Occupational Exposure to Secondhand Cannabis Smoke Among Law Enforcement Officers Providing Security at Outdoor Concert Events

Details

• Personal Author:
  Blount BC ; Couch, James R. ; Grimes, George R. ; Methner, Mark M. ; Wang L ; Wiegand, Douglas M. ; Zhang L
• Description:
  Objectives: Numerous states within the USA have legalized cannabis for medical or non-medical (adult/recreational) use. With the increased availability and use of cannabis, occupational and environmental exposures to secondhand cannabis smoke (SHCS) raise concerns over whether non-users may be at risk for a 'contact high', impaired neurocognitive function, harm from irritants and carcinogens in smoke, or potentially failing a cannabis screening test. The extent of health effects from potential occupational exposure to SHCS is unknown. This is a study of occupational exposures to SHCS among law enforcement officers (LEOs) providing security at outdoor concerts on a college campus in a state where adult use of cannabis is legal. Methods: Investigators evaluated a convenience sample of LEOs' potential exposure to SHCS and symptoms experienced while providing security during two open-air stadium rock-n-roll concerts on consecutive days in July 2018. During each event, full-shift area and LEO personal air samples were collected for Ä9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Ä9-THC), the psychoactive component of cannabis. Urine (pre- and postevent; n = 58) and blood (postevent; n = 29) were also collected and analyzed for Ä9- THC and two of its metabolites [11-nor-delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol-9-carboxylic acid (THC-COOH) and 11-nor-hydroxy-delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (OH-THC)]. Urine samples were analyzed using ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography coupled with positive electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry and results were compared with the Department of Transportation guidelines for urine screening for cannabis. Blood (postevent) samples were also collected and the plasma fraction was tested for Ä9-THC, THC-COOH, and OH-THC using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. LEOs also completed a medical questionnaire asking about symptoms experienced during the concerts. Results: Twenty-nine LEOs participated in the evaluation. Measurable amounts of Ä9-THC were found in area (concentrations ranged from non-detectable to 330 ng m.3) and personal air samples (53-480 ng m.3). Small amounts (<1.0 ng ml.1) of a Ä9-THC metabolite (THC-COOH) were found in the postevent urine of 34% of LEOs. Neither Ä9-THC nor its metabolites were detected in any blood sample. LEOs reported experiencing non-specific symptoms during the concerts, such as burning, itchy, or red eyes (31%); dry mouth (21%); headache (21%); and coughing (21%). Conclusions: Identification of Ä9-THC in the breathing zone for some LEOs indicates the potential for airborne exposure to the psychoactive component of cannabis. However, the magnitude of these exposures was small compared with those that would result in a dose of Ä9-THC associated with psychotropic effects. Similarly, THC-COOH was found in the postevent urine of some LEOs at concentrations that were orders of magnitude below active use cut-points used during a cannabis screening test (50 ng ml.1). Exposure to SHCS was not high enough to detect concentrations of THC, THC-COOH, to OH-THC in the blood, which could be due to differences between the limits of detection for the tests employed. The ocular and respiratory symptoms reported by LEOs may be related to irritants in SHCS. However, the health effects of SHCS remain unclear, and further research concerning occupational and environmental exposures is warranted. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Blood Cannabis Carcinogens Energy Metabolism Environmental Exposure Environmental Monitoring Hematologic Tests Irritants Law Enforcement Mental Health Occupational Health Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety Urine Workplace

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• Keywords:
  Air Samples Author Keywords: Airborne Exposure Blood Samples Blood Test Breathing Zone Environmental Exposure Event Security Exposure Levels Health Effects Law Enforcement Law Enforcement Officer Law Enforcement Workers LEO Liquid Chromatography Marijuana Marijuana Smoke Mass Spectrometry Metabolites Neurological Reactions Neuromotor Function Open-air Concert Outdoors Outdoor Workers Physiological Effects Psychological Effects Risk Factors Sampling Secondhand Smoke Tetrahydrocannabinol Urinalysis Urine Test Work Environment Workers Ä9-THC

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• ISSN:
  2398-7308
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Georgia ; Ohio ; OSHA Region 4 ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DFSE - Division of Field Studies and Engineering ; DSI - Division of Science Integration
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  64
• Issue:
  7
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20059115
• Citation:
  Ann Work Expo Health 2020 Aug; 64(7):705-714
• Contact Point Address:
  Douglas M. Wiegand, NIOSH, Division of Field Studies and Engineering, 1090 Tusculum Ave., Mail Stop R-10, Cincinnati, OH 45226
• Email:
  dwiegand@cdc.gov
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2020
• NORA Priority Area:
  Services
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Annals of Work Exposures and Health
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:71f8c6b1785549806d63d57ab8fa691b3a5c4203c36d316f8f940a2ac6815a78d513b2c476731f55cfec8119253525951764c54d4b223854ef084fc86f8f7ac4
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/223429/cdc_223429_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 239.29 KB ]