Morphological Effects on Hair Treated with Sodium Hypochlorite
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17986/blm.2014193813Keywords:
sodium hypochlorite, chemical treatment, cuticular damageAbstract
Hair is one of the most frequent trace evidence in crime scene. It is known that hair structure is resistant to external factors but there are a few studies about chemical treatments. This study is about effects of Sodium Hypochlorite (NaClO) to morphological structure of the hair.
In this study 10 hairs included for study group and 10 for control group. The hairs were collected by cutting from near the scalp of a Caucasian adult. The study group was treated in household bleach including <5% NaClO for 10 minutes. The other group had no treatment. All of the hairs were mounted on slides with xylene and examined by light microscopy.
Colors of the NaClO treated hairs were light brown in 9 hairs and brown in one hair, while 7 of the control smooth and inner margin was distinct in control group while outer surface of the cuticle was wavy except one hair and inner margin was indefinite in NaCIO treated hairs. Moreover we observed that there were many air gaps in the cortex of the NaCIO treated hairs. No cuticular lifting was seen in the hair samples.
Many air gaps and decrease of the pigment density were seen in the cortex of the NaCIO treated hairs. It was evaluated that the air gaps were a result of disruption of pigment granules. And in the cuticle; wavy form in the outer surface and becoming indistinct in the inner surface were seen in NaCIO treated hairs. When somebody detects these findings in the morphologic examination of the hair, he/she must consider NaCIO treatment in the differential diagnosis.
Keywords: Sodium Hypochlorite, chemical treatment, cuticular damage.
Downloads
References
Harding H, Rogers G. Physiology and growth of human hair. In: Robertson J ed. Forensic Examination of Hair. London: CRC Press, 1999:1-61.
Gaudete BD, Bisbing RE, Yoshino M, Sato H. Hair. In: Siegel J, Knupfer G, Saukko P eds. Encyclopedia of Forensic Sciences. 1st ed. Somerset: Academic Press, 2000:999-1041.
Nelson D, De Forest P. Forensic examination of hairs for cosmetic treatment. In: Robertson J ed. Forensic Examination of Hair. London: CRC Press, 1999:229-41.
Robbins CR. Bleaching Human Hair. In: Chemical and Physical Behaviour of Human Hair. New York: Springer Verlag Inc, 2002:153-92. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-21695-2_4
Jeong MS, Lee CM, Jeong WJ, Kim SJ, Lee KY. Significant damage of the skin and hair following hair bleaching. J Dermatol. 2010;37:882–7. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1346-8138.2010.00916.x
Imai T. The influence of hair bleach on the ultrastructure of human hair with special reference to hair damage. Okajimas Folia Anat. Jpn. 2011;88:1-9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2535/ofaj.88.1
Christensen CE, McNeal SF, Eleazer P. Effect of lowering the pH of sodium hypochlorite on dissolving tissue in vitro. J Endod. 2008;34,449-52. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joen.2008.01.001
Clarkson RM, Moule AJ. Sodium hypochlorite and its use as an endodontic irrigant. Australian Dental Journal. 1998;43:4. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1834-7819.1998.tb00173.x
Deedrick DW, Koch SL. Microscopy of Hair Part I: A practical guide and manual of human hairs. Forensic Science Communications. 2004;6:1.
Hartnet KM., Fulginiti LC, Di Modica F. The effects of corrosive substances on human bone, teeth, hair, nails, and soft tissue. J Forensic Sci. 2011;56:954-9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1556-4029.2011.01752.x
Kemp BM, Smith DG. Use of bleach to eliminate contaminating DNA from the surface of bones and teeth. Forensic Sci Int. 2005;154:53-61. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2004.11.017
Harris KA, Thacker CR, Ballard D, Syndercombe Court D. The effect of cleaning agents on the DNA analysis of blood stains deposited on different substrates. International Congress Series. 1288;2006:589-91. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ics.2005.09.171
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
The Journal and content of this website is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) License. The Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY) allows users to copy, distribute and transmit an article, adapt the article and make commercial use of the article. The CC BY license permits commercial and non-commercial re-use of an open access article, as long as the author is properly attributed.
