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Detection of Illicit Drugs on Surfaces Using Direct Analysis in Real Time (DART)/Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry
Citation:
GRANGE, A. H. AND G. SOVOCOOL. Detection of Illicit Drugs on Surfaces Using Direct Analysis in Real Time (DART)/Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry. Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry. Wiley InterScience, Silver Spring, MD, 25(9):1271-1281, (2011).
Impact/Purpose:
In 2009 alone, 10,064 methamphetamine (meth) lab incidents were tallied by the Drug Enforcement Administration.1 Meth syntheses (cooks) that use the red phosphorous or anhydrous ammonia methods produce meth vapor, aerosol, and particulates that contaminate floors, walls, ceilings, and objects.2 While the volatile reagents used in a cook rapidly dissipate afterward, meth contamination is found immediately and long after cooks at levels well above state cleanupstandards.2,3 These standards can also be exceeded by meth residues produced by habitual meth users.42 Gauze pad wipe samples analyzed by NIOSH mass spectrometric method5-9s have detection limits of 0.05 or 0.1 μg/100 cm.2 Patrick, et al.10 collected filter paper wipe samples and used EPA method 8270 to achieve a limit of quantitation of 0.005 μg/100 cm2. Based primarily on NIOSH method detection limits, 15 states11 have set remediation standards of 0.1-0.5 μg /100 cm>2. A remediation level of 0.5 μg/100 cm 2 was estimated to be more than adequate to protect human health.12 The California Department of Toxic Substances Control set a human health-based remediation limit of 1.5 μg /100 cm2 for screening meth surface contamination.13/SUP>
Description:
Methamphetamine (meth) residues from meth syntheses or habitual meth smoking pose human health hazards. State health departments require remediation of meth labs before properties are sold. NIOSH methods for meth analysis require wipe sampling, extraction, cleanup, solvent exchange, derivatization, and/or mass spectral analysis using selected ion monitoring. Rapid and inexpensive analyses could characterize drug-contaminated structures with greater spatial resolution, provide real-time analyses during remediation, and provide thorough documentation of successful clean ups. Herein an autosampler/open-air ion source/time-of-flight mass spectrometric technique is described that required only direct sampling using cotton-swab wipe samples. Each wipe sample collection required 2 min and data acquisition required only 13 s per sample. Optimum collision induced dissociation voltages, desorption gas temperatures, and solvents were determined for 11 drugs. Peaks were observed in analyte-ion traces for 0.025 μg/100 cm2 of meth and seven other drugs. This level is half the detection limit of NIOSH methods and one-fourth of the lowest state remediation limit for meth. Dynamic ranges of 100 in concentration were demonstrated for the drugs, which is sufficient for a screening technique. The volatilities of 11 drugs from glass were determined. The pick up of the drugs by solvent-soaked cotton-swab wipe samples from glass relative to acrylic latex paint was also compared.