Contamination of Water with Drugs and Metabolites

Abstract

Pharmaceuticals, illicit drugs and lifestyle products such as caffeine are consumed in vast quantities each year across the world. Excreted drug metabolites and small amounts of unchanged drug pass into sewage waters. Concentrations of these drugs and metabolites measured in sewage influent and effluent are used to profile illegal drug use in a city, town or local area such as a prison. Sewage waters are recycled through natural hydrological systems. Therefore if the drugs are not efficiently removed by water treatment processes, traces can be found in drinking water. Data on emerging pharmaceutical and illicit drug contaminants in aquatic environments is reviewed, including assessment of uncertainty in measurement and illicit drug consumption prediction.