Estimation of the consumption level of four drugs in Beijing using wastewater-based epidemiology

• Published in: Zhōnghuá yùfáng-yīxué zázhì Vol. 57; no. 5; p. 674
• Main Authors: Zunong, Jiawulan, Shu, M S, Li, M L, Asihaer, Yeerlin, Guan, M Y, Hu, Y F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Chinese
• Published: China 06.05.2023
• Subjects: Beijing; Codeine - analysis; Humans; Ketamine - analysis; Methadone - analysis; Methadone - therapeutic use; Sewage - analysis; Wastewater; Wastewater-Based Epidemiological Monitoring; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Beijing
• ISSN: 0253-9624
• DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.cn112150-20221130-01161

To estimate the consumption level of four drugs in Beijing using wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE). The primary sludge from one large wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) was collected in Beijing from July 2020 to February 2021. The concentrations of codeine, methadone, ketamine and morphine in the sludge were detected through solid-phase extraction-liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The consumption, prevalence and number of users of four drugs were estimated by using the WBE approach. Among 416 sludge samples, codeine had the highest detection rate (82.93%, =345) with a concentration [ ( , )] of 0.40 (0.22-0.8) ng·g , and morphine had the lowest detection rate (28.37%, =118) with a concentration [ ( , )] of 0.13 (0.09, 0.17) ng·g . There was no significant difference in the consumption of the four drugs on working days and weekends (all values>0.05). Drug consumption was significantly higher in winter than that in summer and autumn (all values <0.05). The consumption [ ( , )] of codeine, methad