TransDrugS - assessing TRANSformation of illicit DRUGs in Sewers

• Research unit: COST
• Project number: C15.0092

Key words (English)

illicit drugs; wastewater; sewer pipes; transformation potential; environmental conditions; sewage-based epidemiology

Research programs (English)

COST-Action ES1307 - Sewage biomarker analysis for community health assessment

Short description (English)

Sewage-based epidemiology relies on the quantification of excreted drug residues in wastewater to estimate illicit drug consumption in a community. Since 2010 research resulted in 185 peer-reviewed publications related to this transdisciplinary approach. Unfortunately, only little information is available on i) the transformation of drug residues in real wastewater and ii) the impact of transformation on consumption estimates. In controlled laboratory experiments, we and other groups are currently identifying parameters relevant for transformation. To consider transformation properly in real-world studies, our COST project aims at measuring the spatio-temporal distribution of these parameters in full scale in entire sewer networks. Traditionally, monitoring in sewers is not performed routinely or only at a few fix locations for scientific purposes. Personnel must enter sewers - a hazardous environment - to setup installations. The latter are maintenance-intensive and provide only limited data on the spatial distribution in large networks. Therefore, we will develop a miniaturized sensor platform floating in the wastewater stream and recording specific water quality parameters along the flow path. Deploying our sensors can be done with minimal safety precaution and does not require special expertise, which facilitates repeated application. Consequently, information covering substantial parts of large sewer networks can be collected efficiently at relatively low costs.

Partners and International Organizations (English)

AT; BE; HR; CY; CZ; DK; FI; FR; DE; EL; IS; IE; IL; IT; MT; NL; NO; PL; PT; SK; ES; UK

Abstract (English)

See short description

References in databases (English)

Swiss Database: COST-DB of the State Secretariat for Education and Research Hallwylstrasse 4 CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland Tel. [phone] Swiss Project-Number: C15.0092