Occurrence of illicit drugs and selected pharmaceuticals in Slovak municipal wastewater

Abstract

We analyzed illicit drugs and their metabolites and pharmaceuticals in wastewater from 15 selected wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in Slovakia. Our results indicate that methamphetamine is one of the most commonly used illegal drugs in all the regions of Slovakia monitored in this study. Compared with the international results, the Slovak cities of Dunajská Streda (479 mg/day/1000inh) and Trnava (354 mg/day/1000inh) are among the cities with the largest numbers of methamphetamine users in Europe. These results indicate an increase in the incidence of drugs in big cities and in the satellite cities (Trnava and Dunajská Streda) near Bratislava. These results also confirm the police statistics about production and use of illicit drugs in Slovakia. The highest specific loads of cocaine were found in Bratislava (112 mg/day/1000inh), followed by Petržalka (74 mg/day/1000inh). Compared with other European cities, Bratislava and the other Slovak cities in this study have a relatively low number of COC consumers. The ecstasy load in wastewater from larger cities also significantly increased over the weekend and during music festivals. The highest 2-year mean concentrations of THC-COOH, a cannabis biomarker, were observed in the sewage from BA-Petržalka and BA-Central (191 and 171 ng/L, respectively). A first complex monitoring of pharmaceuticals in all therapeutic groups was also realized in selected Slovak WWTPs. Occurrence of wide spectrum of pharmaceuticals with very high concentrations as well as consumptions were observed mainly in small Slovak cities. Considering all 120 monitored pharmaceuticals, Valsartan had the highest concentrations: 6000 ng/L, on average.

Free chlorine reactions of angiotensin II receptor antagonists: Kinetics study, transformation products elucidation and in-silico ecotoxicity assessment

“…Sartans are mostly excreted as parent compounds, with percentages of metabolization below 25% (Bayer et al, 2014). Consequently, they are present in urban sewage water at concentrations in the ng per mL -1 range (Bodík et al, 2016;Oosterhuis et al, 2013;Stankiewicz et al, 2015). Their mass balances in conventional sewage treatment plants (STPs), equipped with primary and activated sludge units, showed variable, yet incomplete removal efficiencies.…”

Fate of selected drugs in the wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) for domestic sewage

“…By contrast, methamphetamine use remained relatively steady throughout a week and was remarkably similar across study sites, except for a few large cities that had elevated use. Bodík et al (2016) found that methamphetamine was the most commonly used illegal drug in all the regions of Slovakia monitored in their study. The highest 2year mean concentrations of THC-COOH, a cannabis biomarker, were measured in the sewage from two of the monitored cities to be 191 and 171 ng/L, respectively.…”

“…The current state of knowledge on their occurrence, transportation, distribution and transformation in water bodies and ambient air is still incomplete. It is known that, after legal or illegal consumption, drugs and their metabolites are excreted in urine, faeces, saliva or sweat (Bodík et al 2016). Then, they enter sewage network through which are transferred to the wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs).…”

Estimaciones del consumo de drogas ilícitas derivadas del análisis de aguas residuales: Una revisión crítica

“…Con los informes del consumo de COC de los artículos fue posible calcular que tanto la COC como su principal metabolito urinario, la BE, el consumo promedio en torno a 230 (mg/día)/(1000 personas). Esto equivale a, aproximadamente dos dosis diarias entre 1000 personas, suponiendo que la dosis de referencia de COC es de 100 mg 52 , para el metabolito del cannabis varía entre 108 -133 (mg/día)/(1000 personas) [34][35][36][38][39][40]41,44,45,48,[56][57][58] .…”

“…Bodík, et al 34 Eslovaquia Se analizaron las drogas ilícitas y sus metabolitos y productos farmacéuticos en aguas residuales de 15 plantas de tratamiento de aguas residuales. Los resultados confirman las estadísticas policiales sobre producción y uso de drogas ilícitas en Eslovaquia.…”