Blood concentrations of a new psychoactive substance 4-chloromethcathinone (4-CMC) determined in 15 forensic cases

Marzena Kata,Ewa Tomczak,Marek Biziuk,Mateusz Kacper Woźniak,Marek Wiergowski,Beata Szpiech

doi:10.1007/s11419-018-0427-8

Marzena Kata, Ewa Tomczak + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.1007/s11419-018-0427-8

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Abstract

PurposeThe 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.MethodsA 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.ResultsThe 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.ConclusionsOur 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.

Highlights

In the last decade, the black market for drugs has evolved enormously and offered both recreational and highly psychostimulating products
The increased sensitivity and the better signal-to-noise ratio was enabled by careful optimization of chromatographic conditions, such as the temperature of the injector, the initial and final column temperatures, the temperature ramping up rate and carrier gas flow rate, as well as the temperature elements of the mass spectrometer (MS)
A negative value of the matrix effect was obtained, which indicates the suppression of the detector signal by co-extracted compounds as compared to the signal of the analyte injected in the solvent

Summary

Introduction

The black market for drugs has evolved enormously and offered both recreational and highly psychostimulating products. New psychoactive substances, such as synthetic cathinones and synthetic cannabinoids, remain the most commonly used drugs nowadays They were introduced to illicit trade in 2006/2007 and are commonly sold under slang terms such as “legal highs”, “designer drugs”, “research chemicals”, “bath salts”, “plant food” or “room odorizers” [4,5,6]. Forensic Toxicology (2018) 36:476–485 sold in the black market or via the Internet [7]. Because they are absolutely not designed for human consumption without any information on the dosage for safe use [8], they comprise a serious danger for human health

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