engleski

New psychoactive substances in pooled urine samples

Aim: An analysis of pooled urine samples, collected in the period from 2016 to 2018 during Ultra Europe music festival in Split, Croatia, was carried out for detecting the presence of new psychoactive substances (NPS). Methods: Thirty urine samples, collected from 14 portable chemical toilets located at or close to the venue of the festival (9 different locations in total), were analyzed. Samples were qualitatively analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry technique (GC/MS) using full-scan mode. Data were compared with Wiley Mass spectra of designer drugs library (DD2015) as well as with in-house library containing about 1000 compounds and metabolites. Results: Forty-seven different substances were found in analyzed samples. Out of them, 26 were classical substances, mostly from the stimulants group, while 21 substances were from the NPS group. In it, most of them were from the phenethylamines and cathinones groups. In each observed year, on the first day of the festival, compared to the other days, more substances were detected. Contrary to 2016 and 2017, in 2018 the number of detected substances was significantly smaller. The highest single concentration was of the MDMA and tramadol concentration. Conclusion: Analysis of pooled urine samples collected from chemical portable toilets is useful in detecting recreational drugs used during the music festivals where more than 150, 000 people from over 150 world countries are present. Due to that fact, it is possible to get more information about worldwide NPS trend.

forensic toxicology ; music festivals ; NPS analysis ; pooled urine samples

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