|
Title
|
|
|
|
Spatial and temporal trends in alcohol consumption in Belgian cities : a wastewater-based approach
|
|
|
Author
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Abstract
|
|
|
|
| Background: In recent years, scientific evidence has emerged that wastewater-based epidemiology can deliver complementary information concerning the use of different substances of abuse. In this study, the potential of wastewater-based epidemiology in monitoring spatial and temporal trends in alcohol consumption in different populations in Belgium has been examined. Methods: Concentrations of ethyl sulphate, a minor Phase-II metabolite of ethanol, in 163 influent wastewater samples from eight wastewater treatment plants in Belgium in the period 2013-2015 were measured with liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry and used to estimate alcohol consumption. Results: The highest levels of alcohol consumption were detected in the metropoles Antwerp and Brussels compared to smaller villages. Annual variations were detected, with a higher alcohol consumption measured in 2013 compared with 2014. The weekly pattern showed a clear week and weekend difference in alcohol use, with intermediate levels on Monday and Friday. The results were extrapolated and a use of 5.6 L pure alcohol per year per inhabitant aged 15+ has been estimated in Belgium. The comparison with available information on drinking habits of the Belgian population further demonstrated the usefulness of the wastewater-based epidemiology approach. Conclusions: This is the largest wastewater-based epidemiology study monitoring alcohol consumption to date, demonstrating that objective and quick information on spatio-temporal trends in alcohol consumption on a local and (inter)national scale can be obtained. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. |
|
|
|
Language
|
|
|
|
English
|
|
|
Source (journal)
|
|
|
|
Drug and alcohol dependence. - Lausanne
|
|
|
Publication
|
|
|
|
Lausanne
:
2016
|
|
|
ISSN
|
|
|
|
0376-8716
|
|
|
DOI
|
|
|
|
10.1016/J.DRUGALCDEP.2016.01.002
|
|
|
Volume/pages
|
|
|
|
160
(2016)
, p. 170-176
|
|
|
ISI
|
|
|
|
000371837200022
|
|
|
Pubmed ID
|
|
|
|
26804900
|
|
|
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Full text (open access)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
|
|
|
|
|
|