Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) is a power approach to monitor drug use. Since its first application in four megacities, WBE have been expanded to most major cities across China and have drawn attention of the authorities of narcotics control. In addition to monitor use to traditional drugs, WBE has also been applied to examine the uses of new psychoactive substances (NPS). This talk will review the WBE studies carried out in China. Spatial and temporal patterns of loads of primary drugs and selected NPS will be demonstrated. Results of enantiomeric profiling of two primary drugs in China, methamphetamine and ketamine, will also be presented. Finally, necessity, benefits, and feasibility to set up nation or province-wide monitoring networks based on WBE in China will be discussed.
Presenter:
Professor Xiqing Li, Visiting Academic, College of Urban and Environmental Science, Peking University, China