Monitoring of opiates, cannabinoids and their metabolites in wastewater, surface water and finished water in Catalonia, Spain

• Published in: Water research (Oxford) Vol. 43; no. 4; pp. 1126 - 1136
• Main Authors: Boleda, M a Rosa, Galceran, M a Teresa, Ventura, Francesc
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.03.2009; Elsevier
• Subjects: 2-ethylene-1,5-dimethyl-3,3-diphenylpyrrolidine; activated carbon; Applied sciences; Cannabinoids; Cannabinoids - analysis; Cannabis; chlorination; codeine; Consumption drugs; drinking water; Dronabinol - analysis; Drug metabolites; environmental monitoring; Exact sciences and technology; filtration; flocculation; Fresh Water - analysis; Geography; heroin; Humans; metabolites; methadone; morphine; Morphine - analysis; Morphine Derivatives - analysis; Narcotics - analysis; Opiates; Other industrial wastes. Sewage sludge; ozonation; Pollution; river water; Rivers - chemistry; rural areas; Rural Population; Spain - epidemiology; Substance-Related Disorders - epidemiology; Surface water; Treated water; urban areas; Waste Disposal, Fluid - standards; Wastes; Wastewater; wastewater treatment; water pollution; water treatment; Water treatment and pollution; Spain; Spain, Catalonia; Cannabinoids; Consumption drugs; Treated water; Surface water; Drug metabolites; Opiates; Wastewater; Drug; Drinking water; Metabolite; Urban area; Sewage treatment plant; Waste water; Surveillance; Rural area; Degradation product; Organic compounds
• ISSN: 0043-1354; 1879-2448
• DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2008.11.056

The occurrence of several opiates and cannabinoids in wastewaters and surface waters has been investigated. Most of the compounds (8 out of 11) were identified in both influent and effluents of fifteen wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Codeine, morphine, EDDP and methadone were detected in almost all samples with median values of 69 ng/L; 63 ng/L; 28 ng/L and 18 ng/L, respectively, whereas the main cannabinoid metabolite THC-COOH presented a median value of 57 ng/L in influents. A rough estimate of heroin and cannabis consumption was performed from the analysis of target urinary metabolites in wastewater influents. Data obtained from influents of rural and urban WWTPs gave 0.07% of heroin consumption (0.67% for the largest urban WWTP) and 4% consumption of cannabinoids, respectively for the population aged between 15 and 64 years old. The presence of opiates and cannabinoids in surface waters used for drinking water production showed the presence of the same compounds identified in wastewater effluents at concentrations up to 76 ng/L for codeine; 31 ng/L for EDDP; 12 ng/L for morphine and 9 ng/L for methadone at the intake of the DWTP. A complete removal of all studied drugs present in surface water was achieved during the potabilization process except for methadone and EDDP (91% and 87% removal, respectively).