title: Temporal analysis of the cocaine metabolite benzoylecgonine in wastewater to estimate community drug use.
abstract: Indirect estimation methods of cocaine consumption may not reflect the real extent of cocaine use. Another approach is sewage epidemiology. This direct approach is based on analysis of a stable cocaine metabolite, benzoylecgonine (BE), in wastewater. Influent to the Lubbock (Texas) Water Reclamation Plant was sampled twice a week to assess weekly variations in estimates of cocaine consumption over a 5-month period. BE was extracted from influent wastewater samples using solid phase extraction and analyzed using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Measured concentrations of BE were converted to cocaine equivalents; the estimated average daily consumption of cocaine during the study period was 1152 ± 147 g. Based on BE concentrations and sewage epidemiology, higher cocaine consumption was observed on weekends compared to weekdays (p < 0.0003). This method was effective in monitoring BE in wastewater and could be used to complement survey data in estimating cocaine use at a local level.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Forensic Science, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA.
authors.forename: Juliet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kinyua
authors.forename: Todd A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: D003042:Cocaine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006801:Humans; D009294:Narcotics / Q000032:analysis*; D052616:Solid Phase Extraction; D013781:Texas / Q000453:epidemiology; D062065:Wastewater / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D003042:Cocaine; D009294:Narcotics; D062065:Wastewater; C005618:benzoylecgonine