Foon Yin Lai1,2, Coral Gartner3, Wayne Hall4, Steve Carter5, Jake O'Brien1, Benjamin J Tscharke1, Frederic Been2, Cobus Gerber6, Jason White6, Phong Thai7, Raimondo Bruno8, Jeremy Prichard9, K Paul Kirkbride10, Jochen F Mueller1. 1. Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), formerly National Research Centre for Environmental Toxicology (Entox), The University of Queensland, Coopers Plains, QLD, Australia. 2. Toxicological Centre, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium. 3. School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Herston, QLD, Australia. 4. Centre for Clinical Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia. 5. Queensland Health Forensic Scientific Services (QHFSS), Queensland Government, Coopers Plains, QLD, Australia. 6. School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia. 7. School of Chemistry, Physics and Mechanical Engineering, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia. 8. School of Psychology, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia. 9. Faculty of Law, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia. 10. School of Chemical and Physical Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Tobacco and alcohol consumption remain priority public health issues world-wide. As participation in population-based surveys has fallen, it is increasingly challenging to estimate accurately the prevalence of alcohol and tobacco use. Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) is an alternative approach for estimating substance use at the population level that does not rely upon survey participation. This study examined spatio-temporal patterns in nicotine (a proxy for tobacco) and alcohol consumption in the Australian population via WBE. METHODS: Daily wastewater samples (n = 164) were collected at 18 selected wastewater treatment plants across Australia, covering approximately 45% of the total population. Nicotine and alcohol metabolites in the samples were measured using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Daily consumption of nicotine and alcohol and its associated uncertainty were computed using Monte Carlo simulations. Nation-wide daily average and weekly consumption of these two substances were extrapolated using ordinary least squares and mixed-effect models. FINDINGS: Nicotine and alcohol consumption was observed in all communities. Consumption of these substances in rural towns was three to four times higher than in urban communities. The spatial consumption pattern of these substances was consistent across the monitoring periods in 2014-15. Nicotine metabolites significantly reduced by 14-25% (P = 0.001-0.008) (2014-15) in some catchments. Alcohol consumption remained constant over the studied periods. Strong weekly consumption patterns were observed for alcohol but not nicotine. Nation-wide, the daily average consumption per person (aged 15-79 years) was estimated at approximately 2.5 cigarettes and 1.3-2.0 standard drinks (weekday-weekend) of alcohol. These estimates were close to the sale figure and apparent consumption, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Wastewater-based epidemiology is a feasible method for objectively evaluating the geographic, temporal and weekly profiles of nicotine and alcohol consumption in different communities nationally.
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Tobacco and alcohol consumption remain priority public health issues world-wide. As participation in population-based surveys has fallen, it is increasingly challenging to estimate accurately the prevalence of alcohol and tobacco use. Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) is an alternative approach for estimating substance use at the population level that does not rely upon survey participation. This study examined spatio-temporal patterns in nicotine (a proxy for tobacco) and alcohol consumption in the Australian population via WBE. METHODS: Daily wastewater samples (n = 164) were collected at 18 selected wastewater treatment plants across Australia, covering approximately 45% of the total population. Nicotine and alcohol metabolites in the samples were measured using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Daily consumption of nicotine and alcohol and its associated uncertainty were computed using Monte Carlo simulations. Nation-wide daily average and weekly consumption of these two substances were extrapolated using ordinary least squares and mixed-effect models. FINDINGS:Nicotine and alcohol consumption was observed in all communities. Consumption of these substances in rural towns was three to four times higher than in urban communities. The spatial consumption pattern of these substances was consistent across the monitoring periods in 2014-15. Nicotine metabolites significantly reduced by 14-25% (P = 0.001-0.008) (2014-15) in some catchments. Alcohol consumption remained constant over the studied periods. Strong weekly consumption patterns were observed for alcohol but not nicotine. Nation-wide, the daily average consumption per person (aged 15-79 years) was estimated at approximately 2.5 cigarettes and 1.3-2.0 standard drinks (weekday-weekend) of alcohol. These estimates were close to the sale figure and apparent consumption, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Wastewater-based epidemiology is a feasible method for objectively evaluating the geographic, temporal and weekly profiles of nicotine and alcohol consumption in different communities nationally.
Authors: Tim Boogaerts; Maarten Quireyns; Maarten De Prins; Bram Pussig; Hans De Loof; Catharina Matheï; Bert Aertgeerts; Virginie Van Coppenolle; Erik Fransen; Adrian Covaci; Alexander L N van Nuijs Journal: Int J Drug Policy Date: 2022-04-04
Authors: Foon Yin Lai; Katerina Lympousi; Frederic Been; Lisa Benaglia; Robin Udrisard; Olivier Delémont; Pierre Esseiva; Nikolaos S Thomaidis; Adrian Covaci; Alexander L N van Nuijs Journal: Sci Rep Date: 2018-09-05 Impact factor: 4.379