We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Pharmaceutical and Recreational Drug Usage Patterns during and Post COVID-19 Determined by Wastewater-Based Epidemiology
Summary
This study used wastewater analysis in Latvia to track changes in pharmaceutical and recreational drug use during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, finding increased consumption of antidepressants, psychiatric drugs, and painkillers during lockdowns. While not about microplastics, the research demonstrates how wastewater monitoring can reveal population-level health trends. The same wastewater-based approach is being used to track microplastic levels in sewage systems and understand community-wide exposure.
Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) was applied to evaluate the consumption trends of pharmaceuticals (i.e., antibiotics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antiepileptics, antihypertensives, and others), as well as recreational drugs (caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine), in Latvia from December 2020 to July 2023. The time period covers both the COVID-19 pandemic and the post-pandemic periods; therefore, the impact of the implemented restrictions and the consequences of the illness in terms of the usage of pharmaceuticals thereon were investigated. Additionally, the seasonality and impact of the seasonal flu and other acute upper respiratory infections were studied. The results revealed that the pandemic impacted the consumption of alcohol, nicotine, and caffeine, as well as several pharmaceuticals, such as antihypertensives, antidepressants, psychiatric drugs, and the painkiller ibuprofen. The findings suggest that the imposed restrictions during the pandemic may have had a negative effect on the population's health and mental well-being. Distinct seasonal trends were discovered in the consumption patterns of caffeine and alcohol, where lower use was observed during the summer. The seasonal consumption trends of pharmaceuticals were discovered in the case of antibiotics, the antiasthmatic drug salbutamol, and the decongestant xylometazoline, where higher consumption occurred during colder seasons.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Identification of biomarkers in wastewater-based epidemiology: Main approaches and analytical methods
This review covers biomarker identification in wastewater-based epidemiology, examining how emerging contaminants including microplastics and pharmaceuticals in wastewater can serve as population-level indicators of disease, health behaviors, and chemical exposures in cities.
Pharmaceutical and Microplastic Pollution before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Surface Water, Wastewater, and Groundwater
This review found that pharmaceutical residues and microplastics are widespread contaminants in surface water, groundwater, and wastewater globally, and that the COVID-19 pandemic amplified both types of pollution, with polypropylene and polyethylene being the most commonly detected plastic polymers.
Wastewater Monitoring Program in Abu Dhabi – A Boon to Early Warning & Public Health Issue Prevention
This paper is not about microplastics; it describes Abu Dhabi's wastewater epidemiological surveillance program for tracking infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance, and illicit drug use.
Prevalence of pharmaceuticals and personal care products, microplastics and co-infecting microbes in the post-COVID-19 era and its implications on antimicrobial resistance and potential endocrine disruptive effects
This review examines how the COVID-19 pandemic increased environmental contamination from pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and microplastics, all of which can promote antibiotic resistance and disrupt hormones. The surge in mask use, sanitizer disposal, and medication contributed to higher levels of these pollutants in waterways. The combination of microplastics with pharmaceutical residues creates a compounding threat where plastics can carry drug-resistant bacteria and hormone-disrupting chemicals into water supplies.
Consequence of COVID‐19 occurrences in wastewater with promising recognition and healing technologies: A review
This review examines COVID-19 in wastewater treatment contexts, discussing how the pandemic increased plastic and nanoplastic inputs alongside pharmaceutical and antibiotic contaminants, and evaluating emerging detection and treatment technologies for managing these compounding pollution challenges.