ULTRASTRUCTURAL ALTERATIONS AND ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE INFLUENCE THE OPIATE CONCENTRATIONS IN HAIR OF DRUG-ADDICTS

Hair samples were taken at autopsy from the head of 1 male and 1 femal e subject both known as drug abusers. Some of the strands were bleache d by in-vitro cosmetic treatment. The bleached hair as well as the ori ginal hair samples were partly exposed to water or soil prior to furth er investigations and drug monitoring. The exposure times were 4 weeks or 6 months for water and 6 months for soil. The hair fibers were exa mined by transmission electron microscope (TEM) and by scanning electr on microscope (SEM) investigations. The electron microscope studies co nfirmed that all experimental conditions had produced morphological al terations in the hair fibers. After exposure to water or to soil for 6 months as well as after storage of the clipped bleached hair in tap w ater at room temperature for 4 weeks, drug monitoring of formerly posi tive hair samples gave negative results. After storage of natural hair in soil or in water for 4 weeks the opiate levels had dramatically de creased. The samples were screened by fluorescence polarization immuno assay after enzymatic digestion. The results were confirmed by GC/MS.