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Blood concentrations of a new psychoactive substance 4-chloromethcathinone (4-CMC) determined in 15 forensic cases
Abstract
Purpose: The 4-chloromethcathinone (4-CMC) is a synthetic derivative of cathinone and belongs to new psychoactive substances. Neither data on the effects of 4-CMC on the human body, nor on nontoxic, toxic and lethal concentrations in biological materials have been published in the literature. This paper describes the results of an analysis of the blood concentrations of 4-CMC determined in 15 forensic cases related to nonfatal intoxication including driving under the influence, and fatalities including overdoses, suicide and traffic accidents. Methods A new method for the quantification of 4-CMC using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) was developed. The symptoms of 4-CMC use were also studied based on an analysis of the documents prepared during the collection of samples or at autopsies. Results The limits of detection and quantification of the method for blood samples were 0.3 and 1 ng/mL, respectively. The calibration curve was linear in the studied concentration range (1–500 ng/mL) with the correlation coefficient at 0.9979. The extraction recoveries varied in the range of 94.3–98.8%. The accuracy and precision were acceptable. The determined concentrations in nonfatal cases ranged from 1.3 to 75.3 ng/mL, and in fatalities from 56.2 to 1870 ng/mL. Conclusions Our study can assist in the recognition of the possible effects caused by 4-CMC and can be helpful during the preparation of forensic toxicological opinions for courts of law. The validation parameters indicate the sensitivity and accuracy of the method. This is the first work presenting a validated method for the determination of 4-CMC in blood samples by GC–MS.
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Authors (6)
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Ewa Tomczak mgr
- Gdański Uniwersytet Medyczny/Wydział Lekarski Katedra i Zakład Medycyny Sądowej
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Marzena Kata
- Gdański Uniwersytet Medyczny/Wydział Lekarski Katedra i Zakład Medycyny Sądowej
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Marek Wiergowski
- Gdański Uniwersytet Medyczny/Wydział Lekarski Katedra i Zakład Medycyny Sądowej
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Beata Szpiech mgr
- Gdański Uniwersytet Medyczny/Wydział Lekarski Katedra i Zakład Medycyny Sądowej
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Details
- Category:
- Articles
- Type:
- artykuł w czasopiśmie wyróżnionym w JCR
- Published in:
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Forensic Toxicology
no. 36,
edition 2,
pages 476 - 485,
ISSN: 1860-8965 - Language:
- English
- Publication year:
- 2018
- Bibliographic description:
- Tomczak E., Woźniak M., Kata M., Wiergowski M., Szpiech B., Biziuk M.: Blood concentrations of a new psychoactive substance 4-chloromethcathinone (4-CMC) determined in 15 forensic cases// Forensic Toxicology. -Vol. 36, iss. 2 (2018), s.476-485
- DOI:
- Digital Object Identifier (open in new tab) 10.1007/s11419-018-0427-8
- Sources of funding:
-
- Statutory activity/subsidy
- Verified by:
- Gdańsk University of Technology
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