title: Isotope ratio mass spectrometry: delta13C and delta15 N analysis for tracing the origin of illicit drugs.
abstract: Gas chromatography/combustion/mass spectrometry (GC-C-MS) and elemental analysis/mass spectrometry (EA-MS) techniques are proposed to estimate delta(13)C and delta(15)N values in heroin, morphine, cocaine and hemp leaves, for the purposes of tracing the geographical origins of seized drugs. The values of isotope ratios for pure drugs and drugs with impurities were compared. It was demonstrated that large samples (up to 3 x 10(-6) g C) were combusted completely, so that the results obtained were valid. The data are considered to be an essential supplement to a wide-scale database designed specifically for the delta(13)C and delta(15)N values of drugs. The potential forensic and academic significance of the results is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Vernadsky Institute of Geochemistry and Analytical Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Galimov
authors.forename: V S
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Sevastyanov
authors.forename: E V
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Kulbachevskaya
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Golyavin
mesh_terms: D000346:Afghanistan; D002188:Cannabis / Q000737:chemistry; D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D003042:Cocaine / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D003105:Colombia; D004340:Drug Contamination; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D003932:Heroin / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D007723:Korea; D009020:Morphine / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D009587:Nitrogen Isotopes; D012426:Russia; D014455:Ukraine
chemical_list: D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D009587:Nitrogen Isotopes; D003932:Heroin; D009020:Morphine; D003042:Cocaine