Temporal monitoring of stimulants during the COVID-19 pandemic in Belgium through the analysis of influent wastewater.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) is a complementary epidemiological data source to monitor stimulant consumption. The aims were to: (i) study intra- and inter-year temporal changes in stimulant use in Belgium during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic; and (ii) evaluate the effect of COVID-19 restrictive measures on stimulant consumption.

Methods

The study population corresponded to the catchments of four wastewater treatment plants corresponding with four Belgian cities (i.e., Antwerp-Zuid, Boom, Brussels, Leuven). Daily 24-h composite influent wastewater samples collected over one week in September 2019 and March through June 2020 during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic were analyzed for biomarkers of amphetamine, cocaine, methamphetamine

SUBMITTER: Boogaerts T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8977453 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature