Refining the estimation of illicit drug consumptions from wastewater analysis: Co-analysis of prescription pharmaceuticals and uncertainty assessment

Lai, Foon Yin; Ort, Christoph; Gartner, Coral; Carter, Steve; Prichard, Jeremy; Kirkbride, K. Paul; Bruno, Raimondo; Hall, Wayne; Eaglesham, Geoff; Mueller, Jochen F.

doi:10.1016/j.watres.2011.05.042

Cited by 203 publications

(174 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…WWTP coverage areas could be approximately matched with census blocks or tracts to create better estimates with better measurement error approximations, although daytime population change estimates may be available only for larger towns and cities. Work is ongoing to try to better estimate the size of the underlying population using a range of other measureable analytes (see, e.g., Brewer et al, 2012;Castiglioni et al, 2013;Lai et al, 2015Lai et al, , 2011Ort et al, 2014a). Finally, researchers could obtain data from mobile phone companies during the average day and average night to understand daily migration patterns.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Using wastewater-based epidemiology to estimate drug consumption—Statistical analyses and data presentation

Banta‐Green

Brewer

Ort

et al. 2016

Science of The Total Environment

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AimAnalysis of wastewater samples can be used to assess population drug use, but reporting and statistical issues have limited the utility of the approach for epidemiology due to analytical results that are below the limit of quantification or detection. Unobserved or non-quantifiable-censored-data are common and likely to persist as the methodology is applied to more municipalities and a broader array of substances. We demonstrate the use of censored data techniques and account for measurement errors to explore distributions and annual estimates of the daily mean level of drugs excreted per capita. MeasurementsDaily 24-hour composite wastewater samples for 56 days in 2009 were obtained using a random sample stratified by day of week and season for 19 municipalities in the Northwest region of the U.S. MethodsMethamphetamine, benzoylecgonine (cocaine metabolite), 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), methadone, oxycodone and hydrocodone were identified and quantified in wastewater samples. Four statistical approaches (reporting censoring, maximum likelihood estimation, Kaplan-Meier estimates, or complete data calculations) were used to estimate an annual average, including confidence bounds where appropriate, dependent upon the amount of censoring in the data. FindingsThe proportion of days within a year with censored data varied greatly by drug across the 19 municipalities, with MDMA varying the most (4% to 94% of observations censored). The different statistical approaches each needed to be used given the levels of censoring of measured drug concentrations. Figures incorporating confidence bounds allow visualization of the data that facilitates appropriate comparisons across municipalities. ConclusionsResults from wastewater sampling that are below detection or quantification limits contain important information and can be incorporated to create a more complete and valid estimate of drug excretion.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We follow prior work (e.g., Brewer et al, 2012;Lai et al, 2011) for this demonstration and combine the error components by…”

Section: Uncertainty Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Using wastewater-based epidemiology to estimate drug consumption—Statistical analyses and data presentation

Banta‐Green

Brewer

Ort

et al. 2016

Science of The Total Environment

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“…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%

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

Asimakopoulos

Kannan

2016

Environ. Chem.

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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.

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“…Research performed in many European and non-European countries shows that the content of psychotropic drugs and their metabolites in the waters of different origins is large and has a close relationship with their intake [116][117][118][119][120][121]. It was also found that the removal of psychotropic compounds in the wastewater treatment process is incomplete.…”

Section: Illicit Drugsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Research trends on emerging environment pollutants – a review

Rykowska

Wasiak

2015

Open Chemistry

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Concern for the natural environment increasingly devotes more attention to growing potential hazards resulting from the release of various substances. Currently, one of the main problems associated with environmental pollution is the derivation of organic compounds from wastewater. Substances derived from sewage leaks into the environment in the form of a multicomponent mixtures often enhances the toxic effects caused by these compounds. While analyzing the reports in the literature of the last two decades it can be seen that substantial efforts are devoted to the determination of selected trace contaminants present in wastewater. Among the most marked there are endocrine disrupting compounds, residues of pharmaceuticals and personal care products, plastics and sunscreens. Recently, a new group of compounds joined the aforementioned contaminants, namely drugs, whose legality and availability is increasing every year. Exposure to these type of compounds, named in the literature as emerging contaminants (ECs), involves, among others, such effects as hormonal imbalance, reduction of the survivability of aquatic organisms and reproductive problems.This paper provides a review of the types of emerging organic groundwater contaminants (EGCs) which are beginning to be found in the natural environment in many countries all around the world.

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Refining the estimation of illicit drug consumptions from wastewater analysis: Co-analysis of prescription pharmaceuticals and uncertainty assessment

Cited by 203 publications

References 39 publications

Using wastewater-based epidemiology to estimate drug consumption—Statistical analyses and data presentation

Using wastewater-based epidemiology to estimate drug consumption—Statistical analyses and data presentation

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

Research trends on emerging environment pollutants – a review

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