Identification of drugs with optical, fluorescence and polarizing microscopes; Drugs in fallen and floating dust in a dispensary

Abstract

The fallen dust was collected on a membrane filter at the height of 120 cm from the floor, while the floating dust was sucked on a membrane filter under 550 mmHg at the 150 cm height. Collection of these dust was conducted at one place near the dispensing corner of powders during the period of 9: 00 am to 5: 00 pm on Feb. 5, 1985. The respective resulting dust (fallen dust 0.36 mg, floating dust 1.34 mg) was successively examined with optical, fluorescence, and polarizing microscopes. By microscopic comparison of dust with standard drugs, eleven kinds of drugs (three agents affecting central nervous system, three agents affecting digestive organs, two vitamins, and three excipients) were identified from the dust. The existence of all drugs except excipients was also confirmed by the chemical ionization mass spectrometry. © 1986, The Japan Society for Analytical Chemistry. All rights reserved.