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Basham C, Cerles A, Rush M, Alexander-Scott M, Greenawald L, Chiu S, Broadwater K, Hirst D, Snawder J, Roberts J, Weber A, Knuth M, Casagrande R. Occupational Safety and Health and Illicit Opioids: State of the Research on Protecting Against the Threat of Occupational Exposure. New Solut 2021; 31:315-329. [PMID: 34407666 DOI: 10.1177/10482911211039566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
The nationwide opioid crisis continues to affect not only people who use opioids but also communities at large by increasing the risk of accidental occupational exposure to illicit opioids. In addition, the emergence of highly potent synthetic opioids such as fentanyl and carfentanil increases the need to protect workers who may encounter unknown drug substances during job activities. To support the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Opioids Research Gaps Working Group, we examined the state of the literature concerning methods to protect workers against accidental occupational exposure to illicit opioids, and have identified unmet research needs concerning personal protective equipment, decontamination methods, and engineering controls. Additional studies are needed to overcome gaps in technical knowledge about personal protective equipment, decontamination, and control methods, and gaps in understanding how these measures are utilized by workers. Increasing our knowledge of how to protect against exposure to illicit opioids has the potential to improve occupational health across communities.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Marissa Alexander-Scott
- Health Effects Laboratory, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Lee Greenawald
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Pittsburg, PA, USA
| | - Sophia Chiu
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Kendra Broadwater
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Deborah Hirst
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - John Snawder
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Jennifer Roberts
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Angela Weber
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Martha Knuth
- Stephen B Thacker Library, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
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Bovens M, Csesztregi T, Franc A, Nagy J, Dujourdy L. Sampling of illicit drugs for quantitative analysis—Part II. Study of particle size and its influence on mass reduction. Forensic Sci Int 2014; 234:174-80. [DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2013.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2013] [Revised: 08/23/2013] [Accepted: 09/01/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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Dujourdy L, Csesztregi T, Bovens M, Franc A, Nagy J. Sampling of illicit drugs for quantitative analysis. Part I: Heterogeneity study of illicit drugs in Europe. Forensic Sci Int 2013; 231:249-56. [DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2013.05.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2012] [Revised: 05/12/2013] [Accepted: 05/20/2013] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Wimmer K, Schneider S. Screening for illicit drugs on Euro banknotes by LC–MS/MS. Forensic Sci Int 2011; 206:172-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2010.07.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2010] [Revised: 07/19/2010] [Accepted: 07/28/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Dujourdy L, Besacier F. L’héroïne saisie en France. Données statistiques issues de la base nationale des laboratoires de police scientifique. ANNALES PHARMACEUTIQUES FRANÇAISES 2010; 68:127-32. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pharma.2010.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2009] [Revised: 02/10/2010] [Accepted: 02/17/2010] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Ebejer KA, Winn J, Carter JF, Sleeman R, Parker J, Körber F. The difference between drug money and a “lifetime's savings”. Forensic Sci Int 2007; 167:94-101. [PMID: 16889921 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2006.06.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2006] [Accepted: 06/14/2006] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
In many countries, monies suspected of being associated with drug trafficking can be seized by the authorities. One of the ways of investigating this association is through the analysis of seized banknotes for traces of controlled drugs. We report three studies which may assist the expert in assessing whether banknotes contaminated with diamorphine are part of the general population of notes in circulation or whether they show unusual contamination patterns which require explanation. Study 1 is based on three plausible contamination scenarios as they may occur during the various stages of an illicit drug transaction and seizure. It shows that notes which have been in direct contact with visible traces of diamorphine show significantly higher contamination to those in more indirect contact with the drug. Study 2 investigates the transfer of diamorphine from one highly contaminated note to other notes in a bundle over a period of 10 weeks with and without agitation. It was found that the total amount of drug transferred was smaller than 6% and no more than 4 out of a bundle of 10 previously clean notes became lightly contaminated. Based on extensive background data, study 3 proposes a probabilistic model to assess whether an observed proportion of diamorphine bearing banknotes is likely to have been contaminated by chance. The model predicts that there is only a 0.3% chance that a bundle of 100 notes from the general banknote population contains more than six contaminated specimens. Jointly, the three studies give useful indications for the spread of contamination throughout a sample and the amounts of heroin which may be expected given plausible contamination scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karl A Ebejer
- Mass Spec Analytical Ltd., Building 20F, Golf Course Lane, P.O. Box 77, Filton, Bristol BS34 7QS, UK
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Idoine FA, Carter JF, Sleeman R. Bulk and compound-specific isotopic characterisation of illicit heroin and cling film. RAPID COMMUNICATIONS IN MASS SPECTROMETRY : RCM 2005; 19:3207-15. [PMID: 16220464 DOI: 10.1002/rcm.2153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Comparative analysis involves various but complementary methods and can be used for forensic intelligence purposes to group seizures of heroin into batches. Much forensic analysis now combines expertise in the traditional area of drugs investigation with a detailed understanding of supply, packaging, distribution, and drugs intelligence. It was the intention of this research to determine whether illicit heroin seizures and packaging material can be grouped according to isotopic compositions, and to explore factors that affect the isotopic compositions. In order to achieve these aims, 14 samples of seized heroin, thirteen provided by Avon and Somerset Constabulary (UK), were analysed by elemental analysis/isotope ratio mass spectrometry (EA/IRMS) and gas chromatography/combustion/isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC/C/IRMS) for carbon and hydrogen isotopes. These tests elucidated that a combination of the delta13C, delta15N, delta18O and delta2H results from EA/IRMS is able to distinguish between most samples of bulk heroin. We speculate that the delta13C values of the alkaloids, obtained by GC/C/IRMS, give indications of different geographical or temporal origins of some of the heroin samples. GC/C/IRMS of the cutting agent, caffeine, provides a means to link dilution events. Fifteen retail cling film samples and seven cling film samples from heroin seizures were analysed by EA/IRMS. A multivariate comparison of the carbon, hydrogen and oxygen isotope ratios was able to distinguish between most of the samples. This technique enabled the cling films from the heroin to be grouped according to seizure. Three solvents were tested on two samples of cling film of known composition. Methanol and chloroform were both found to extract material from PVC and from non-PVC cling films. Water-treated PVC was indistinguishable from the untreated PVC and thus water was found to be the most suitable solvent when washing cling film prior to IRMS analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fay A Idoine
- Mass Spec Analytical Ltd., Building 20F, Golf Course Lane, P.O. Box 77, Filton, Bristol BS99 7AR, UK.
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Carter JF, Sleeman R, Parry J. The distribution of controlled drugs on banknotes via counting machines. Forensic Sci Int 2003; 132:106-12. [PMID: 12711189 DOI: 10.1016/s0379-0738(03)00015-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Bundles of paper, similar to sterling banknotes, were counted in banks in England and Wales. Subsequent analysis showed that the counting process, both by machine and by hand, transferred nanogram amounts of cocaine to the paper. Crystalline material, similar to cocaine hydrochloride, could be observed on the surface of the paper following counting. The geographical distribution of contamination broadly followed Government statistics for cocaine usage within the UK. Diacetylmorphine, Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and 3,4-methylenedioxymethylamphetamine (MDMA) were not detected during this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- James F Carter
- Organic and Biological Section, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock's Close, Bristol BS8 1TS, UK.
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Affiliation(s)
- T A Brettell
- Forensic Science Bureau, New Jersey State Police, West Trenton 08628-0088, USA
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