title: Elements concentrations in the scalp hair of methamphetamine abusers.
abstract: The concentrations of 16 elements (As, Au, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Se, Sr and Zn) in the hair of 40 methamphetamine (METH) abusers and control subjects were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Comparisons of the element levels in the hair of properly matched METH abuser and control groups revealed significant imbalances in the concentrations of 6 elements (As, Au, Ca, Cu, Mg and Sr) between the abuser and control groups. Ca (p<0.01), Cu (p<0.05), Mg (p<0.01) and Sr (p<0.01) levels are significantly lower in the hair samples of METH abusers compared to control subjects, whereas the As (p<0.01) and Au (p<0.01) concentrations are higher. The concentration of the remaining elements in the hair of METH abusers was similar to the concentration in the control subjects. The geometric means for each element in hair of METH abuser and control subjects are presented. The cause of these alterations is also discussed.
authors: Shanghai Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Institute of Forensic Science, Ministry of Justice, P.R. China, Shanghai 200063, China.
authors: Ruxin
authors: R
authors: Luo
authors: Shanghai Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Institute of Forensic Science, Ministry of Justice, P.R. China, Shanghai 200063, China.
authors: Sujing
authors: S
authors: Zhang
authors: Shanghai Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Institute of Forensic Science, Ministry of Justice, P.R. China, Shanghai 200063, China.
authors: Ping
authors: P
authors: Xiang
authors: Shanghai Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Institute of Forensic Science, Ministry of Justice, P.R. China, Shanghai 200063, China.
authors: Baohua
authors: B
authors: Shen
authors: Shanghai Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Institute of Forensic Science, Ministry of Justice, P.R. China, Shanghai 200063, China. Electronic address: zhuoxianyi163@163.com.
authors: Xianyi
authors: X
authors: Zhuo
authors: Shanghai Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Institute of Forensic Science, Ministry of Justice, P.R. China, Shanghai 200063, China. Electronic address: madong_112@sina.com.
authors: Dong
authors: D
authors: Ma
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis*; D008694:Methamphetamine / Q000032:analysis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012535:Scalp; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic / Q000379:methods; D013057:Spectrum Analysis; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D008670:Metals; D008694:Methamphetamine
keywords: Chemical elements; Hair analysis; Methamphetamine