NCJ Number
197319
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 47 Issue: 5 Dated: September 2002 Pages: 959-963
Date Published
September 2002
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This paper reports on an analysis of 10 elements in 44 illicit heroin samples from Southeast Anatolia, Turkey.
Abstract
The 10 elements were aluminum (Al), barium (Ba), calcium (Ca), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn). The illicit heroin samples were dissolved in nitric acid by using a microwave oven and were quantified by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (Cd and Pb) and inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (Al, Ba, Ca, Cu, Fe, Mg, and Zn). The most abundant element was calcium (4,050 to 14,200 mg/g), which could be ascribed to the use of lime in the manufacturing process and/or as a diluting agent. Iron (180 to 1,470 mg/g), aluminum (42 to 2,280 mg/g), and zinc (160 to 210 mg/g) were found at moderately high levels, possibly because of the use of metal pots in the acetic anhydride cooking process and also for storage. Cadmium and lead concentrations were at the lowest measured levels. The amounts of magnesium, manganese, barium, and copper were in the range of 100 to 800 mg/g, 3 to 17 mg/g, 4 to 30 mg/g, and 2 to 46 mg/g, respectively. The determination of the elemental content in illicit heroin samples may be helpful in obtaining information about their origin but is probably most useful for comparative (sample/sample) analyses. The analysis of illicit drugs of known origin is necessary for the accurate determination of the origins and/or trafficking routes. 1 figure and 31 references