Lab Matters Summer 2022 | Page 16

FROM THE BENCH

By Kate Koehler , chemical terrorism and threat coordinator and Hemachemistry manager , North Carolina State Laboratory of Public Health

The North Carolina State Laboratory of Public Health ( NCSLPH ) Chemical Terrorism and Threat ( CTAT ) unit deemed 2021 the year of the collaboration .

Agriculture and Academia

In January and October 2021 , the CTAT unit collaborated with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services and the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine ( CVM ) to investigate two unrelated livestock illness clusters . Blood and serum specimens were collected from eight horses in central NC to investigate the January cluster . No compounds of public health concern were identified by non-targeted screening of serum specimens by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry ( GC-MS ). Neither heavy metals nor compounds of concern were identified in blood specimens analyzed using the Laboratory Response Network for Chemical Threats ( LRN-C ) blood metals or volatile organic compounds ( VOC ) panels . Further investigation by CVM identified Equine Coronavirus ( ECoV ) in three of the affected horses .

The second livestock illness cluster resulted in four donkey fatalities that occurred within 48 hours of ingestion of suspect poultry feed . Botulinum toxin was suspected , but , to date , the National Veterinary Services Laboratories tests are still pending . Initial specimens and samples submitted to the CTAT unit included gastric contents , liver , kidney , water from multiple sources , hay and poultry feed . All specimens and samples were subjected to a GC-MS non-targeted analysis screen as well as a liquid chromatography quadrupole time-offlight mass spectrometry ( LC-Q-ToF-MS ) illicit drug panel screen . Neither screen identified any compounds of concern . In addition , all specimens and samples were subjected to a qualitative panel for heavy metals , which yielded elevated uranium levels for all gastric content specimens and poultry feed samples . Furthermore , the CTAT unit collaborated with the NCSLPH ’ S Environmental Sciences Unit to determine if dissolved trace elements could be detected using the EPA 200.8 method to analyze liver and kidney specimens and poultry feed samples . Uranium results of this testing are show in Table 1 .

Additional submissions of feeds from the manufacturer ’ s feed mill and other local feed mills yielded results that aligned with the high levels of uranium found in unconsumed poultry feed at the farm . The results obtained from local feed mills are depicted in Table 2 . Normal uranium levels in poultry feed is under investigation .

Toxicology , Local Health and Law Enforcement

In July 2021 , the CTAT unit collaborated with the Sampson County Health Department and Sheriff ’ s Office as well as the Toxicology group in North Carolina ’ s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ( OCME ) to investigate an exposure to a suspicious substance found in a suspicious package that resulted in a hospital admission . An initial GC-MS non-targeted screen identified MDMB-4en-PINACA ( 96 % match ). The CTAT unit worked with the OCME Chief Toxicologist to procure appropriate standards to confirmation the screening results . The procured MDMB-4en-PINACA standards were used to create a LC-Q-ToF database library , and a 99 % match was obtained when the original sample was analyzed using the established database . To further confirm results , the OCME Toxicology Unit used a validated method that incorporated the use of Orbitrap instrumentation . Qualitative analysis confirmed the presence of MDMB-4en- PINACA . Prosecution was initiated by the Sampson County Sheriff ’ s office as a result of the collaborative findings .

The CTAT unit continues to foster relationships with local , state and federal partners while striving to enhance capabilities and capacity through collaboration with a wide variety of partners to ensure continued success of the program . n

Table 2 : Trace element levels in local feed mills ( mg / L , ppm )

Sample Id CT102621- 001A CT102621- 002A CT102621- 003A CT102621- 004A CT102621- 005A

Be 9

Al 27

V 51

Cr 52

Mn 55

Fe 57

Co 59

Ni 60

Cu 63

Zn 66

0.04 112.6 1.27 3.60 84.58 379.84 0.20 1.43 11.52 36.87 0.77 0.99 0.05 0.31 8.57 1.90 0.01 0.010 0.109 1.031

0.001 4.11 0.47 1.78 27.17 75.22 0.05 0.81 5.67 36.13 0.05 0.28 0.001 0.04 5.82 0.71 0.00 0.001 0.017 0.012 0.056 142.2 1.60 4.26 111.8 497.61 0.23 1.38 24.35 37.61 1.78 0.79 0.17 0.62 5.96 4.95 0.01 0.010 0.259 1.398 0.008 23.25 0.69 2.29 21.62 81.22 0.04 0.17 3.78 20.93 0.08 0.07 0.004 0.03 4.55 0.21 0.001 0.002 0.033 0.222 0.095 263.7 2.29 4.87 77.38 643.27 0.54 2.10 24.28 152.64 0.57 0.62 0.003 0.15 11.10 1.72 0.03 0.019 0.312 1.601

As 75

Se 82

Ag 107

Cd 111

Ba 137

Mo 98

Sb 121

Tl 205

Pb 208

U 238

14 LAB MATTERS Summer 2022

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