Distribution of ∆ 9 -Tetrahydrocannabinol and 11-Nor-9-Carboxy-∆ 9 -Tetrahydrocannabinol Acid in Postmortem Biological Fluids and Tissues From Pilots Fatally Injured in Aviation Accidents

• Philip M. Kemp ^[1] ; Patrick S. Cardona ^[1] ; Arvind K. Chaturvedi ^[1] ; John W. Soper ^[1]
  1. [1] Civil Aerospace Medical Institute Federal Aviation Administration Oklahoma City OK
• Localización: Journal of forensic sciences, ISSN-e 1556-4029, ISSN 0022-1198, Vol. 60, Nº. 4, 2015, págs. 942-949
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • Little is known of the postmortem distribution of ∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and its major metabolite, 11-nor-9-carboxy-∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THCCOOH). Data from 55 pilots involved in fatal aviation accidents are presented in this study. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis obtained mean THC concentrations in blood from multiple sites, liver, lung, and kidney of 15.6 ng/mL, 92.4 ng/g, 766.0 ng/g, 44.1 ng/g and mean THCCOOH concentrations of 35.9 ng/mL, 322.4 ng/g, 42.6 ng/g, 138.5 ng/g, respectively. Heart THC concentrations (two cases) were 184.4 and 759.3 ng/g, and corresponding THCCOOH measured 11.0 and 95.9 ng/g, respectively. Muscle concentrations for THC (two cases) were 16.6 and 2.5 ng/g; corresponding THCCOOH, “confirmed positive ” and 1.4 ng/g. The only brain tested in this study showed no THC detected and 2.9 ng/g THCCOOH, low concentrations that correlated with low values in other specimens from this case. This research emphasizes the need for postmortem cannabinoid testing and demonstrates the usefulness of a number of tissues, most notably lung, for these analyses.