Water research X
May 1, 2023
Richard Bade, Nikolaos Rousis, Sangeet Adhikari et al.
47 citations
An international wastewater surveillance program analyzed influent samples from up to 47 sites in 16 countries between 2019 and 2022, detecting 18 new psychoactive substances (NPS) across at least one site. Synthetic cathinones were the most common class, followed by phenethylamines and designer benzodiazepines. Two ketamine analogues, the plant-based NPS mitragynine, and methiopropamine were also quantified. Use varied by region: mitragynine mass loads were highest in US sites, eutylone increased in New Zealand, and 3-methylmethcathinone rose in several European countries. The ketamine analogue 2F-deschloroketamine emerged recently and was quantified in sites including one in China, where it is considered a drug of most concern. Some NPS initially detected in specific regions spread to additional sites over time, demonstrating that wastewater surveillance can reveal temporal and spatial trends in NPS use.
The Science of the total environment
November 15, 2024
Ha Hyun Lim, Hye Jin Cha, Jeong-Eun Oh
7 citations
Over 21 days, wastewater from Seoul, South Korea, was analyzed to track 22 illicit drugs. Ten drugs were detected; methamphetamine appeared consistently. Ketamine showed the highest estimated consumption rate at 47.5 mg/day per 1,000 people, followed by methamphetamine at 12.5 mg/day per 1,000 people. Daily patterns for methamphetamine and MDMA were relatively stable, with coefficients of variation of 7.03% and 13.4%, respectively. No statistically significant differences in drug consumption were found between weekends and weekdays. However, significant regional differences emerged for methamphetamine, MDMA, and ketamine, linked to average annual income and education levels.
Water research
December 1, 2025
Yasar Arafath Sharfudeen, Minjin Kim, Donghyun Kim et al.
Methamphetamine was the most frequently detected drug in South Korean wastewater, with the highest consumption at a casino (18 mg/day/1000 people) and in certain rural areas with a high proportion of foreign residents (up to 32 mg/day/1000 people). Amphetamine was predominantly found in U.S. military areas (16 mg/day/1000 people), consistent with therapeutic use. The airport showed the greatest drug diversity, including elevated levels of MDMA, ketamine, and cocaine. Two novel psychoactive substances, 25D-NBOMe and 25E-NBOMe, were identified for the first time in South Korean wastewater, exclusively at the casino. These site-specific patterns highlight the value of wastewater-based epidemiology for targeted public health strategies.