The use of wastewater analysis in forensic intelligence: drug consumption comparison between Sydney and different European cities
Wastewater analysis offers objective and complementary information to illicit drug agencies by monitoring patterns of illicit drug consumption. In this study, wastewater samples from three different wastewater treatment plants in Sydney, Australia were collected in March 2016. Ten targeted drugs wer...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Oxford University Press
2019-04-01
|
| Series: | Forensic Sciences Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/20961790.2018.1500082 |
| _version_ | 1797766720713129984 |
|---|---|
| author | Anne Bannwarth Marie Morelato Lisa Benaglia Frederic Been Pierre Esseiva Olivier Delemont Claude Roux |
| author_facet | Anne Bannwarth Marie Morelato Lisa Benaglia Frederic Been Pierre Esseiva Olivier Delemont Claude Roux |
| author_sort | Anne Bannwarth |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Wastewater analysis offers objective and complementary information to illicit drug agencies by monitoring patterns of illicit drug consumption. In this study, wastewater samples from three different wastewater treatment plants in Sydney, Australia were collected in March 2016. Ten targeted drugs were analysed and temporal and geographical analyses were performed to obtain a better understanding of the type and amount of illicit drugs consumed in Sydney in comparison with similar studies conducted around Australia and in Europe. Among the targeted drugs, methamphetamine was consumed the most, followed by cocaine and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). Weekly patterns were observed where a peak during the weekend was present. The geographical analysis showed differences between the regions targeted. This observation may be related to socio-demographic aspects. The comparison of our study to other data sources from Australia showed a high consumption of methamphetamine in Sydney and Western Australia. The comparison between Sydney and different European cities revealed a difference in consumption, which is in line with traditional market indicators. The information obtained through wastewater analysis provides complementary information regarding illicit drug consumption, the size, and the evolution of the illicit drug market. This, ultimately, will assist authorities in making informed decisions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T20:29:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6b1336b20f4240889e5a5cecca878bde |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2096-1790 2471-1411 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T20:29:19Z |
| publishDate | 2019-04-01 |
| publisher | Oxford University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Forensic Sciences Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-6b1336b20f4240889e5a5cecca878bde2023-08-02T00:15:40ZengOxford University PressForensic Sciences Research2096-17902471-14112019-04-014214115110.1080/20961790.2018.15000821500082The use of wastewater analysis in forensic intelligence: drug consumption comparison between Sydney and different European citiesAnne Bannwarth0Marie Morelato1Lisa Benaglia2Frederic Been3Pierre Esseiva4Olivier Delemont5Claude Roux6University of Technology SydneyUniversity of Technology SydneyUniversity of LausanneUniversity of AntwerpUniversity of LausanneUniversity of LausanneUniversity of Technology SydneyWastewater analysis offers objective and complementary information to illicit drug agencies by monitoring patterns of illicit drug consumption. In this study, wastewater samples from three different wastewater treatment plants in Sydney, Australia were collected in March 2016. Ten targeted drugs were analysed and temporal and geographical analyses were performed to obtain a better understanding of the type and amount of illicit drugs consumed in Sydney in comparison with similar studies conducted around Australia and in Europe. Among the targeted drugs, methamphetamine was consumed the most, followed by cocaine and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). Weekly patterns were observed where a peak during the weekend was present. The geographical analysis showed differences between the regions targeted. This observation may be related to socio-demographic aspects. The comparison of our study to other data sources from Australia showed a high consumption of methamphetamine in Sydney and Western Australia. The comparison between Sydney and different European cities revealed a difference in consumption, which is in line with traditional market indicators. The information obtained through wastewater analysis provides complementary information regarding illicit drug consumption, the size, and the evolution of the illicit drug market. This, ultimately, will assist authorities in making informed decisions.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/20961790.2018.1500082Forensic scienceswastewater-based epidemiologyillicit drug consumptionforensic intelligence |
| spellingShingle | Anne Bannwarth Marie Morelato Lisa Benaglia Frederic Been Pierre Esseiva Olivier Delemont Claude Roux The use of wastewater analysis in forensic intelligence: drug consumption comparison between Sydney and different European cities Forensic Sciences Research Forensic sciences wastewater-based epidemiology illicit drug consumption forensic intelligence |
| title | The use of wastewater analysis in forensic intelligence: drug consumption comparison between Sydney and different European cities |
| title_full | The use of wastewater analysis in forensic intelligence: drug consumption comparison between Sydney and different European cities |
| title_fullStr | The use of wastewater analysis in forensic intelligence: drug consumption comparison between Sydney and different European cities |
| title_full_unstemmed | The use of wastewater analysis in forensic intelligence: drug consumption comparison between Sydney and different European cities |
| title_short | The use of wastewater analysis in forensic intelligence: drug consumption comparison between Sydney and different European cities |
| title_sort | use of wastewater analysis in forensic intelligence drug consumption comparison between sydney and different european cities |
| topic | Forensic sciences wastewater-based epidemiology illicit drug consumption forensic intelligence |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/20961790.2018.1500082 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT annebannwarth theuseofwastewateranalysisinforensicintelligencedrugconsumptioncomparisonbetweensydneyanddifferenteuropeancities AT mariemorelato theuseofwastewateranalysisinforensicintelligencedrugconsumptioncomparisonbetweensydneyanddifferenteuropeancities AT lisabenaglia theuseofwastewateranalysisinforensicintelligencedrugconsumptioncomparisonbetweensydneyanddifferenteuropeancities AT fredericbeen theuseofwastewateranalysisinforensicintelligencedrugconsumptioncomparisonbetweensydneyanddifferenteuropeancities AT pierreesseiva theuseofwastewateranalysisinforensicintelligencedrugconsumptioncomparisonbetweensydneyanddifferenteuropeancities AT olivierdelemont theuseofwastewateranalysisinforensicintelligencedrugconsumptioncomparisonbetweensydneyanddifferenteuropeancities AT clauderoux theuseofwastewateranalysisinforensicintelligencedrugconsumptioncomparisonbetweensydneyanddifferenteuropeancities AT annebannwarth useofwastewateranalysisinforensicintelligencedrugconsumptioncomparisonbetweensydneyanddifferenteuropeancities AT mariemorelato useofwastewateranalysisinforensicintelligencedrugconsumptioncomparisonbetweensydneyanddifferenteuropeancities AT lisabenaglia useofwastewateranalysisinforensicintelligencedrugconsumptioncomparisonbetweensydneyanddifferenteuropeancities AT fredericbeen useofwastewateranalysisinforensicintelligencedrugconsumptioncomparisonbetweensydneyanddifferenteuropeancities AT pierreesseiva useofwastewateranalysisinforensicintelligencedrugconsumptioncomparisonbetweensydneyanddifferenteuropeancities AT olivierdelemont useofwastewateranalysisinforensicintelligencedrugconsumptioncomparisonbetweensydneyanddifferenteuropeancities AT clauderoux useofwastewateranalysisinforensicintelligencedrugconsumptioncomparisonbetweensydneyanddifferenteuropeancities |