A dangerous industrial chemical has been detected in fentanyl samples across several states, raising concerns among public health experts and harm reduction advocates. Bis(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidyl) sebacate (BTMPS), a chemical used in plastics manufacturing, was found in over 20% of fentanyl samples tested between June and August 2024.
The chemical has been identified in drug supplies in Colorado, Montana, and Utah, as well as in major urban centers such as Los Angeles and Philadelphia. Experts warn that BTMPS poses significant health risks to people who use fentanyl, and its presence highlights the growing complexity of the overdose crisis.
What Is BTMPS?
BTMPS is an ultraviolet stabilizer widely used in the plastics industry to prevent fading. It has no approved medical or recreational use and is classified as a Level 3 hazard by the National Fire Protection Association, indicating high danger levels.
Recent tests revealed a sharp increase in the prevalence of BTMPS in fentanyl samples, from 0% in June to more than a third by August. Experts suspect the chemical is being added during production, though the reasons remain unclear.
Health Risks and Side Effects
Exposure to BTMPS is known to cause reproductive harm, serious eye damage, and skin irritation. People who have ingested drugs containing the chemical report side effects including blurred vision, nausea, and coughing.
Some users have described BTMPS-contaminated fentanyl as having a distinctive smell, similar to bug spray or plastic, which could serve as a warning sign for its presence.
The addition of BTMPS also correlates with a significant drop in fentanyl purity, which may increase the unpredictability of its effects.
Detection Challenges
Identifying BTMPS in drug supplies requires advanced techniques such as mass spectrometry, but the chemical is not currently included in many toxicology panels. This gap in testing, especially in postmortem analyses, likely contributes to underreporting its presence in overdose deaths.
Public Health Concerns
The discovery of BTMPS underscores the risks posed by unregulated drug supplies. Contamination with industrial chemicals compounds the already lethal dangers of fentanyl, which has driven record-high overdose deaths in recent years.
Public health officials are urging expanded toxicology testing and increased awareness of BTMPS among harm reduction and healthcare providers.