[Evaluation of the efficacy of the sewage treatment plant of Toledo, Spain in the elimination of drugs of abuse and the estimation of consumption]. / Estimación del consumo de drogas de abuso y sus metabolitos a partir de su presencia en el agua residual de Talavera de la Reina y en el río Tajo.

BACKGROUND: in the last years, the presence of new contaminants in water has been rising. There are only few studies which analyze such presence. The aims were to determine the occurrence of drugs of abuse and their metabolites in the influent and effluent of the Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) in Talavera de la Reina, and the River Tagus, as well as to evaluate the STP removal efficiency in the elimination of these substances and to estimate the consumption of drugs in Talavera. METHODS: whe samples were taken on June 28, 2010. The presence of 5 groups of drugs (10 drugs of abuse and 9 metabolites) was quantified. The efficiency was calculated from the percentage of reduction of the concentration in the influent and effluent of the STP. Drug consumption was calculated from influent concentrations. Using a specific methodology, based on the assumption the drugs after they are consumed and metabolized in the human body are excreted as parent compounds or metabolites. Whose metabolic pathways are known, and the amount of drug or metabolite quantified corresponds to the dose consumed. RESULTS: ten substances were detected. In all sampling points appeared: Benzoiclegonina (BE) (cocaine metabolite), ephedrine, methadone and its metabolite EDDP. The highest concentrations were of BE (239 ng/L), and THC-COOH (35 ng/L), both in influent. In the Tagus River, the highest concentrations were of BE (5.38 ng/L) and EDDP (4.4 ng/L). The STP removal efficiency was up to 80% for all substances except for methadone (which was zero) and EDDP (increasing to leave the STP). The estimated consumption shows that the most consumed substances were cannabis (1.88 grams / day) and cocaine (0.46 grams / day). CONCLUSION: the presence of drugs of abuse in River Tagus in Talavera demonstrates that these substances are not eliminated completly by STPs. Drug consumption estimate indicates that the population of Talavera mainly consumed cannabis and cocaine. Thus this methodology can complement epidemiological surveys.

Estimación del consumo de drogas de abuso y sus metabolitos a partir de su presencia en el agua residual de Talavera de la Reina y en el río Tajo / Evaluation of the efficacy of the sewage treatment plant of Toledo, Spain in the elimination of drugs of abuse and the estimation of consumption

Fundamentos: en los últimos años se ha evidenciado la presencia de nuevos contaminantes en el agua, existiendo pocos estudios que analicen dicha presencia. Los objetivos fueron determinar drogas de abuso (DAs) y sus metabolitos en el influente y efluente de la Estación Depuradora de Aguas Residuales (EDAR) de Talavera de la Reina y en el río Tajo, evaluar el rendimiento de la EDAR en la eliminación de estas sustancias y estimar el consumo de drogas en la ciudad de Talavera. Métodos: el muestreo fue realizado, el día 28 de Junio de 2010. En todas las muestras se analizaron 5 grupos de drogas (10Das y 9 metabolitos). Se calculó el rendimiento a partir del porcentaje de reducción de la concentración a la entrada y salida de la EDAR y el consumo de drogas a partir de las concentraciones del influente y utilizando una metodología específica, basada en la asunción de que las drogas después de ser consumidas y metabolizadas en el cuerpo humano, son excretadas como compuestos principales o metabolitos, cuyas rutas metabólicas son conocidas; y que la cantidad de droga o metabolito cuantificado corresponde con la dosis consumida. Resultados: se detectaron 10 sustancias. La presencia de Benzoiclegonina (BE) (metabolito de la cocaína), efedrina, y metadona junto su metabolito EDDP fue hallada en todas las muestras. Las mayores concentraciones fueron de BE (239ng/L), y de THC-COOH (35 ng/L), ambas en influente. En el río Tajo las concentraciones mas altas fueron de BE (5,38 ng/L) y EDDP (4,4 ng/L). El rendimiento de la EDAR fue mayor del 80 % para todas las sustancias excepto para metadona (que fue nulo) y EDDP (con mayor concentración en el efluente de la EDAR). Las sustancias más consumidas fueron cannabis (THC) (1,88 g/día) y cocaína (0,46 g/día). Conclusiones: Se detectó la presencia de Das en el río Tajo a su paso por Talavera de la Reina, lo que evidencia que estas sustancias no son eliminadas totalmente por la EDAR. El consumo de drogas estimado indica que la población de Talavera consume principalmente cannabis y cocaína. Demostrando que esta metodología puede complementar las encuestas sobre consumo de drogas (AU)

