Application of a sewage-based approach to assess the use of ten illicit drugs in four Chinese megacities

Zheng

et al. 2016

Environ Sci Pollut Res

Illicit drugs and their metabolites have recently been recognized as an emerging group of contaminants due to their potential ecotoxicological impact in aquatic ecosystems. To date, information on the occurrence of these compounds in the aquatic environment of China remains limited. In this study, we collected surface water samples from 36 rivers in north China that discharge into the Bohai Sea and north Yellow Sea and measured the concentrations of amphetamine-like compounds, ketamines, cocainics, and opioids. The occurrence and spatial patterns of these substances show significant differences between the rivers and regions. Two designer drugs, methamphetamine (METH) and ketamine (KET), were the most abundant compounds detected in the entire set of samples (detection frequency of 92 and 69 %). The concentrations of METH and KET ranged from <0.1 to 42.0 ng L −1 (mean = 4.53 ng L −1 ) and <0.05 to 4.50 ng L −1 (mean = 0.49 ng L −1 ), respectively. The high detection frequencies of METH and KET are consistent with the fact that they are the main illicit drugs consumed in China. The high concentrations of these illicit drugs and their metabolites were found in areas that have a high population density. The riverine input of total illicit drugs into the Bohai Sea and north Yellow Sea was estimated to be in the range of 684 to 1160 kg per year.

Section: Concentrations In Surface River Watersupporting

confidence: 91%

Illicit drugs and their metabolites in 36 rivers that drain into the Bohai Sea and north Yellow Sea, north China

Zheng

et al. 2016

Environ Sci Pollut Res

“…Thus far, the methodology has been mainly applied for illicit drugs such as cocaine, amphetamine, methamphetamine, MDMA, methadone, heroin and D 9 -THCA. [110,111,[113][114][115][116][117][118][119][120][121][122][123][124][125][126] The critical parameters needed for the calculation of usage of a specific drug are drug concentration in wastewater influents, an adequate knowledge of the pharmacokinetics of the drug, information on the population [103] Influents (12 treatment plants) Germany Primidone: -Median: 440 [83] Effluents (12 treatment plants) Primidone: -Median: 420 [3] Effluents (7 treatment plants) Ephedrine: -Median: 92 Influents Germany Ephedrine: 2-6 - [93] Influents (7 treatment plants) USA Ephedrine: max. 6900 ng L À1 - [25] Dissolved phase UK Ephedrine: 501-1080 - [85] Pseudoephedrine: not detected -Particulate matter of wastewater influents Drugs in wastewater treatment plants served by the treatment plant, and the daily flows of sewage into the plant.…”

Section: Sewage Epidemiology In Wastewater Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…6900 ng L À1 - [25] Dissolved phase UK Ephedrine: 501-1080 - [85] Pseudoephedrine: not detected -Particulate matter of wastewater influents Drugs in wastewater treatment plants served by the treatment plant, and the daily flows of sewage into the plant. [40] Consumption estimates for cocaine, amphetamine, methamphetamine, MDMA and D 9 -THCA using the sewage epidemiology approach from five recent environmental studies (Subedi and Kannan, [119] Ö stman et al, [121] Khan et al, [122] Yargeau et al [123] and Thomas et al [134] ) that involved various countries are summarised in Figs 3-7 (63 locations from Europe, USA and China).…”

Section: Sewage Epidemiology In Wastewater Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…C h i n a -B e i j i n g ( Q i n q h e ) C h i n a -B e i j i n g ( X i a o j i a h e ) C a n a d a -Q u e b e c C a n a [119,[121][122][123]134] A. G. Asimakopoulos and K. Kannan people, with a weekly average of 412 mg day À1 per 1000 people, and this estimate was much higher than those reported in other studies from Europe (average of ,2 mg day À1 per 1000 people reported in Belgium and Spain). [114] The high values reported in the Czech Republic were attributed to the large number of people entering methamphetamine medical treatment.…”

Section: Sewage Epidemiology In Wastewater Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Estimated consumption per 1000 inhabitants per day (mg 1000 inhabitants À1 day À1 ) of methamphetamine from different locations worldwide. [119,[121][122][123]134] 162 mg day À1 per 1000 people. [114] The average consumption of MDMA in the Czech Republic was one of the highest values reported in Europe.…”

Section: H I N a -S H E N Z H E N ( B I N H E )mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Neuropsychiatric pharmaceuticals and illicit drugs in wastewater treatment plants: a review

Asimakopoulos

Kannan

2016

Environ. Chem.

Environmental context. Neuropsychiatric pharmaceuticals and illicit drugs in wastewaters are of increasing environmental concern. We compile the recent literature and evaluate the concentrations and profiles of various drugs and their removal efficiencies in wastewater treatment plants. The sewage epidemiology approach, used in the estimation of drug usage in communities, is discussed, and we make recommendations for future research in this area.Abstract. Neuropsychiatric pharmaceuticals and illicit drugs encompass a broad range of compounds including opioids, amphetamine-type stimulants, cannabinoids, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, antipsychotics, anaesthetics, anti-epileptics and mood stabilisers, lysergic compounds, sympathomimetic amines and cocaine derivatives. In this article, we review studies on the occurrence and fate of these drugs in wastewater treatment plants. In general, among various drugs studied, the concentrations and detection frequencies of opioids and cocaine derivatives were the highest in wastewaters. The forensic analysis of wastewaters suggests that cocaine and opioids usage has increased. Given the fact that data on drug usage can be used for making regulatory decisions and policies, this review focuses on understanding the sources and environmental dynamics of neuropsychiatric and illicit drugs. There is a pressing need for more research on the magnitude and extent of illicit drug consumption. The 'sewage epidemiology' approach, currently applied in the estimation of illicit drug consumption in communities, is reviewed. The field of wastewater research has been advancing in multipronged paths, incorporating concepts in analytical chemistry, organic chemistry, environmental chemistry, biochemistry, sewage engineering, drug epidemiology and statistics. Future prospects with regard to the occurrence and environmental fate of illicit and psychoactive drugs are recommended.

Drug Testing and Analysis

Estimation of anti‐diabetes drug metformin in Turkiye using wastewater‐based epidemiology

Yavuz Guzel,

Atasoy Aydin,

Gören

et al. 2024

Metformin is the most commonly used drug for the treatment of type 2 diabetes (T2D), which is dramatically increasing due to factors such as increasing obesity, physical inactivity, and aging of the population. Metformin analysis was carried out in composite wastewater samples seasonally collected from wastewater treatment plants in 10 cities in 2019 and 2020 30 cities in 2021 in Turkiye. Metformin was measured in all wastewater samples, with an average concentration of 97.81 μg/l in 2019, 75.19 μg/l in 2020, and 69.13 μg/l in 2021. This study was utilized to predict metformin usage in different sociodemographic regions in Turkiye using a wastewater‐based epidemiology (WBE) approach. As a result of the analysis, the average metformin consumption in Turkiye was estimated to be 22.2 ± 9.6 [1.9–63.8] g/d/1,000 persons (mean ± SD [range]). Furthermore, these estimates were compared with data for time, sociodemographic characteristics, and patient numbers. Assessing the correlation with estimates and the socioeconomic classes of the cities in question revealed that cities with high‐income levels had the lowest metformin use rate. Finally, the study provides supporting data aiding the development of public health strategies for decreasing the overall load of T2D across Turkiye.