The Presence of Stimulant Drugs in Wastewater from Krakow (Poland): A Snapshot

Abstract

An analysis of wastewater from Krakow (Poland) for the presence of controlled and uncontrolled stimulant drugs of abuse was performed. Samples were collected from the Plaszow wastewater treatment plant, Krakow, Poland, and prepared by solid phase extraction. The LC-QTOFMS method was applied for identification and quantification of popular stimulants: MDMA, mephedrone, 4-MEC, MDPV and mCPP. Environmental loads of illicit drugs were calculated; the WWTP discharged loads ranging from 3.6 to 6.7 mg day−1 1000 inhabitants−1 of MDMA, 3.6 to 7.1 mg day−1 1000 inhabitants−1 of mephedrone and 4.8 to 5.8 mg day−1 1000 inhabitants−1 of 4-MEC. The results confirmed the growing popularity of new psychoactive substances in Poland.