Mass spectrometric analysis of illicit drugs in wastewater and surface water.
Residues of illicit drugs have been recently found in urban wastewater and surface water. Their levels reflect the amount of drugs collectively excreted by consumers and can therefore be used to estimate drug abuse. An overview of the most widely used illicit drugs and of the analytical methods used for their detection in wastewater and surface water is presented here. Solid-phase extraction and high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry are the techniques that have been used for these investigations. Instrumental conditions and fragmentation patterns of illicit drugs and their metabolites are described.
Castiglioni
Sara
S
Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research, Via La Masa 19, 20156 Milan, Italy. castiglioni@marionegri.it
Zuccato
Ettore
E
Chiabrando
Chiara
C
Fanelli
Roberto
R
Bagnati
Renzo
R
D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000032:analysis*; D013058:Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D012722:Sewage / Q000032:analysis*; D052616:Solid Phase Extraction; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
D013287:Illicit Drugs; D012722:Sewage; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical