in poisoning cases, less violent decomposition procedures, e.g. mixtures of nitric and sulphuric acid (Curatola et al.. 1978), nitric acid, and nitric acid with hydrogen peroxide (Solomons and Walls, 1983) are sufficient. 

Arsenic concentrations in hair and nails have been used as indicators of exposure to inorganic arsenic (112,113,121,122). However, arsenic in hair might be influenced by surface contamination via dust, water, soaps, and shampoos. Data on arsenic speciation in hair and nails is sparse. Only two studies reported the presence of dimethylated arsenic species in hair and nails (119,120). 

Table 4.2 Concentrations of arsenic in hair samples form the eighteenth, nineteenth and twenty-first centuries...

Creatine SH groups of the skin retain up to 30% of the absorbed arsenic. Parts of this are later located in hair and nails. Periods of higher arsenic intake cause higher concentrations of arsenic in limited areas of the hair. Controls in the hair of infants during the first year of infancy demonstrated that the levels of arsenic in hair depend first on the arsenic content of food [56]. Four weeks after ingestion As is localized mainly as As(V) in bone substituting for phosphate [9,12,19]. 

Storage can be at an inert site without receptors or effectors that respond to toe chemical (e.g., storage of arsenic in hair). 

Increased susceptibility of certain segments of the population, e.g., young children, may arise from increased tissue sensitivity, more complete absorption, altered distribution, or less developed or impaired defense mechanisms. The increased sensitivity of the child to lead toxicity is well documented (100, 101). In children, unlike the adult, renal tubular damage and encephalopathy are more common sequelae (76, 100). With arsenic exposure, children show significantly higher concentrations of the element in hair and urine than do adults (62). 

Arsenic poisoning results in loss of hair, accumulation of arsenic in the body and slow death. 

Perhaps, the most controversial death possibly involving arsenic is that of Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821), the French Emperor. Despite extensive studies over the past several decades, controversies still continue over Napoleon s death and whether accidental poisoning or assassination with arsenic was involved. Most historians have traditionally argued that Napoleon Bonaparte died of gastric ( stomach ) cancer in exile on the island of St. Helena in 1821. The autopsy report of Napoleon s death was not questioned for many years because Napoleon s father probably died of the disease (Lugli et al., 2007), 52. Since 1961, however, analyses of Napoleon s hair at the time of his death found high concentrations of arsenic in some, but not all, of the samples. Some experts suspected that Napoleon died of arsenic... 

Hair as a marker of exposure to toxicants has been of considerable interest to toxicologists for more than a hundred years. Casper reported in 1857 the analysis of hair for the detection of poisons in his famous Practisches Handbuch der gerichtlichen Median. He referred to Hoppe-Seyler, who had found arsenic in the hair of an 11-year-buried body and had discussed the possibility that the metal was incorporated before death. About 100 years later, the first report about the detection of an organic drug in hair was published. Goldblum et al. described an ultraviolet method to detect barbiturates in guinea pig hair. 

Raab, A., Channock, J., Bahrami, F., Feldmann, J. Arsenic Species in Hair and Skin of Pre-Columbian Mummies Using XANES/EXAFS and HPLC-ICP-MS. European Winter Conference on Plasma Spectrochemistry, Hungary, XXX (2005)... 

Napoleon Bonaparte died on the island of St Helena where he was Imprisoned. He suspected that he had been poisoned, asserting that I die at the hands of my enemies . Arsenic was a poison commonly used at the time and It Is known that arsenic will localize in hair, where it can be detected. Locks of Napoleon s hair exist and have been analysed for arsenic. Sure enough, arsenic was detected in some of the specimens, in some cases at apparently high levels, but more recent evidence has not shown such high levels. Furthermore, Napoleon did not show the classic signs of arsenic poisoning in the skin, and the post-mortem revealed that he had a large tumour in his stomach. 

Arsine is rapidly absorbed into blood through the respiratory tract (Venugopal and Luckey, 1978). Arsenic can be detected in blood after a few days of exposure. The highest quantities of arsenic were found in Uver, kidney, and spleen, and smaller amounts of arsenic were also found in the hair of workers occupationally exposed to arsine (Romeo et al, 1997). Apostoli et al (1997) detected the presence of arsenic in tissues, blood, and urine of workers in the petroleum industry who were poisoned with arsine. In a fatal case of arsine poisoning, arsenic was found in the liver at a concentration of 11.8 mg/g, spleen at 7.9 mg/g, kidneys at 3.2 mg/g, brain at 0.6 mg/g, and in the urine at 0.6 mg/ml. Trace amounts were also found in the blood (Apostoli et al, 1997). 

Koons, R.D., Peters, C.A. (1994). Axial distribution of arsenic in individual human hairs by solid sampling graphite furnace AAS. J. Anal. Toxicol. 18 36. 

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