The study took place over three weekdays in April/May of 2024
The presence of cocaine and benzoylecgonine (BZE) were found in waste water from two wastewater treatment plants in Kildare.
In association with Forensics Science Ireland (based in Celbridge) and Uisce Éireann, TU Dublin conducted research into wastewater to estimate drug consumption.
Those involved in the study conducted were Dr Seán McDermottt, a lecturer at in the School of Chemical and Biopharmaceutical Sciences at TU Dublin, and Dr Patrice Behan, the senior lecturer in the School of Chemical and Biopharmaceutical Sciences at TU Dublin.
Forensic scientist with Forensic Science Ireland Ciara McNamee was also involved.
When ingested, cocaine is metabolized in the body and the main breakdown product is BZE.
When excreted in urine, only a portion remains as cocaine, so the measurement of cocaine and/or its metabolites can be used to determine cocaine consumption in the community.
Two wastewater treatment plants in Kildare were used in the pilot study, which took place over three weekdays in April/May 2024, and the presence of the drugs were found in both locations and on each of the sampling days.
Water samples were taken before entering the treatment plant, and were taken as composite samples, meaning they were taken over a 24 hour period rather than at one specific time.
Initial preliminary estimates put the average daily consumption of cocaine to be in the order of 100 milligrams per 1,000 people per day.
Since 2011, a Europe-wide group SCORE has been analysing and sampling wastewater to estimate drug consumption in Europe.
Findings from 2023 show weekday mean values for Athens to be 137mg/1000people/day, Vilnius at 104mg/1000people/day, Helsinki at 189mg/1000people/day and Krakow at 65mg/1000people/day.
In a report released in June 2024 by the Health Research Board, a record 13,104 cases were treated for problem drug use, with cocaine being listed as the main problem.
Kfm has contacted Forensic Science Ireland and Uisce Éireann to determine the exact locations of the two wastewater treatment plans in Kildare.
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