Background: in the last years, the presence of new contaminants in water has been rising. There are only few studies which analyze such presence. The aims were to determine the occurrence of drugs of abuse and their metabolites in the influent and effluent of the Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) in Talavera de la Reina, and the River Tagus, as well as to evaluate the STP removal efficiency in the elimination of these substances and to estimate the consumption of drugs in Talavera. Methods: whe samples were taken on June 28, 2010. The presence of 5 groups of drugs (10 drugs of abuse and 9 metabolites) was quantified. The efficiency was calculated from the percentage of reduction of the concentration in the influent and effluent of the STP. Drug consumption was calculated from influent concentrations. Using a specific methodology, based on the assumption the drugs after they are consumed and metabolized in the human body are excreted as parent compounds or metabolites. Whose metabolic path ways are known, and the amount of drug or metabolite quantified corresponds to the dose consumed. Results: ten substances were detected. In all sampling points appeared: Benzoiclegonina (BE) (cocaine metabolite), ephedrine, methadone and its metabolite EDDP. The highest concentrations were of BE (239 ng/L), and THC-COOH (35 ng/L), both ininfluent. In the Tagus River, the highest concentrations were of BE (5.38 ng/L) and EDDP (4.4 ng/L). The STP removal efficiency was up to 80 % for all substances except for methadone (which was zero) and EDDP (increasing to leave the STP). The estimated consumption shows that the most consumed substances were cannabis (1.88 grams/day) and cocaine (0.46 grams/day). Conclusion: the presence of drugs of abuse in River Tagus in Talavera demonstrates that these substances are not eliminated ompletly by STPs. Drug consumption estimate indicates that the population of Talavera mainly consumed cannabis and cocaine. Thus this methodology can complement epidemiological surveys (AU)

[Water pollution in sources close to oil-producing fields of Bolivia]. / Contaminación del agua en fuentes cercanas a campos petrolíferos de Bolivia.

OBJECTIVE: to determine the concentrations of petrochemical compounds in the drinking water sources of communities located near oil-producing fields in the Bolivian Chaco region. METHODS: data were collected on total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH), 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), including benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX), and 22 metals in samples from 42 sources of water for human consumption located less than 30 km from an oil-producing field. Distribution of the concentration and adherence to the standards contained in the Bolivian, European, and United States regulations, as well as the recommendations of the World Health Organization, were analyzed. RESULTS: in 76.19% of the samples, some petrochemical contaminant was found in concentrations higher than permissible in any of the four sets of regulations mentioned. The water samples with the highest contamination levels were from faucets and rivers. The most common contaminants were TPH, PAH, aluminum, arsenic, manganese, and iron. CONCLUSIONS: communities within a 30 km radius of the oil-producing fields in the Bolivian Chaco region consume water with TPH, PAH, and metal concentrations well above the levels permitted in the Bolivian regulations and international standards, putting the public health of their residents at serious risk.

Contaminación del agua en fuentes cercanas a campos petrolíferos de Bolivia / Water pollution in sources close to oil-producing fields of Bolivia

