| dc.description.abstract | Marijuana is the most commonly abused illicit drug worldwide. The psychoactive compound ?9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) can be found in Cannabis sativa and provides a euphoric feeling, distorted sense of time, and loss of inhibition. Numerous studies have also looked at THC impairment of memory, cognitive skills, and psychomotor skills. The Federal Aviation Administration�s Civil Aerospace Medical Institute (CAMI) conducts toxicological analysis on aviation fatalities. Due to the severe trauma to the body associated with aviation accidents, the laboratory relies on tissues only for analysis in approximately 40% of cases. The purpose of this research is twofold: to develop a sensitive and robust method using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry to detect THC and its metabolites 11-OH-THC and THC-COOH in postmortem fluids and tissues; and to determine if there is a postmortem fluid or tissue that can be used as an interpretive aid when blood is not available. The analytical method was validated following SWGTOX guidelines and was used for the analysis of postmortem fluids and tissues from 11 aviation fatalities that had been previously found positive for cannabinoids by GC/MS. Specimens analyzed, when available, included: blood, urine, bile, vitreous humor, brain, lung, liver, kidney, spleen, muscle, and heart. The results of this study showed no consistent distribution of any of the analytes between blood and any other fluid or tissue. The specimens with the highest concentrations cannabinoids are blood, urine, lung, and kidney. | |
