Illicit drug residues in Swedish sewage water

Chemists at Umea University have been able to trace narcotics substances and prescription drugs in measurements of wastewater from 33 Swedish sewage treatment plants. Cocaine, amphetamine, and methamphetamine, in measurable concentrations, were found in a total of half of the locations.When a person consumes a drug it is excreted through the digestive system, either unchanged or as metabolites through the body and ends up in the wastewater. Through taking a sample of water in treatment plants and measuring the levels of drugs can provide a snapshot of the drug usage in a particular city.
Source: Health News from Medical News Today - Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Alcohol / Addiction / Illegal Drugs Source Type: news