Cannabinoids in Breath, Urine, Hair, Sweat, and Biomarkers of Cannabis Use

• Author: James G. Wigmore
• Pages: 74-105

 

 

Cannabinoids in Breath, Urine, Hair,

Sweat, and Biomarkers of Cannabis Use

4.01 BREATH CANNABINOIDS

The breath alcohol section was the largest in my previous book, Wig-

more on Alcohol, but is the smallest section in this book. Breath testing

for THC is not yet practical as the THC blood concentration is about

/, times less than alcohol, and THC does not dissolve in water

vapour, which is a major component of exhaled breath. The current

methods are not practical for enforcement of DUIC as multiple exhala-

tions (up to thirty times) are required to detect such low levels of THC

(, ). THC is detected mainly in the aerosol particles in the

breath and not in the vapor ().

Reference Number: 40101

, ., . , .. , . . “Method Valida-

tion and Application of a Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass

Spectrometry Method for Drugs of Abuse Testing in Exhaled Breath.”

Journal of Chromatography B, : –,  ( tables,  f‌igures,

 references)

Abstract: Breath has become an emerging alternative matrix for drug

testing. The underlying mechanism for making thi s possible is due to

the formation of aerosol particles from the air way lining f‌luid by the

breathing process. These aerosol particles may become contaminated

with drugs present in the body. A collection device that selectively col-

lects the micrometer aerosol particles on a f‌ilter was developed. The an-

alysis of the drug is a cha llenge due to pg concentration. The method

Chapter 4: Cannabinoids in Breath, Urine, Hair, Sweat, and Biomarkers of Cannabis Use  

Reference Number 

is fully validated for THC and other drugs. The breath sa mples were

collected by exhaling L of breath into a bag, which took one to three

minutes and an electrostatic f‌ilter collected the microparticle and sep-

arated it from the saliva. Breath samples were obtained from , ran-

dom workplace testing subjects. A positive drug f‌inding wa s found in

thirty-nine ca ses (. percent), Amphetamine was found in twenty-f‌ive

cases, THC in eight cases, a nd cocaine in four cases. A matrix ef‌fect was

observed with up to a  percent loss in THC concentration.

One advantage of breath sampling over oral f‌luid is that the sa mpling

process more often is successful due to a problem with a dr y mouth

making oral f‌luid sampling sometimes to fail . Since adulteration often

is a concern in drug testing, exhaled breath sampling may provide a

procedure not only more convenient for the donor but also easier to

control for the collector.

Reference Number 40102

, .., . , . -, .. ,  . .

“Breath Testing for Cannabis. An Emerging Tool with Great Potential

for Law Enforcement.” Between the Lines, : –,  ( references)

Abstract: The legal importa nce of developing a reliable breath testing

for cannabis is discu ssed. One method captures a sample of the driv-

er’s breath for later analysis by LC/MS at a forensic laboratory. Another

method uses f‌ield asymmetric ion mobility spec trometry (FAIMS) to de-

termine breath cann abis concentration at the roadside.

In summary, researchers and entrepreneurs are developing me thods

and devices that could facilitate the identif‌ication of recent cannabis

use and, when combined with DUID investigations, including f‌i eld im-

pairment testing result, improve DUID detection and p rosecution. We

encourage groups concerned with saving lives on our highways, includ -

ing highway safety ocers, enforcement leaders, prose cutors, trac

safety resource prosecutors (TSRP), toxicologists, s afety advocates,

and others to support the development an d use of new technologies,

address the policy issues revolving around them, a nd develop strategies

to take advantage of them as appropriate.

  Wigmore on Cannabis

Reference Number: 

Reference Number: 40103

, .., .. , . , .. , .. ,

 .. . “Cannabinoids in Exhaled Breath following Con-

trolled Administration of Smoked Cannabis.” Clinical Chemistry, :

–,  ( tables,  f‌igure,  references)

Abstract: THC, THCCOOH, and CBN concentrations were measured in

the breath of thirteen (nine male, four female) chronic and eleven (eight

male, three female) occasional ca nnabis users (ages  to  years) by LC/

MS/MS after smoking a . percent THC cigarette. Breath sa mples were

collected frequently up to twenty-one hours after smoking ceased, u sing

a SensAbuse device, which contains a polymeric f‌ilter pad enclosed in a

plastic collection chamber. The subjects breathed norm ally through their

nose and exhaled through a mouthpiece into the pad-containing cham-

ber for three minutes. The mouthpiece was discarded, and the chamber

was sealed at both ends and stored at -°C. Methyl alcohol as an or-

ganic solvent was added to the pad for analysis. THC was the major can-

nabinoid detected in the breath. No sample contained THCCOOH and

only one breath sample contained CBN. THC breath concentrations de-

creased signif‌ica ntly with time in both groups. Breath THC was detected

in occasional smokers for . hours and . hours for chronic smokers.

These f‌irst breath cannabinoid data followi ng controlled cannabis ad-

ministration suggest that the cannabinoid detection window in breath is

short, ranging from . to  hours, and ref‌lec ts parent THC only. Breath

cannabinoids have a short detection window, coinciding with possible

impairment one to two hours after smok ing, making this alternative

matrix applicable for DUID and for case workpl ace cannabinoid drug

testing; however, the driving impairment window extends beyond the

detectability of breath cannabinoids.

Reference Number: 40104

, ., . , . , . , . , . , - -

, . , . , . , . ,  -. .

“Two Techniques to Sample Non-Volatiles in Breath-Exemplif‌ied by

Methadone.” Journal of Breath Research, :  pp,  ( tables, 

f‌igures,  references)