Funded in part by the U.S. EPA through the Water Law and Policy Center at the Texas Tech University School of Law. Co-author Juliet Kinyua was also supported by the American Association of University Women and the Philanthropic Educational Organization.
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TECHNICAL NOTE TOXICOLOGY
Temporal Analysis of the Cocaine Metabolite Benzoylecgonine in Wastewater to Estimate Community Drug Use†
Article first published online: 17 APR 2012
DOI: 10.1111/j.1556-4029.2012.02135.x
© 2012 American Academy of Forensic Sciences
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How to Cite
Kinyua, J. and Anderson, T. A. (2012), Temporal Analysis of the Cocaine Metabolite Benzoylecgonine in Wastewater to Estimate Community Drug Use. Journal of Forensic Sciences, 57: 1349–1353. doi: 10.1111/j.1556-4029.2012.02135.x
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Publication History
- Issue published online: 5 SEP 2012
- Article first published online: 17 APR 2012
- Received 14 Jan. 2011; and in revised form 11 July 2011; accepted 24 July 2011.
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Keywords:
- forensic science;
- cocaine;
- benzoylecgonine;
- sewage epidemiology;
- wastewater;
- drug use;
- gas chromatography/mass spectrometry
Abstract: Indirect estimation methods of cocaine consumption may not reflect the real extent of cocaine use. Another approach is sewage epidemiology. This direct approach is based on analysis of a stable cocaine metabolite, benzoylecgonine (BE), in wastewater. Influent to the Lubbock (Texas) Water Reclamation Plant was sampled twice a week to assess weekly variations in estimates of cocaine consumption over a 5-month period. BE was extracted from influent wastewater samples using solid phase extraction and analyzed using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Measured concentrations of BE were converted to cocaine equivalents; the estimated average daily consumption of cocaine during the study period was 1152 ± 147 g. Based on BE concentrations and sewage epidemiology, higher cocaine consumption was observed on weekends compared to weekdays (p < 0.0003). This method was effective in monitoring BE in wastewater and could be used to complement survey data in estimating cocaine use at a local level.