Fatty Acid ethyl esters in scalp, pubic, axillary, beard and body hair as markers for alcohol misuse.

AIMS This study examined the possibility of using hair samples other than scalp hair for analysis of fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEE) as markers for alcohol misuse. METHODS Samples of scalp and pubic hair and, if available, axillary, beard and body hair of one teetotaller, five moderate social drinkers and 22 fatalities were analysed for FAEE by head-space solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The sum of the concentrations of ethyl myristate, ethyl palmitate, ethyl oleate and ethyl stearate (C(FAEE)) in the hair samples was compared with information about the drinking behaviour of the individuals. RESULTS Although there were large differences in the analyte concentrations in hair from different sites in the same individual, cases of chronic excessive alcohol consumption were characterized by C(FAEE) > 1.0 ng/mg in almost all samples. CONCLUSION FAEE concentrations in hair other than scalp hair can be used as markers of chronic alcohol misuse.