title: Cocaine and other illicit drugs in airborne particulates in urban environments: a reflection of social conduct and population size.
abstract: Levels of cocaine and other psychoactive substances in atmospheric particulate matter (PM) were determined in urban environments representing distinct social behaviours with regard to drug abuse: night-life, university and residential areas. Three cities (with population>1 million and <0.3 million inhabitants) were selected. Mean daily levels of drugs in PM were 11-336 pg/m3 for cocaine, 23-34 pg/m3 for cannabinoids, and 5-90 pg/m3 for heroin. The highest levels were recorded on weekends, with factors with respect to weekdays of 1-3 for cocaine, 1-2 for cannabinoids and 1.1-1.7 for heroin. Higher levels were detected in the night-life areas, pointing towards consumption and trafficking as major emission sources, and possibly ruling out drug manufacture. The similarities in temporal trends at all sites suggested a city-scale transport of psychoactive substances. Correlations were detected between cocaine and amphetamine consumption (r2=0.98), and between heroin and cannabinoids (r2>0.82).
authors.affiliation: Institute for Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), C/Jordi Girona 18, 08034 Barcelona, Spain. mar.viana@idaea.csic.es
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Viana
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Postigo
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Querol
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alastuey
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: López de Alda
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Barceló
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Artíñano
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: López-Mahia
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: García Gacio
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cots
mesh_terms: D002947:Cities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003042:Cocaine / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000032:analysis*; D010316:Particle Size; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis*; D011156:Population Density; D012919:Social Behavior; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D013287:Illicit Drugs; D052638:Particulate Matter; D003042:Cocaine