Masters Theses

Keywords and Phrases

Artificial skin oil; Exposure routes; Methamphetamine; Partitioning coefficients; Skin oil

Abstract

"Occupants of former methamphetamine laboratories, often residences, may experience increased exposure through the accumulation of the methamphetamine in skin oil. The objectives of this study were to determine equilibrium partition coefficients of vapor-phase methamphetamine with artificial skin oil (ASO), artificial skin oil without fatty acids and real skin oil. A 10 L flow through stainless-steel chamber and in-line filter holders were used to expose skin-oil coated filters to vapor-phase methamphetamine at concentrations ranging from 12 ppb to 159 ppb and samples were analyzed for exposure time periods from 2 hours to 60 days. For a low vapor-phase methamphetamine concentration range of ~12-28 ppb, the equilibrium partition coefficient was 1499 ± 195 μg meth/g SO/ppb. For a high concentration range of 98-159 ppb, the equilibrium partition coefficient was lower, 394 ± 90.6 μg meth/g SO/ppb, suggesting some saturation of the available absorption capacity. The partition coefficient for artificial skin oil without fatty acids was 33 ± 6 μg meth/g SO/ppb, much lower than any value measured in this study or a previous 60 day study that used real human skin oil in which an average mass normalized partition coefficient of 1410 ± 840 μg meth/g SO/ppb was measured. We believe that the measured coefficients are much greater than the predicted value due to the presence of organic acids in the skin oil, which contribute protons, lower the pH and increase the capacity for basic organic compounds like methamphetamine. The very large absorption capacity suggests that surfaces covered in skin oils would accumulate methamphetamine to levels that exceed recommended surface remediation standards, even for air concentrations in the low part per trillion range."--Abstract, page iv.

Advisor(s)

Morrison, Glenn

Committee Member(s)

Burken, Joel G. (Joel Gerard)
Ercal, Nuran

Department(s)

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering

Degree Name

M.S. in Environmental Engineering

Publisher

Missouri University of Science and Technology

Publication Date

Summer 2014

Pagination

x, 48 pages

Note about bibliography

Includes bibliographical references (pages 45-47).

Rights

© 2014 Kristia Parker, All rights reserved.

Document Type

Thesis - Open Access

File Type

text

Language

English

Subject Headings

Methamphetamine

Partition coefficient (Chemistry)

Fatty acids

Thesis Number

T 10521

Electronic OCLC #

894584606

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