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Systematic and day-to-day effects of chemical-derived population estimates on wastewater-based drug epidemiology
Citation
Lai, FY and Anuj, S and Bruno, R and Carter, S and Gartner, C and Hall, W and Kirkbride, KP and Mueller, JF and O'Brien, JW and Prichard, J and Thai, PK and Ort, C, Systematic and day-to-day effects of chemical-derived population estimates on wastewater-based drug epidemiology, Environmental Science and Technology, 49, (2) pp. 999-1008. ISSN 0013-936X (2014) [Refereed Article]
Copyright Statement
Copyright 2014 American Chemical Society
Abstract
Population size is crucial when estimating population-normalized drug consumption (PNDC) from wastewater-based drug epidemiology (WBDE). Three conceptually different population estimates can be used: de jure (common census, residence), de facto (all persons within a sewer catchment), and chemical loads (contributors to the sampled wastewater). De facto and chemical loads will be the same where all households contribute to a central sewer system without wastewater loss. This study explored the feasibility of determining a de facto population and its effect on estimating PNDC in an urban community over an extended period. Drugs and other chemicals were analyzed in 311 daily composite wastewater samples. The daily estimated de facto population (using chemical loads) was on average 32% higher than the de jure population. Consequently, using the latter would systemically overestimate PNDC by 22%. However, the relative day-to-day pattern of drug consumption was similar regardless of the type of normalization as daily illicit drug loads appeared to vary substantially more than the population. Using chemical loads population, we objectively quantified the total methodological uncertainty of PNDC and reduced it by a factor of 2. Our study illustrated the potential benefits of using chemical loads population for obtaining more robust PNDC data in WBDE.
Item Details
| Item Type: | Refereed Article |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | wastewater epidemiology, illicit drug use |
| Research Division: | Psychology and Cognitive Sciences |
| Research Group: | Other Psychology and Cognitive Sciences |
| Research Field: | Psychology and Cognitive Sciences not elsewhere classified |
| Objective Division: | Health |
| Objective Group: | Public Health (excl. Specific Population Health) |
| Objective Field: | Substance Abuse |
| UTAS Author: | Bruno, R (Associate Professor Raimondo Bruno) |
| UTAS Author: | Prichard, J (Associate Professor Jeremy Prichard) |
| ID Code: | 98349 |
| Year Published: | 2014 |
| Web of Science® Times Cited: | 30 |
| Deposited By: | Psychology |
| Deposited On: | 2015-02-12 |
| Last Modified: | 2017-11-07 |
| Downloads: | 1 View Download Statistics |
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