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Title: Passive inhalation of marijuana smoke: urinalysis and room air levels of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol

Abstract

In two separate studies, 5 drug-free male volunteers with a history of marijuana use were passively exposed to the sidestream smoke of 4 and 16 marijuana cigarettes (2.8% delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)) for 1 h each day for 6 consecutive days. A third study was similarly performed with 2 marijuana-naive subjects passively exposed to the smoke of 16 marijuana cigarettes. Passive smoke exposure was conducted in a small, unventilated room. Room air levels of THC and CO were monitored frequently. All urine specimens were collected and analyzed by EMIT d.a.u. assay, Abuscreen radioimmunoassay and GC/MS. The studies show that significant amounts of THC were absorbed by all subjects at the higher level of passive smoke exposure (eg., smoke from 16 marijuana cigarettes), resulting in urinary excretion of significant amounts of cannabinoid metabolites. However, it seems improbable that subjects would unknowingly tolerate the noxious smoke conditions produced by this exposure. At the lower level of passive marijuana-smoke exposure, specimens tested positive only infrequently or were negative. Room air levels of THC during passive smoke exposure appeared to be the most critical factor in determining whether a subject produced cannabinoid-positive urine specimens.

Authors:
; ; ; ; ; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Addiction Research Center, Baltimore, MD
OSTI Identifier:
6244008
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
J. Anal. Toxicol.; (United States)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 11:3
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES; MARIHUANA; INHALATION; PYRANS; RADIOIMMUNOASSAY; CARBON MONOXIDE; ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE; URINE; BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS; BIOLOGICAL WASTES; BODY FLUIDS; CARBON COMPOUNDS; CARBON OXIDES; CHALCOGENIDES; HERBS; HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS; IMMUNOASSAY; IMMUNOLOGY; INTAKE; ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS; MATERIALS; ORGANIC COMPOUNDS; ORGANIC OXYGEN COMPOUNDS; OXIDES; OXYGEN COMPOUNDS; PLANTS; RADIOASSAY; RADIOIMMUNOLOGY; TRACER TECHNIQUES; WASTES; 550201* - Biochemistry- Tracer Techniques

Citation Formats

Cone, E J, Johnson, R E, Darwin, W D, Yousefnejad, D, Mell, L D, Paul, B D, and Mitchell, J. Passive inhalation of marijuana smoke: urinalysis and room air levels of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol. United States: N. p., 1987. Web. doi:10.1093/jat/11.3.89.
Cone, E J, Johnson, R E, Darwin, W D, Yousefnejad, D, Mell, L D, Paul, B D, & Mitchell, J. Passive inhalation of marijuana smoke: urinalysis and room air levels of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol. United States. https://doi.org/10.1093/jat/11.3.89
Cone, E J, Johnson, R E, Darwin, W D, Yousefnejad, D, Mell, L D, Paul, B D, and Mitchell, J. 1987. "Passive inhalation of marijuana smoke: urinalysis and room air levels of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol". United States. https://doi.org/10.1093/jat/11.3.89.
@article{osti_6244008,
title = {Passive inhalation of marijuana smoke: urinalysis and room air levels of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol},
author = {Cone, E J and Johnson, R E and Darwin, W D and Yousefnejad, D and Mell, L D and Paul, B D and Mitchell, J},
abstractNote = {In two separate studies, 5 drug-free male volunteers with a history of marijuana use were passively exposed to the sidestream smoke of 4 and 16 marijuana cigarettes (2.8% delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)) for 1 h each day for 6 consecutive days. A third study was similarly performed with 2 marijuana-naive subjects passively exposed to the smoke of 16 marijuana cigarettes. Passive smoke exposure was conducted in a small, unventilated room. Room air levels of THC and CO were monitored frequently. All urine specimens were collected and analyzed by EMIT d.a.u. assay, Abuscreen radioimmunoassay and GC/MS. The studies show that significant amounts of THC were absorbed by all subjects at the higher level of passive smoke exposure (eg., smoke from 16 marijuana cigarettes), resulting in urinary excretion of significant amounts of cannabinoid metabolites. However, it seems improbable that subjects would unknowingly tolerate the noxious smoke conditions produced by this exposure. At the lower level of passive marijuana-smoke exposure, specimens tested positive only infrequently or were negative. Room air levels of THC during passive smoke exposure appeared to be the most critical factor in determining whether a subject produced cannabinoid-positive urine specimens.},
doi = {10.1093/jat/11.3.89},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6244008}, journal = {J. Anal. Toxicol.; (United States)},
number = ,
volume = 11:3,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1987},
month = {Fri May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1987}
}