Abstract
The presence of illicit drugs and their metabolites in surface waters has to be considered a new type of hazard, still unknown, for both the human health and the aquatic ecosystem, due to the potent pharmacological activities of all the illicit drugs. Our research was aimed at evaluating the presence of illicit drugs in the Sarno River (Campania region, Italy), crossing a densely populated area, the basin of the Sarno River, one of the largest and most important economic areas in Campania region, famous for the presence of zones with high landscape-environmental value. The drugs selected for this study were the most used in Campania region. The presence of illicit drugs in surface water was analyzed by a selective multi-residue assay based on liquid chromatographytandem mass spectrometry. The analysis showed the presence of all the illicit drugs investigated: cocaine and its main metabolites (benzoylecgonine, nor-benzoylecgonine), morphine, THC-COOH and codeine; cocaine was the most abundant illicit drug. The presence of illicit drugs and their metabolites in the Sarno River suggests new potential risk for the basin’s inhabitants, using water in the food chain, via field irrigation and animal feed, and for the health of the aquatic fauna.
Highlights
Recent studies showed the presence of illicit drugs, and their main metabolites, in surface waters [1]-[8]
The presence of illicit drugs in surface waters has to be considered a new type of hazard, still unknown, for both the human health, through the food chain, and the aquatic ecosystem
All the drugs selected were found in the Sarno River
Summary
Recent studies showed the presence of illicit drugs, and their main metabolites, in surface waters [1]-[8]. Maddaloni et al the increasing use of illicit drugs in enormous quantities worldwide, causes these drugs, and their metabolites, to enter into the sewage networks, from which they are often only partially removed by sewage treatment plants [1] [3] [4] [9] Drugs and their metabolites get to contaminate the receiving surface waters, and can be considered common organic contaminants of the aquatic environment [8]. Though the environmental concentrations of illicit drugs are generally low [1]-[7], their presence in surface waters may lead to unforeseen pharmacological interactions and cause toxic effects to human health and aquatic organisms. We selected the most used illicit drugs in Campania region [18]: cocaine and its main metabolites; morphine; a cannabis derivative, 11-nor-9-carboxy-delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC-COOH), and an opioid pharmaceutical, codeine
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