title: A study to model the post-mortem stability of 4-MMC, MDMA and BZP in putrefying remains.
abstract: There is currently limited data available on the stabilities of the three stimulants 4-methylmethcathinone (4-MMC), 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and N-benzylpiperazine (BZP) in a putrefying matrix. A Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) method to determine the concentration of the three drugs in putrefying porcine liver over a three month period was developed and validated. Both 4-MMC and BZP were found to be unstable, becoming undetectable and having an average recovery of 52% respectively after one month at ambient room temperature (20°C). MDMA was found to be moderately stable, with an average recovery of 74% after three months at room temperature. This study indicated that the putrefaction process could have a significant impact on concentrations of 4-MMC and BZP in post-mortem cases involving putrefied remains.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Forensic Science, University of Technology Sydney (UTS), 15 Broadway, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia.
authors.forename: Daniel S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Wenholz
authors.affiliation: Centre for Forensic Science, University of Technology Sydney (UTS), 15 Broadway, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Luong
authors.affiliation: Centre for Forensic Science, University of Technology Sydney (UTS), 15 Broadway, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia.
authors.forename: Morgan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Philp
authors.affiliation: Centre for Forensic Science, University of Technology Sydney (UTS), 15 Broadway, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia.
authors.forename: Shari L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Forbes
authors.affiliation: Centre for Forensic Science, University of Technology Sydney (UTS), 15 Broadway, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia.
authors.forename: Barbara H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Stuart
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine, Monash University and Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine, 65 Kavanagh Street, Southbank, VIC, 3006, Australia.
authors.forename: Olaf H
authors.initials: OH
authors.lastname: Drummer
authors.affiliation: Centre for Forensic Science, University of Technology Sydney (UTS), 15 Broadway, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia. Electronic address: shanlin.fu@uts.edu.au.
authors.forename: Shanlin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000032:analysis*; D008694:Methamphetamine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000032:analysis; D023421:Models, Animal; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine / Q000032:analysis; D010879:Piperazines / Q000032:analysis; D011180:Postmortem Changes; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection / Q000379:methods; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D013287:Illicit Drugs; C461488:N-benzylpiperazine; D010879:Piperazines; D008694:Methamphetamine; C548233:mephedrone; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine
keywords: 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine; 4-methylmethcathinone; N-benzylpiperazine; Putrefactive degradation