Wastewater analysis for illicit drugs: the first step in a new sewage epidemiology approach

摘要

A new approach to health monitoring is being pioneered throughout Europe by means of analysis of wastewater from sewer systems. This is a newly-emerging field of study, usually termed 'sewage epidemiology', and initial research has concentrated on examining the patterns of illicit drug use in a number of cities across Europe. Researchers from the UK's Bath University have taken a leading role in developing the work, which also involves a programme of training in order to pass on the methodology to future generations of researchers. If successful, the techniques could be applied to other areas of health-based research such as disease monitoring and the assessment of environmental and pollution-related toxicants.