![Sample our Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing & Allied Health journals, sign in here to start your FREE access for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5944/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Medicine-Dentistry-Nursing-Allied-Health.jpg"})
Abstract
Background
Illegal drugs are becoming a public health problem in African cities. In 2021, Bombé, a new drug of unknown composition, caused an outbreak of neuro-psychiatric symptoms in Kinshasa. Bombé was rumored to be based on ground catalytic exhausts stolen from cars.
Methods
The chemical composition of six samples of Bombé obtained from different neighborhoods in Kinshasa was determined by triple quad liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry with confirmation by quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Metals were determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were measured by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.
Results
Analysis of the Bombé samples revealed that it contained heroin (2–12% of the total area under the curve of the samples) and opioid derivatives, plus paracetamol (33–72%), caffeine (17–26%), and also benzodiazepines (5/6 samples) and cyproheptadine (2/6 samples). The concentrations of neurotoxic metals were unremarkable. The median (range) concentrations of manganese and lead were 9.4 µg/g (range 3–334 μg/g) and 0.36 µg/g (range 0.1–3.12 μg/g ), respectively. All polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were below the level of detection (<0.10 µg/g).
Conclusion
Thanks to international collaboration, Bombé was documented to be a heroin-based drug and its alleged origin from catalytic exhausts was not substantiated. The local human expertise and technical capacity for undertaking toxicological analyses should be increased in Africa.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.