A new study has provided insights into the levels of illicit substance use in South Wates by analysing wastewater at two treatment plants in the region. The study also found over a quarter of cocaine residue detected was still in the water supply after treatment.
A research team from Bournemouth University set out to understand the levels of use of New Psychoactive Substances in the surrounding areas. However, the primary substance detected in wastewater samples was benzoylecgonine, a compound that is produced when the body breaks down cocaine.
The results have been published in the journal Nature Scientific Reports.
“Whilst wastewater testing has been used in other parts of the world to examine use of New Psychoactive Substances in different communities, this is the first time it has been used in Wales,” said Bethan Davies, a PhD Student at Bournemouth University who led the study. “Our study highlights how improved monitoring and treatment could address local public health and environmental concerns,” she added.
Over a two-month period, Bethan and her research team studied wastewater samples before and after treatment from Friday to Monday every week.
After analysing the data, the average consumption rate of cocaine during the testing period was estimated at 3.88 milligrams per day per one thousand people near one plant and 1.97 milligrams per day per thousand people near the other.
The highest rate observed was 8.54 milligrams per day per thousand people which was found after a weekend where an autumn international rugby match took place in Cardiff when footfall in the area would have been high.
They also found that on average, just 73 percent of benzoylecgonine was removed during treatment - meaning that traces remained in the water that went back into the region. This suggests that improvements to treatment processes could be needed to prevent drug residues from entering the public water supply.
In another innovation for the study, the team made use of the WEDINOS platform, which allows people to submit samples of substances anonymously for analysis. This provided an indication of which new psychoactive substances are in circulation in the region, meaning that the researchers could be more targeted when studying the samples from the treatment plants.
As well as helping water treatment plants to review the effectiveness of their treatment methods, the screening process developed in the study could help local health and social care services.
Click here to access the study online “Analysis of crude wastewater from two treatment plants in South Wales for 35 new psychoactive substances and cocaine, and cannabis” Nature Scientific Reports
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