Abstract
A previous study in Lubbock, TX detected the cocaine metabolite benzoylecgonine in wastewater entering the municipal wastewater treatment plant. This work was conducted using chemical derivatization followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) determination. This is a report using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) for determination of drug metabolites isolated from wastewater in Lubbock, TX by solid phase extraction (SPE). Using the LC-MS method, chemical derivatization is eliminated and multiple analytes can be determined in a single run. The results obtained showed that several compounds from different drug classes were detected. Compounds observed included cocaine, heroin, tetrahydrocannabinol, amphetamine, and benzodiazepine derivatives.
Highlights
The abuse of drugs, both legal and illegal, is a worldwide problem [1]
The current study was a survey of compounds of local interest to determine if ion trap liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) could detect the compounds of interest in Lubbock, Texas wastewater
These results demonstrate measureable quantities of both drugs and metabolites in the wastewater inflow
Summary
The abuse of drugs, both legal and illegal, is a worldwide problem [1]. Several different approaches to characterizing drug use have been proposed. These include population surveys, checks and updates of criminal records, and consumer interviews. One method that has been reported to help track drugs and their metabolic products is the analysis of wastewater [2]. Zuccato et al has termed this approach ‘sewage epidemiology.’. Using this method, it is possible to gain information about the range of substances that might be a problem in a community. It is possible to develop some temporal information about when drugs are taken by sampling wastewater at particular intervals. Sewage epidemiology has been used in several countries [3,4,5]
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