Illicit psychotropic substances in schools, houses and offices of Rome, Italy.

Abstract

Illicit psychotropic substances in schools, houses and offices of Rome, Italy. Balducci C, Romagnoli P, Perilli M, Cecinato A National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research (CNR-IIA), Rome, Italy Background.The occurrence of psychotropic substances (PSs) in the atmosphere is consolidated although misevaluated. Nonetheless, cocaine is quasi-ubiquitous and, when it is absent, traces of cannabinoids (CBs) are observed. Aim. Passive consumption of drug leads to clinical effects in heavily contaminated environments. Illicit PSs are often abused inside but a lack of information exists about their burdens indoors. In the frame of the EXPAH Life+ Project a set of in-field measurements were made in the Rome area both in indoor and outdoor air. This was the chance to carry on ancillary measurements, aimed at: i) drawing a more comprehensive knowledge of the drugs pollution picture indoors; ii) discriminating the PAH health impact from those of co-pollutants including illicit substances. Methods. Two monitoring campaigns were made in winter and spring-summer 2011-12. Three schools, one office and four houses were investigated. PSs were measured in parallel to PAHs; attention was paid to particulate fraction that, at except for nicotine, accounts for >95% of total. Procedures optimized at CNR-IIA were adopted for our study. Results. PSs affected similarly indoor and outdoors environments, suggesting the presence of indoor sources even when inhabitants were not (ab)users. Cocaine affected all sites investigated and its seasonal drop in summer was low compared to CBs and PAHs. Events of drug pollution were recorded indoors, suggesting the spotty abuse of drugs. Conclusions. PSs were observed indoors for the first time. The cocaine, caffeine and CB burdens were comparable to those outdoors and the behaviour observed elsewhere for nicotine was confirmed. Their time and space modulations do not fit with those of the concurrent contaminants.