Date of Award
Summer 8-2023
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department/Program
Forensic Science
Language
English
First Advisor or Mentor
Ana Pego
Second Reader
Marta Concheiro-Guisan
Third Advisor
Emanuele Alves
Abstract
Hair is a biological sample used in forensic toxicology to identify and quantify drug exposure. However, when interpreting analytical results, hair can be challenging due to the presence of external contamination. Previous studies have shown that cosmetic treatments remove drugs within the hair shaft decreasing their concentration. Nevertheless, not enough information is available to explain this phenomenon. This study focused to determine whether cosmetic products such as dry shampoo and gel influence the concentration of externally deposited cocaine (COC) and benzoylecgonine (BE) in different hair types/colors. Hair samples from fifteen COC-free volunteers of various hair colors/types were collected and divided into three different groups. Each group received a treatment of dry shampoo and gel. In Group A, hair samples were first treated with a cosmetic product then contaminated; in Group B, hair samples were first contaminated then treated with a cosmetic product; in Group C, hair samples only suffered contamination. The contamination procedure consisted in immersing hair samples in a 1 µg/mL COC and BE mixed solution in water for 24 h. Prior to analysis, hair samples were washed, extracted, and filtered. Dry shampoo samples resulted in a harsher removal of COC in both hair samples treated before and after, causing an average decrease in concentration of 97% and 67%, respectively. Gel treated hair samples showed an average decreased of 34% and 10%, respectively. Overall, these results suggest that cosmetic treatments do influence drug concentrations by removing COC and BE as well as preventing further COC and BE contamination.
Recommended Citation
Faure Betancourt, Marialejandra, "Hair and Drugs: The Impact of Dry Shampoo and Gel on Cocaine-Contaminated Hair" (2023). CUNY Academic Works.
https://academicworks.cuny.edu/jj_etds/293