Abstract
The x-ray line scanning technique in the scanning electron microscope has the inherent ability to produce useful parameters of comparative hair identification. Since sulfur is the major endogeneous, inorganic element of hair keratin and this element is a stable (i.e. unwashable) constituent of hair cuticles, the line scanning distribution of sulfur in segments of hair has the potential to serve as a reference for comparative assessment of the modes of distribution of other minor elements of hair. A secondary electron image of the sample area is superimposed over the elemental line scans. The method has been tested with the use of hairs containing absorbed cupric ions from a soaking solution. A seemingly important parameter of hair identification is offered by a sudden, characteristic rise in the uptake of sulfur within endodermal portion of the root of hair, which is followed by a gradual increase in the intensity of sulfur along the length of hair shaft. The rate of incorporation of sulfur measured at the root of hair (“sulfur index”) varies remarkably from one individual to another. Conventional microscopy test for hair comparison can be significantly aided with the uses of these elemental parameters examined in the SEM-EDX.
Presented at the Joint Annual Meeting of EMSA/MAS, Louisville, Kentucky, 5–9 August, 1985.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
R. Dawber and S. Comaish, Scanning electron microscopy of normal and abnormal hair shafts, Arch. Dermatolog. 101: 316 (1970).
E. Bottoms, E. Wyatt and S. Comaish, Progressive changes in cuticular pattern, along the shafts of human hair as seen by scanning electron microscopy, British J. Dermatolog. 86: 379 (1972).
B. D. Gaudette, Some further thoughts on probabilities and human hair comparisons, J. Forensic Sciences 23: 758 (1978).
B. D. Gaudette, Forensic hair comparisons, Crime Lab Digest 12: 44 (1985).
S. Seta, H. Sato, M. Yoshino and S. Miyasaka, SEM-EDX analysis of inorganic elements in human scalp hairs with special reference to the variation with different locations on the head. Scanning Electron Microsc. I: 127 (1982).
S. Seta, H. Sato and M. Yoshino, Quantitative investigation of sulfur and chlorine in human head hairs by energy dispersive x-ray analysis, Scanning Electron Microsc. II: 193–201 (1979).
S. Seta, “Analysis of biological elements of scalp hairs with SEM-EDX and TEM and its application to the hair comparison,” in: “Electron Microscopy in Forensic, Occupational And Environmental Health Sciences,” S. Basu and J. R. Millette, eds., Plenum Publishing Corp., New York, NY (in press).
C. Cohen, “Architecture of the a–class of fibrous proteins,” in: “Molecular Architecture in Cell Physiology,” T. Hayashi and A. G. Szent-Györgyi, eds., Prentice-Hall, Inc., NJ, pp. 169–190 (1966).
E. S. West and W. R. Todd, “Text Book of Biochemistry,” Macmillan Co., New York pp. 1190–1192 (1964).
J. C. Russ, New methods to obtain and present SEM x-ray line scans, EDAX Editor 9 (No. 2): 3 (1979).
S. Basu, Spatial variations of sulfur and absorbed copper ions in human hair by x-ray line scanning, in: Proceedings of the 43rd Annual Meeting of the Electron Microscopy Society of America. G. W. Bailey, eds., San Francisco Press, Inc., San Francisco, 124, 125 (1985).
L. A. King, R. W. Wigmore and J. M. Twibell, The morphology and occurrence of human hair sheath cells., J. Forensic Sci. Soc., 22: 267 (1982).
D. Maes and B. D. Pate, The spatial distribution of copper in individual human hairs, J. Forensic Sciences, 21: 127 (1976).
L. Reimer, Electron-specimen interactions, Scanning Electron Microsc. 2: 111 (1979).
J. C. Russ, X-ray mapping on irregular surfaces, EDAX Editor 9 (No.2): 10 (1979).
S. J. B. Reed, “Principles of x ray generation and quantitative analysis with the electron microprobe,” in: “Microprobe Analysis”, C. A. Anderson, ed., John Wiley & Sons, New York, NY, pp. 53–81 (1973).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1986 Plenum Press, New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Basu, S. (1986). Spatial Variations of Sulfur and Absorbed Copper Ions in Human Hair by X-Ray Line Scanning. In: Basu, S., Millette, J.R. (eds) Electron Microscopy in Forensic, Occupational, and Environmental Health Sciences. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-5245-7_2
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-5245-7_2
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4684-5247-1
Online ISBN: 978-1-4684-5245-7
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive