title: 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.
abstract: 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.
authors: Federal Aviation Administration, Civil Aerospace Medical Institute, 6500 South MacArthur Boulevard, Oklahoma City, OK.
authors: Philip M
authors: PM
authors: Kemp
authors: Federal Aviation Administration, Civil Aerospace Medical Institute, 6500 South MacArthur Boulevard, Oklahoma City, OK.
authors: Patrick S
authors: PS
authors: Cardona
authors: Federal Aviation Administration, Civil Aerospace Medical Institute, 6500 South MacArthur Boulevard, Oklahoma City, OK.
authors: Arvind K
authors: AK
authors: Chaturvedi
authors: Federal Aviation Administration, Civil Aerospace Medical Institute, 6500 South MacArthur Boulevard, Oklahoma City, OK.
authors: John W
authors: JW
authors: Soper
mesh_terms: D000060:Accidents, Aviation / Q000401:mortality*; D000328:Adult; D013759:Dronabinol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D005260:Female; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D011619:Psychotropic Drugs; C016780:11-nor-delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol-9-carboxylic acid; D013759:Dronabinol
keywords: 11-nor-9-carboxy-∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THCCOOH); aircraft accident investigation; cannabinoids; forensic science; marijuana; pilot fatalities; postmortem distribution; toxicology; ∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)