An overview of New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) in northeast Brazil: NMR-based identification and analysis of ecstasy tablets by GC-MS.

The actual illicit market for synthetic drugs is characterized by a wide variety of psychoactive substances of different chemical and pharmacological classes, such as amphetamine-type stimulants and new psychoactive substances. The knowledge about its chemical composition, as well as the nature and quantity of the active substances present, is important for emergency care in intoxication cases by these substances and to establish adequate chemical and toxicological analysis procedures in forensic laboratories. The aim of this work was to study the prevalence of amphetamine-type stimulants and new psychoactive substances in the states of Bahia and Sergipe, in the northeast region of Brazil, involving samples of drugs seized by the local police forces from 2014 to 2019. In a total of 121 seized and analyzed samples, in which ecstasy tablets predominated (n = 101), nineteen substances were identified using GC-MS and 1D NMR techniques, comprising classical synthetic drugs and new psychoactive substances (NPS). In order to determine the composition of ecstasy tablets, an analytical method based on GC-MS was applied after validation. Analyzes of 101 ecstasy tablets showed that MDMA was the main substance, being found in 57% of the samples, in amounts between 27.3 and 187.1 mg per tablet. In addition, mixtures of MDMA, MDA, synthetic cathinones and caffeine were observed in 34 samples. These results demonstrate that the variety of substances found and the composition of seized materials in northeast Brazil is similar to other studies carried out previously in other Brazilian regions.

Development, validation and application of an UFLC-DAD-ESI-MS method for determination of carbonyl compounds in soybean oil during continuous heating.

A method was developed for the extraction and UFLC-DAD-ESI-MS analysis of carbonyl compounds (CCs) in oils heated to 180°C. Different parameters were evaluated, and the best results were 1.5ml of acetonitrile as the extraction solvent, manual stirring for 3min and 30min of sonication time. The method was validated using soybean oil samples spiked with CCs at concentration levels ranging from 0.2 to 10.0µg.mL-1. The average recoveries in the lowest concentration level ranged from 70.7% to 85.0%. Detection limits ranged from 0.03 to 0.1µg.mL-1, and the quantification limit was 0.2µg.mL-1 for all compounds. When the method was applied to samples of heated oil, the CCs identified were 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal, 2,4-decadienal, 2,4-heptadienal, 4-hydroxy -2-hexenal, acrolein, 2-heptenal, 2-octenal, 4,5-epoxy-2-decadal, 2-decenal, and 2-undecenal, with the first three mentioned presenting the highest mean concentrations after heating, specifically 36.9, 34.8 and 22.6µg.g-1 of oil, respectively.

Lightsticks content toxicity: effects of the water soluble fraction on the oyster embryonic development.

Lightsticks are artifacts used as attractors in a type of commercial fishery, known as surface longline gear. Despite the excessive use, the contamination risks of these devices have not yet been properly investigated. This research aimed to fill up this gap by determining the chemical composition and the toxicity of lightsticks recently activated, compared to those one year after activation and to the ones collected on the beaches. The analyzes were carried out by Gas Chromatography coupled with Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Additionally, the variations in composition and the toxicity of their sea Water Soluble Fractions (WSF) were evaluated based on the WSF-effects of Crassostrea rhizophorae embryonic development. The GC-MS analysis made possible the identification of nineteen substances in the water soluble fraction of the lightsticks, such as dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and dimethyl phthalate (DMP). The value of the WSF-effective concentration (EC50) was in an average of 0.35%. After one year of the lightsticks activation, the toxicity was even higher (0.65%). Furthermore, other substances, also present in the lightsticks-WSF caused persistent toxicity even more dangerous to the environment than DBP and DMP. This essay discusses their toxicity effects and possible environment damages.