SOFT 2004 Meeting Abstracts - Society of Forensic Toxicologists

F22
USE OF COMPOUNDS ALTERING VIGILANCE PERFORMANCE: PRELIMINARY RESULTS
OF PREVALENCE IN HAULAGE DRIVERS IN THE NORD-PAS-DE-CALAIS REGION
(FRANCE)
L. Labat l , B. Dehon l , M. Lhermitte l • and regional group of ({ Toxicomanie et Travail »2
1 Laboratoire de Biochimie et Biologie Moleculaire - Hopital Calmette - Avenue du Pr Leclercq - 59037
Lille cedex - France; 2 Institut de Sante au Travail du Nord de la France A venue Oscar Lambret - 59037
Lille cedex - France.
Introduction: In 1995, a French study showed that the number of users of compounds that could alter
vigilance performance was significantly more important in a population of workers in security posts than in
the general working population (1). Moreover, even if the number of road accidents involving haulage
drivers has decreased since 1985, their severity is greater. A multicentric study was initiated by a local
group « Toxicomanie et Travail» on haulage drivers from different cities in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region
(France). The objectives of this study are the standardisation of occupational medicine practices in order to
define a harmonized policy for prevention and screening, to validate analytical screening methods, as well
as the course of action in the case of positive detection.
Methods: 1000 haulage drivers were included in the study. Occupation was the only criterion of selection.
Urine samples were collected anonymously. Information collected included: haulage area, age, gender,
nature of appointment with occupational practitioners and day of the sampling. A urine screen (test
Triage8, BMD) was performed for methadone (cut off = 300 nglmL), benzodiazepines (300 nglmL),
cocaine (300 ng/mL), amphetamine derivatives (1000 ng/mL), opioides (300 ng/mL) and cannabis (50
ng/mL). Buprenorphine detection was achieved with Elisa method (Microgenics). All positive results were
confirmed by GC-MS or HPLC-MS. Alcohol levels were determined by an enzymatic method (Dade
Behring).
Results: Up to February 2004, 707 samples were collected. 99% are men and participants were on average
36.4 +/- 9.9 years old. Results expressed as percentage of positives were: opioides (4.81%), cannabis
(9.05%), cocaine (0.14%), amphetamine derivatives (0%), buprenorphine (1.98%), methadone (0.56%),
benzodiazepines (0,42%), alcohol (5.51 %). The 34 positive cases for opioides were distributed as follows:
6-MAM 0 ; morphine 10 ; codeine II ; pholcodine 20. THC-COOH was the only compound identified in
urine samples from individuals tested positive for cannabis.
Conclusion: Only legal opioid drugs were identified. They correspond to antitussive medications that are
broadly prescribed during the winter period (time of the urine collection). The lack of sensitivity and
specificity of the immunologic test could explain the low percentage observed for benzodiazepine positive
cases. Our results are in good agreement with the results ofthe previously mentioned study of Haguenoer et
a!., (1995) in the North of France, for the use of cannabis and alcohol by workers in security posts. In
contrast, the number of positive cases for amphetamine derivatives, opioides and benzodiazepines was less.
Other molecules were not investigated in the previous study of Haguenoer et al.. Considering these
preliminary results, it would be of great interest to extend the screening to other psychoactive molecules by
using a more efficient screening method such as HPLC-DAD.
References: ·1. Haguenoer 1.M. et colI. Prevalence des conduites toxicophiles en milieu professionnel : une
etude dans la region du Nord Pas de Calais. Bulletin du Conseil departemental du Nord, Ordre des
Medecins, 1997; 80: 11-15.
Keywords: vigilance, haulage drivers, illicit substances
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