Ex vivo detection of recreational consumed nitrous oxide in exhaled breath
Abstract The increasing use of recreational nitrous oxide ( $$\hbox {N}_{2}$$ 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 $$\hbox {N}_{2}$$ O in exhaled breath and examining...
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| Format: | Article |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-86666-9 |
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| author | 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 |
| author_facet | 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 |
| author_sort | Dinesh Durán Jiménez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The increasing use of recreational nitrous oxide ( $$\hbox {N}_{2}$$ 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 $$\hbox {N}_{2}$$ 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 $$\hbox {N}_{2}$$ O in air. Then, the influence of interferents and conditions potentially influencing the analysis were evaluated including relative humidity, ethanol, acetaldehyde and $$\hbox {CO}_{2}$$ . Subsequently, $$\hbox {N}_{2}$$ O breathing dynamics were evaluated in vitro and ex vivo. Initially, a lung simulator was used to model respiratory mechanics and $$\hbox {N}_{2}$$ O decay, revealing detectable $$\hbox {N}_{2}$$ O levels up to 90 min after exposure. In the final part of this study, a controlled single and double dose of $$\hbox {N}_{2}$$ O gas was administered to 24 volunteers in an operating theatre. The presence of $$\hbox {N}_{2}$$ O in exhaled breath of the volunteers was analysed using infra red spectroscopy every 12-15 min. Our results show that $$\hbox {N}_{2}$$ O was detectable in exhaled breath for a minimum of 60 min post-administration and revealed a window of detection to potentially measure $$\hbox {N}_{2}$$ O for law enforcement and forensic purposes. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c5daddedd2164fcab8f3a1107c823425 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-c5daddedd2164fcab8f3a1107c8234252025-02-09T12:32:16ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-01-0115111110.1038/s41598-025-86666-9Ex vivo detection of recreational consumed nitrous oxide in exhaled breathDinesh Durán Jiménez0Frederick Vinckenbosch1Joris Busink2Jerro van Zijl3Hendrik J. F. Helmerhorst4Desirée van Tuin5Albert Dahan6Johannes Gerardus Ramaekers7Marcel J. van der Schans8Floris J. Bikker9TNO Defence, Safety and Security, Dep. CBRN ProtectionDep. Neuropsychology and psychochopharmacology, Maastricht UniversityTNO Defence, Safety and Security, Dep. CBRN ProtectionTNO Defence, Safety and Security, Dep. CBRN ProtectionDep. Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Leiden University Medical CenterPolice Regional Criminal Investigations Division - Forensic InvestigationDep. Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Leiden University Medical CenterDep. Neuropsychology and psychochopharmacology, Maastricht UniversityTNO Defence, Safety and Security, Dep. CBRN ProtectionDep. Oral Biochemistry, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam, University of Amsterdam and Vrije Universiteit AmsterdamAbstract The increasing use of recreational nitrous oxide ( $$\hbox {N}_{2}$$ 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 $$\hbox {N}_{2}$$ 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 $$\hbox {N}_{2}$$ O in air. Then, the influence of interferents and conditions potentially influencing the analysis were evaluated including relative humidity, ethanol, acetaldehyde and $$\hbox {CO}_{2}$$ . Subsequently, $$\hbox {N}_{2}$$ O breathing dynamics were evaluated in vitro and ex vivo. Initially, a lung simulator was used to model respiratory mechanics and $$\hbox {N}_{2}$$ O decay, revealing detectable $$\hbox {N}_{2}$$ O levels up to 90 min after exposure. In the final part of this study, a controlled single and double dose of $$\hbox {N}_{2}$$ O gas was administered to 24 volunteers in an operating theatre. The presence of $$\hbox {N}_{2}$$ O in exhaled breath of the volunteers was analysed using infra red spectroscopy every 12-15 min. Our results show that $$\hbox {N}_{2}$$ O was detectable in exhaled breath for a minimum of 60 min post-administration and revealed a window of detection to potentially measure $$\hbox {N}_{2}$$ O for law enforcement and forensic purposes.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-86666-9 |
| spellingShingle | 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 Ex vivo detection of recreational consumed nitrous oxide in exhaled breath Scientific Reports |
| title | Ex vivo detection of recreational consumed nitrous oxide in exhaled breath |
| title_full | Ex vivo detection of recreational consumed nitrous oxide in exhaled breath |
| title_fullStr | Ex vivo detection of recreational consumed nitrous oxide in exhaled breath |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ex vivo detection of recreational consumed nitrous oxide in exhaled breath |
| title_short | Ex vivo detection of recreational consumed nitrous oxide in exhaled breath |
| title_sort | ex vivo detection of recreational consumed nitrous oxide in exhaled breath |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-86666-9 |
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