Titre du document / Document title

Multi-element screening by ICP-MS of two specimens of Napoleon's hair

Auteur(s) / Author(s)

KINTZ Pascal ⁽¹⁾ ; GINET Morgane ⁽¹⁾ ; CIRIMELE Vincent ⁽¹⁾ ;

Affiliation(s) du ou des auteurs / Author(s) Affiliation(s)

⁽¹⁾ Laboratoire ChemTox, 3 rue Gruninger, 67400 Illkirch, FRANCE

Résumé / Abstract

Since 1960, it has been demonstrated by various analytical procedures that high concentrations of arsenic were present in Napoleon's hair. Various authors, indicating that the detected arsenic levels are a consequence of external contamination, have challenged the results of these examinations. In order to shed more light on this historical controversy, we have tested two samples of Napoleon's hair by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The samples of hair were decontaminated with acetone and were cut into small segments. For multi-element screening, hair samples were mineralized in concentrated nitric acid for 1 h at 70°C, diluted 1:40 in specific solution with rhodium as an internal standard, and finally analyzed by ICP-MS on a Thermo Electron ICP/MS X7. Multi-element analysis of Napoleon's hair samples revealed massive amounts of arsenic (42.1 and 37.4 ng/mg), antimony (2.1 and 1.8 ng/mg) and elevated levels of mercury (3.3 and 4.7 ng/mg) and lead (229 and 112 ng/mg). In the case of arsenic, these concentrations, 40 times higher than the normal values, confirm the hypothesis of a significant exposure to arsenic. The concentrations of the other elements, in particular antimony and mercury, are in agreement with the data already known about the therapeutic treatments given to Napoleon, which were based on calomel (salt of mercury) and tartar emetic (antimony).

Revue / Journal Title

Journal of analytical toxicology   ISSN 0146-4760   CODEN JATOD3 

Source / Source

2006, vol. 30, n^o 8 (158 p.)  [Document : 3 p.] (10 ref.), pp. 621-623 [3 page(s) (article)]

Langue / Language

Anglais

Editeur / Publisher

Preston, Niles, IL, ETATS-UNIS  (1977) (Revue)

Mots-clés anglais / English Keywords

Famous man ; Forensic aspect ; Autopsy material ; Biological material ; Human ; Quantitative analysis ; Postmortem ; Elementary analysis ; Multicomponent analysis ; Hair (head) ; ICP mass spectroscopy ; Chemical analysis ;

Mots-clés français / French Keywords

Homme illustre ; Napoléon ; Aspect médicolégal ; Matériel autopsie ; Matériel biologique ; Homme ; Analyse quantitative ; Postmortem ; Analyse élémentaire ; Analyse multiélément ; Cheveu ; Spectrométrie masse ICP ; Analyse chimique ;

Mots-clés espagnols / Spanish Keywords

Aspecto forense ; Material autopsia ; Material biológico ; Hombre ; Análisis cuantitativo ; Postmortem ; Análisis elemental ; Análisis multielemento ; Cabello ; Análisis químico ;

Localisation / Location

INIST-CNRS, Cote INIST : 17415, 35400015722128.0220