Ketamine, a new (or old) kid on the block: A comprehensive three-year spatio-temporal study in Belgium through wastewater-based epidemiology

IF 12.4 1区环境科学与生态学 Q1 ENGINEERING, ENVIRONMENTAL Water Research Pub Date : 2025-05-15 Epub Date: 2025-02-10 DOI:10.1016/j.watres.2025.123269

Natan Van Wichelen , Tim Boogaerts , Maarten Quireyns , Rania Dermitzaki , Peter Delputte , Noor Ul Hudda , Naomi De Roeck , Bavo Verhaegen , Koenraad Van Hoorde , Hadrien Maloux , Veronik Hutse , Celine Gys , Adrian Covaci , Alexander L.N. van Nuijs

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Abstract

Based on reports of ketamine seizures, self-reported consumption and harmful associated health effects, there are signs of increased ketamine use. However, monitoring population-level consumption patterns remains difficult. This study employed wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) to address this challenge by analysing influent wastewater (IWW) from Belgium for biomarkers of ketamine consumption to evaluate spatio-temporal trends.

Daily 24-h composite IWW samples were collected from 26 locations across the northern part of Belgium (Flanders and Brussels region), every Monday and Wednesday in 2023 (n = 716). Additionally, a temporal dataset from daily IWW samples from Leuven (n = 399) and Brussels (n = 285) in 2021 and 2022 was evaluated using time series analysis. Measured concentrations of ketamine, norketamine and dehydronorketamine in IWW were transformed to population-normalised mass loads (PNML, expressed in mg/day/1000 inhabitants) to assess ketamine consumption patterns.

Ketamine, norketamine and dehydronorketamine were detected in respectively 98%, 96%, and 76% of all samples. Substantial consumption was observed in both urban and rural areas, with higher PNMLs in major cities and the east of Flanders. Temporal analysis showed no seasonal trends but an increase in weekend consumption, likely linked to recreational use. PNMLs increased 7- to 11-fold compared to available data in 2012. Actual consumption and direct disposal down the drain could be differentiated by the investigation of the ketamine to norketamine ratio.

Ketamine use is widespread across the north of Belgium, encompassing a relatively stable, year-round consumption. In future WBE studies, it is recommended to measure both norketamine and ketamine to assess ketamine consumption and to rule out any dumping events.

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氯胺酮，一个新的（或旧的）孩子在街区：综合三年时空研究在比利时通过废水为基础的流行病学

根据有关氯胺酮缉获的报告、自我报告的消费情况以及相关的有害健康影响，有迹象表明氯胺酮的使用有所增加。然而，监测人口水平的消费模式仍然很困难。本研究采用基于废水的流行病学（WBE）来解决这一挑战，通过分析来自比利时的进水废水（IWW）中氯胺酮消费的生物标志物来评估时空趋势。在2023年的每周一和周三，从比利时北部（法兰德斯和布鲁塞尔地区）的26个地点收集了每天24小时的综合IWW样本（n=716）。此外，使用时间序列分析评估了2021年和2022年鲁汶（n=399）和布鲁塞尔（n=285）每日IWW样本的时间数据集。将IWW中氯胺酮、去甲氯胺酮和脱氢氯胺酮的测量浓度转化为人口标准化质量负荷（PNML，以mg/day/1000居民表示），以评估氯胺酮的消费模式。氯胺酮、诺氯胺酮和脱氢诺氯胺酮的检出率分别为98%、96%和76%。在城市和农村地区都观察到大量消费，主要城市和佛兰德斯东部的pnml较高。时间分析没有显示出季节性趋势，但周末消费量有所增加，可能与娱乐用途有关。与2012年的现有数据相比，pnml增加了7到11倍。通过氯胺酮与诺氯胺酮的比例调查，可以区分实际消费和直接排入下水道。氯胺酮的使用在比利时北部广泛存在，包括相对稳定的全年消费。在未来的WBE研究中，建议同时测量诺氯胺酮和氯胺酮，以评估氯胺酮的消耗，并排除任何倾倒事件。

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来源期刊

Water Research 环境科学-工程：环境

CiteScore

20.80

自引率

9.40%

发文量

1307

审稿时长

38 days

期刊介绍： Water Research, along with its open access companion journal Water Research X, serves as a platform for publishing original research papers covering various aspects of the science and technology related to the anthropogenic water cycle, water quality, and its management worldwide. The audience targeted by the journal comprises biologists, chemical engineers, chemists, civil engineers, environmental engineers, limnologists, and microbiologists. The scope of the journal include: •Treatment processes for water and wastewaters (municipal, agricultural, industrial, and on-site treatment), including resource recovery and residuals management; •Urban hydrology including sewer systems, stormwater management, and green infrastructure; •Drinking water treatment and distribution; •Potable and non-potable water reuse; •Sanitation, public health, and risk assessment; •Anaerobic digestion, solid and hazardous waste management, including source characterization and the effects and control of leachates and gaseous emissions; •Contaminants (chemical, microbial, anthropogenic particles such as nanoparticles or microplastics) and related water quality sensing, monitoring, fate, and assessment; •Anthropogenic impacts on inland, tidal, coastal and urban waters, focusing on surface and ground waters, and point and non-point sources of pollution; •Environmental restoration, linked to surface water, groundwater and groundwater remediation; •Analysis of the interfaces between sediments and water, and between water and atmosphere, focusing specifically on anthropogenic impacts; •Mathematical modelling, systems analysis, machine learning, and beneficial use of big data related to the anthropogenic water cycle; •Socio-economic, policy, and regulations studies.