Blutalkohol 2005 - BADS (Bund gegen Alkohol und Drogen im ...

270
Kröner/Padosch/Lachenmeier/Madea,
Untersuchungen zur forensischen Relevanz thujonhaltiger Spirituosen unter besonderer
Berücksichtigung toxikologisch-analytischer Aspekte
versuches wurden nach Absinthgenuss Blutalkoholkonzentrationen > 1 ‰ gemessen, im Vollblut konnte jedoch
mittels HS-SPME kein Thujonnachweis geführt werden.
Die halluzinogene Potenz von Absinth ist bei Einhaltung der EU-Grenzwerte im Hinblick auf die forensischverkehrsmedizinische
Relevanz aufgrund der durchgeführten Untersuchungen vorerst als gering einzustufen.
Hier prävaliert die Wirkung des Alkohols, zumal Absinthsorten einen hohen Alkoholgehalt (> 50 Vol.-%) aufweisen.
Es ist jedoch kritisch darauf hinzuweisen, dass das Erreichen tatsächlich relevanter Blut-Thujonkonzentrationen
nach Konsum von in der EU über Internetvertrieb illegal erhältlichen Absinthsorten mit Thujongehalten
um 100 mg/l nicht ausgeschlossen werden kann.
Schlüsselwörter
Thujon – Absinth – Festphasen-Mikroextraktion (SPME) – rechtsmedizinische Relevanz – forensische Toxikologie
Summary
In 1991, the European Commission permitted the addition of thujone-containing plant extracts (wormwood,
mugwort) as well as aroma extracts to alcoholic beverages and spirits. For bitter spirits, such as absinthe, which
has enjoyed more and more popularity in recent years, a limit of 35 mg/l �-/�-thujone was established by the
European Commission. At present, no studies on �-/�-thujone effects, in particular with regard to the central
nervous system after absinthe consumption are available. However, case reports already exist, reporting potentially
life-threatening effects of accidental thujone intoxications. Major effects of thujone are supposed to be predominantly
of hallucinogenic kind, moreover, nephro-toxic effects have been observed. The porphyrogenic
effects of thujone and other terpenes are assumed to be a result of the hepatic cytochrome P450 pathway-dependent
metabolism.
Medico-legal relevance of thujone arises from its potential impact on driving abilities due to its predominantly
hallucinogenic properties. Given the marked lipophilic character of thujone, such spirits are characterized by a
high alcohol content to keep the essential ingredients in solution. Addition of water subsequently causes the clouding
of the solution (so called “louche”-effect), as a consequence of the precipitation of the essential oils. Here,
we introduce a simple and timesaving validated gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method for the detection
of thujone in blood samples. Moreover, as a promising alternative to established methods, we report on headspace
solid-phase micro-extraction (SPME) of thujone. Using this method we examined 14 absinthe samples,
which are commercially available in Germany for their thujone content. Three of the samples examined showed
a surpassing of the EC-limit with regard to thujone content, whereas no thujone was detected in another three absinthe
samples. Moreover, in a pilot study, thujone and ethanol blood concentrations were determined after absinthe
consumption. In this study, blood alcohol concentrations > 1 g/l were determined, whereas no thujone
could be detected in blood samples by using HS-SPME.
For the time being, our results allow the conclusion, that the hallucinogenic properties and relevance, respectively
of absinthe and other thujone containing spirits might be rather negligible with regard to forensic and traffic-medical
aspects. However, it has to be taken into consideration, that such spirits are characterized by high
ethanol contents (> 50 Vol.-%). It also has to be mentioned, that it can not be excluded here, that actually relevant
thujone concentrations and clinical effects, respectively might be observed after consumption of illegally distributed
absinthe from non-EU countries with thujone concentrations around 100 mg/l purchased via the internet.
Keywords
thujone – absinthe – solid-phase micro-extraction (SPME) – medico-legal relevance – forensic toxicology
Literatur
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BLUTALKOHOL VOL. 42/2005