@article{ref1,
title="Temporal Analysis of the Cocaine Metabolite Benzoylecgonine in Wastewater to Estimate Community Drug Use",
journal="Journal of forensic sciences",
year="2012",
author="Kinyua, Juliet and Anderson, Todd A.",
volume="57",
number="5",
pages="1349-1353",
abstract="Indirect estimation methods of cocaine consumption may not reflect the real extent of cocaine use. Another approach is sewage epidemiology. This direct approach is based on analysis of a stable cocaine metabolite, benzoylecgonine (BE), in wastewater. Influent to the Lubbock (Texas) Water Reclamation Plant was sampled twice a week to assess weekly variations in estimates of cocaine consumption over a 5-month period. BE was extracted from influent wastewater samples using solid phase extraction and analyzed using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Measured concentrations of BE were converted to cocaine equivalents; the estimated average daily consumption of cocaine during the study period was 1152 ± 147 g. Based on BE concentrations and sewage epidemiology, higher cocaine consumption was observed on weekends compared to weekdays (p < 0.0003). This method was effective in monitoring BE in wastewater and could be used to complement survey data in estimating cocaine use at a local level.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0022-1198",
doi="10.1111/j.1556-4029.2012.02135.x",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1556-4029.2012.02135.x"
}