Drugs and psychoactive substances in the Tiber River

Abstract

Wastewater analysis is a direct and objective method used to measure human consumption of illicit drugs. In the last few years these have become a new class of environmental contaminants. The aim of our study was the identification of drugs in Tiber River waters. We collected 20 water samples from May to June 2012, at six points of the river: at the source, near Perugia, near Rome and at the mouth. Samples were analysed using gas chromatography with a mass detector. Basic analytes were extracted using the method of Varian Certify. For acidic analytes we proceed to direct extraction using organic solvents. The most detected drug was ecstasy. We also identified traces of methadone, morphine, heroine, methylamphetamine and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The highest concentration of cocaine was found near Perugia with a peak in the weekend (4744 ng/ml). Psychoactive substances had constant concentrations in the week. Ecstasy (MDMA) was the most detected drug. The most interesting finding was the increased concentration of cocaine and heroin in waters near Perugia showing the alarming phenomenon of weekend use of these substances.

Keywords:

• liquid chromatography
• street drugs analysis
• waste water analysis

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Dr George Rettagliata for his valuable contribution in the final revision of this article.