Expert raises alarm over Larnaca case
Serious concerns have emerged in Larnaca following the detection of butyrolactone, with the case of GBL contamination taking on particularly worrying dimensions.
Speaking on the programme Mesimeri kai Kati, Assistant Professor of Pharmacology at the Medical School of the University of Cyprus, Dr Nikolas Dietis, described the situation as extremely serious and requiring thorough investigation.
What is butyrolactone (GBL)?
Dr Dietis explained that butyrolactone (GBL) is a naturally occurring chemical compound found in extremely low concentrations in certain foods, such as some wines and cheeses. On its own, he noted, the substance is not pharmacologically active and is mainly used in industrial applications, including solvents, paints and other technical materials.
The risk arises when GBL enters the human body. There, it is rapidly metabolised into gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB), a substance with a powerful depressant effect on the central nervous system.
A fine line between euphoria and death
GHB reduces brain reflexes and is used in controlled medical settings, such as anaesthesiology. However, Dr Dietis stressed that the line separating a so-called “euphoric dose” from a dose that can cause deep sedation, coma, or even death is exceptionally thin.
Because of these properties, the substance is classified as toxic and is frequently abused as a narcotic. According to European authorities, GHB and its precursor substances rank among the most commonly used illegal drugs in Europe.
The danger of GBL contamination is heightened by the fact that an almost imperceptible increase in quantity can rapidly shift the effect from mild euphoria to fatal toxicity.
Increased risk for older people
Particular reference was made to age as a critical factor. In elderly individuals, Dr Dietis explained, the doses required to trigger severe side effects are significantly lower, greatly increasing the risk of a fatal outcome in cases of excessive intake.
How could the substance enter drinking water?
Regarding reports of the substance being detected in water, Dr Dietis was categorical that the matter must be investigated in depth.
He noted that approximately five millilitres – roughly a small teaspoon – are sufficient to send a person to hospital. If such an amount were present in a single glass of water, this would imply that the source from which the water originated contained a far higher concentration of the substance.
A key issue, he said, is whether the substance was detected directly in the water consumed or whether it originated from an intermediate source, such as ice cubes. If it were proven that the GBL contamination originated from the water cooling system itself, the situation would be considerably more serious, as this would require the introduction of extremely large quantities of a substance that is neither used nor present in such machines under normal conditions.
No connection to cooler mechanisms
The professor ruled out the possibility that GBL forms part of the operating mechanism or fluids of water coolers. Such systems, he explained, use entirely different chemicals, specifically designed so that even in the event of a leak they pose no serious risk to human health.
By contrast, butyrolactone is encountered in industrial solvents and materials unrelated to water supply or cooling equipment.
No antidote available
Finally, addressing the treatment of such poisoning, Dr Dietis said there is no specific antidote. The substance is colourless, liquid, dissolves easily in water and has only a slightly sweet taste, which would be unlikely to alert consumers.
If the ingested dose is large, the possibilities for intervention are extremely limited. Only in cases where the body has not yet suffered severe collapse is supportive treatment possible, without any guarantee of preventing a fatal outcome.
As he concluded, identifying the precise source and quantity of the substance is crucial in order to determine what exactly occurred and which scenario is ultimately the most likely.
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