Inhalant abuse detection and evaluation in young Tunisians

J Forensic Sci. 2008 Jan;53(1):232-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1556-4029.2007.00623.x.

Abstract

Occupational exposure biological monitoring techniques were applied for the diagnosis of inhalation abuse and for the evaluation of the levels of exposure to benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes, and n-hexane, in 44 Tunisian adolescents and children suspected for volatile substance addiction. Urinary trans,trans-muconic acid, hippuric acid (HA), mandelic acid, and methylhippuric acids determinations were performed by high performance liquid chromatography with a photodiode array detector, and urinary o-cresol (o-Cr) and 2,5-hexanedione (HD) were extracted simultaneously and measured using gas chromatography with a flame ionization detector. Given the high linearity ranges, HD and o-Cr occupational exposure monitoring techniques could be applied without modification. However, urinary sample dilution was necessary before HA analysis. Concentrations were compared with the maxima of normal values (MNVs) in the general population and to the biological exposure indices (BEIs) used in occupational toxicology. Values as high as 6610-fold the MNV and 68 times the BEI were registered. The subjects showed high exposure to toluene and hexane. Measured metabolites HA and/or o-Cr and HD enabled the easy detection and evaluation of exposure levels. The problem of inhalant abuse should be given more attention and treated through an effective prevention strategy.

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Inhalation
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Biomarkers / urine
  • Child
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Cresols / urine
  • Female
  • Flame Ionization
  • Forensic Toxicology
  • Hexanes / adverse effects*
  • Hexanones / urine
  • Hippurates / urine
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mandelic Acids / urine
  • Solvents / adverse effects*
  • Sorbic Acid / analogs & derivatives
  • Sorbic Acid / analysis
  • Substance Abuse Detection / methods*
  • Substance-Related Disorders / diagnosis*
  • Toluene / adverse effects*
  • Tunisia

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Cresols
  • Hexanes
  • Hexanones
  • Hippurates
  • Mandelic Acids
  • Solvents
  • Toluene
  • muconic acid
  • 2,5-hexanedione
  • cresol
  • mandelic acid
  • hippuric acid
  • Sorbic Acid