Effets de santé attribués à l’ingestion d’une boisson à base de dichlorométhane : enquête réalisée auprès des conducteurs de taxi à Lomé (Togo)

Introduction. - The use of psychoactive substances is a public health problem in our countries. The objective of this study was to determine the extent of consumption of a dichloromethane-based drink ("soukoudai"), the toxic and recreational effects reported by the population.Method. - A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from 17 August 2019 to 31 August 2019 in five (05) districts of Lome. Taxi drivers were interviewed in markets, on the streets and at taxi parking points. Data collection was carried out using a standardised self-questionnaire. Determination was carried out by high performance liquid chromatography.Results. - A total of 600 taxi drivers participated in the study. The majority of respondents (93%) said they had consumed "soukoudai" at least once. About 81% said they did not know what it was made of and about 73% said they were aware of its harmful effects. Chest and digestive burning sensations and headaches were the main toxic effects reported by the respondents (P> 0.05). The average concentration of dichloromethane in the samples collected ranged from 10.87 to 17.58 g/L.Conclusion. - This study revealed the extent of "Sukudai" use in a young adult population. It is impossible to determine the extent of the health consequences associated with this consump-tion, as the population surveyed suffered from an obvious "healthy worker effect" which does not allow the identification of serious cases, nor the determination of the addictive nature of this consumption. The highly irritating nature of dichloromethane, its metabolisation into carbon monoxide, and the highly probable addictive potential of hydrocarbons, may give rise to fears of significant health consequences in view of the presumed extent of "soukoudai" consumption. Further studies are needed to better describe the consequences of this consumption.(c) 2021 Soci acute accent et acute accent e Francaise de Toxicologie Analytique. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.