Projects per year
Abstract
Aims To perform wastewater analyses to assess spatial differences and temporal changes of illicit drug use in a large European population. Design Analyses of raw wastewater over a 1-week period in 2012 and 2013. Setting and Participants Catchment areas of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) across Europe, as follows: 2012: 25 WWTPs in 11 countries (23 cities, total population 11.50 million); 2013: 47 WWTPs in 21 countries (42 cities, total population 24.74 million). Measurements Excretion products of five illicit drugs (cocaine, amphetamine, ecstasy, methamphetamine, cannabis) were quantified in wastewater samples using methods based on liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Findings Spatial differences were assessed and confirmed to vary greatly across European metropolitan areas. In general, results were in agreement with traditional surveillance data, where available. While temporal changes were substantial in individual cities and years (P ranging from insignificant to <10-3), overall means were relatively stable. The overall mean of methamphetamine was an exception (apparent decline in 2012), as it was influenced mainly by four cities. Conclusions Wastewater analysis performed across Europe provides complementary evidence on illicit drug consumption and generally concurs with traditional surveillance data.Wastewater analysis can measure total illicit drug use more quickly and regularly than is the current norm for national surveys, and creates estimates where such data does not exist.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1338-1352 |
Number of pages | 15 |
Journal | Addiction |
Volume | 109 |
Issue number | 8 |
Early online date | 27 May 2014 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Aug 2014 |
Keywords
- Amphetamine
- cannabis
- cocaine
- drugs of abuse
- ecstasy
- methamphetamine
- sewage
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Dive into the research topics of 'Spatial differences and temporal changes in illicit drug use in Europe quantified by wastewater analysis'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Projects
- 1 Finished
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Marie Curie ITN - SEWPROF A New Paradigm in Drug Use and Human Health Risk Assessment: Sewage Profiling at the Community Level management
Kasprzyk-Hordern, B. (PI), Estrela, P. (CoI) & Frost, C. (CoI)
1/10/12 → 30/09/16
Project: EU Commission
Profiles
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Barbara Kasprzyk-Hordern
- Department of Chemistry - Professor
- Centre for Sustainable Chemical Technologies (CSCT)
- Water Innovation and Research Centre (WIRC)
- Centre for Therapeutic Innovation
- Institute of Sustainability and Climate Change
- Centre for Bioengineering & Biomedical Technologies (CBio)
Person: Research & Teaching, Core staff, Affiliate staff
Equipment
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MC2-Mass Spectrometry (MS)
Material and Chemical Characterisation (MC2)Facility/equipment: Technology type