Ex vivo detection of recreational consumed nitrous oxide in exhaled breath

Dinesh Durán Jiménez, Frederick Vinckenbosch, Joris Busink, Jerro van Zijl, Hendrik J.F. Helmerhorst, Desirée van Tuin, Albert Dahan, Johannes Gerardus Ramaekers, Marcel J. van der Schans, Floris J. Bikker

Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

The increasing use of recreational nitrous oxide ([Formula: see text]O) in the Netherlands and its link to traffic accidents highlights the need for reliable detection methods for law enforcement. This study focused on ex vivo detection of [Formula: see text]O in exhaled breath and examining its persistence in the human body. Firstly, a low-cost portable infrared based detector was selected and validated to detect [Formula: see text]O in air. Then, the influence of interferents and conditions potentially influencing the analysis were evaluated including relative humidity, ethanol, acetaldehyde and [Formula: see text]. Subsequently, [Formula: see text]O breathing dynamics were evaluated in vitro and ex vivo. Initially, a lung simulator was used to model respiratory mechanics and [Formula: see text]O decay, revealing detectable [Formula: see text]O levels up to 90 min after exposure. In the final part of this study, a controlled single and double dose of [Formula: see text]O gas was administered to 24 volunteers in an operating theatre. The presence of [Formula: see text]O in exhaled breath of the volunteers was analysed using infra red spectroscopy every 12-15 min. Our results show that [Formula: see text]O was detectable in exhaled breath for a minimum of 60 min post-administration and revealed a window of detection to potentially measure [Formula: see text]O for law enforcement and forensic purposes.

Original languageEnglish
Article number2901
Pages (from-to)1-11
Number of pages11
JournalScientific Reports
Volume15
Issue number1
Early online date23 Jan 2025
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2025

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2025. The Author(s).

Keywords

  • Humans
  • Nitrous Oxide/analysis
  • Breath Tests/methods
  • Male
  • Exhalation
  • Adult
  • Female
  • Young Adult
  • Netherlands
  • Middle Aged

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