Drugs of abuse and tranquilizers in Dutch surface waters, drinking ...

RIVM Report 703719064AbstractDrugs of abuse and tranquilizers in Dutch surface waters, drinkingwater and wastewaterResults of screening monitoring 2009In the surface waters of the rivers Rhine and Meuse, twelve drugs that are listedin the Dutch Opium act were detected at low concentrations. They are from thegroups amphetamines, tranquilizers (barbiturates and benzodiazepines) opiatesand cocaine. During drinking water production, most compounds are removed orconcentrations are substantially lowered. In finished drinking water, threebarbiturates were still detected in very low concentrations (up to 12 ng/L). Theamounts are below health based provisional drinking water limits. Ongoingmonitoring of the presence of these compounds in water and possible long-termeffects on human health are a point of interest. It is recommended to investigatepossible ecotoxicological effects.These findings are the results of a RIVM investigation performed under theauthority of the VROM-Inspectorate of the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure andthe Environment. This investigation was carried out in cooperation with KWRWatercycle Research Institute and the Research Institute for Pesticides andWater of the University Jaume I (Spain). A total of 65 water samples wereanalysed for 37 different drugs of abuse and metabolites. In addition to surfacewaters and drinking water, sewage waters were also analysed. The compoundscan be detected due to the increased sensitivity of analytical methods nowadaysavailable. However, drugs have probably been present in the aquaticenvironment since they have been used by humans.Substantial fractions of the total load of drugs in the Rhine and Meuse riversenter the Netherlands from abroad. There is also a contribution througheffluents from sewage water treatment plants in the Netherlands. Theconcentrations found in Dutch sewage water are in the same range asconcentrations found in other Western European countries. Based on themeasured concentrations, cocaine consumption in some Dutch cities could beestimated and compared.Keywords:Drugs of abuse, drinking water, surface water, sewage treatment plants,monitoringPage 3 of 90