Positive EtG findings in hair as a result of a cosmetic treatment
Frank Sporkert, Hicham Kharbouche, Marc P Augsburger, Clementine Klemm & Markus R Baumgartner
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abstract
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In a case of a driving ability assessment, hair analysis for ethyl
glucuronide (EtG) was requested by the authorities. The person
concerned denied alcohol consumption and did not present any
clinical sign of alcoholism. However, EtG was found in
concentrations of up to 910pg/mg in hair from different sampling
dates suggesting an excessive drinking behavior. The person declared
to use a hair lotion on a regularly base. To evaluate a possible
effect of the hair lotion, prospective blood and urine controls as
well as hair sampling of scalp and pubic hair were performed. The
traditional clinical biomarkers of ethanol consumption, CDT and GGT,
were inconspicuous in three blood samples taken. EtG was not
detected in all collected urine samples. The hair lotion was
transmitted to our laboratory. The ethanol concentration in this
lotion was determined with 35g/L. The EtG immunoassay gave a
positive result indicating EtG, which could be confirmed by
GC-MS/MS-NCI. In a follow-up experiment the lotion was applied to
the hair of a volunteer over a period of six weeks. After this
treatment, EtG could be measured in the hair at a concentration of
72pg/mg suggesting chronic and excessive alcohol consumption.
Overnight incubation of EtG free hair in the lotion yielded an EtG
concentration of 140pg/mg. In the present case, the positive EtG
hair findings could be interpreted as the result of an EtG
containing hair care product. To our knowledge, the existence of
such a product has not yet been reported, and it is exceptionally
unusual to find EtG in cosmetics. Therefore, external sources for
hair contamination should always be taken into account when unusual
cosmetic treatment is mentioned. In those cases, it is recommended
to analyze the hair product for a possible contamination with EtG.
The analysis of body hair can help to reveal problems occurring from
cosmetic treatment of head hair. As a consequence, the assessment of
drinking behavior should be based on more than one diagnostic
parameter.
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citation
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Sporkert F, Kharbouche H, Augsburger M P, Klemm C, Baumgartner M R.
Positive EtG findings in hair as a result of a cosmetic treatment.
Forensic Sci Int 2011; 218:97-100.
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type
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journal paper/review (English)
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date of publishing
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20-10-2011
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journal title
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Forensic Sci Int (218/1-3)
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ISSN electronic
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1872-6283
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pages
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97-100
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PubMed
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22018742
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DOI
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10.1016/j.forsciint.2011.10.009
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