OBJETIVO: Determinar las concentraciones de compuestos petroquímicos en las fuentes de agua de consumo para comunidades cercanas a campos petrolíferos del Chaco Boliviano. MÉTODOS: Se recogieron datos sobre concentraciones de hidrocarburos totales de petróleo (HTP), 16 hidrocarburos aromáticos policíclicos (HAP), incluidos el benceno, tolueno, etilbenceno y xilenos (BTEX), y 22 metales en muestras de 42 fuentes de agua de consumo humano situadas a menos de 30 km de un campo de extracción de petróleo. Se analizó la distribución de la concentración y el cumplimiento de los estándares definidos en las normativas boliviana, europea y estadounidense, así como en las recomendaciones de la Organización Mundial de la Salud. RESULTADOS: En 76,19 por ciento de las muestras se halló algún contaminante petroquímico en concentraciones superiores a alguna de las cuatro normativas de referencia. Las muestras de agua que presentaron mayor contaminación fueron las provenientes de grifos y ríos. Los contaminantes más frecuentes fueron HTP, HAP, aluminio, arsénico, manganeso y hierro. CONCLUSIONES: Las comunidades del Chaco Boliviano ubicadas en un radio de 30 km alrededor de los campos de extracción de petróleo consumen agua con concentraciones de HTP, HAP y metales muy por encima de los niveles permitidos por la normativa boliviana y los estándares internacionales, poniendo en grave riesgo la salud pública de sus habitantes.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the concentrations of petrochemical compounds in the drinking water sources of communities located near oil-producing fields in the Bolivian Chaco region. METHODS: Data were collected on total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH), 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), including benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX), and 22 metals in samples from 42 sources of water for human consumption located less than 30 km from an oil-producing field. Distribution of the concentration and adherence to the standards contained in the Bolivian, European, and United States regulations, as well as the recommendations of the World Health Organization, were analyzed. RESULTS: In 76.19 percent of the samples, some petrochemical contaminant was found in concentrations higher than permissible in any of the four sets of regulations mentioned. The water samples with the highest contamination levels were from faucets and rivers. The most common contaminants were TPH, PAH, aluminum, arsenic, manganese, and iron. CONCLUSIONS: Communities within a 30 km radius of the oil-producing fields in the Bolivian Chaco region consume water with TPH, PAH, and metal concentrations well above the levels permitted in the Bolivian regulations and international standards, putting the public health of their residents at serious risk.

[Burden of hospitalizations attributable to malaria in Spain during 1999-2002]. / Hospitalización por paludismo en España durante el período 1999-2002.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To calculate the incidence rates and direct costs, and to describe hospital admissions for malaria in Spain between 1999 and 2002. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Retrospective study of hospital admissions whose fundamental discharge diagnosis was malaria (codes CIE-9 from 084.0 to 084.9), using the national surveillance system for hospital data (CMBD) between 1999 and 2002. RESULTS: 2,044 hospitalizations for malaria were recorded in Spain (incidence rate 1.3 cases per 100,000 inhabitants/year). 20.6% were children under the age of 15. We found an increasing linear trend in the incidence rate of malaria in the 0-4 age group (p < 0.001). 57.3% of malaria cases were due to Plasmodium falciparum, 11.5% to P. vivax, 2.4% to P. malariae and 3.3% to P. ovale. On the other hand, 64% of admissions occurred between summer and autumn, a seasonal pattern attributable to P. falciparum. The annual cost of the hospitalizations was euro 1.2 million. CONCLUSIONS: There is an increasing number of hospitalizations in Spain due to malaria, which might be higher in coming years. This fact mainly owes to the population movements we are currently experiencing.

Hospitalización por paludismo en España durante el período 1999-2002 / Burden of hospitalizations attributable to malaria in Spain during 1999-2002

Fundamento y objetivo: Describir las hospitalizaciones atribuibles a paludismo y calcular su tasa de incidencia y los costes directos que generó durante 1999-2002 en España. Material y método: Estudio retrospectivo sobre hospitalizaciones con diagnóstico principal al alta de malaria (códigos 084.0 a 084.9 de la novena edición de la Clasificación Internacional de Enfermedades-Modificación Clínica) recogidas del Conjunto Mínimo Básico de Datos durante 1999-2002. Resultados: Se registraron 2.044 hospitalizaciones por malaria (tasa de incidencia de 1,3 casos por 100.000 habitantes/año). El 20,6% fueron niños menores de 15 años. Además, se encontró una tendencia lineal ascendente significativa en la incidencia en los niños de 0-4 años (p<0,001). El 57,3% de los casos se debieron a Plasmodium falciparum, el 11,5% a P. vivax, el 2,4% a P. malariae y el 3,3% a P. ovale. El 64% de los ingresos tuvo lugar entre verano y otoño, patrón estacional atribuido a la especie P. falciparum. El coste anual fue de 1,2 millones de euros. Conclusiones: El paludismo ocasiona un número creciente de hospitalizaciones en España, situación que puede incrementarse debido al aumento de viajes a zonas endémicas

Background and objective: To calculate the incidence rates and direct costs, and to describe hospital admissions for malaria in Spain between 1999 and 2002. Material and method: Retrospective study of hospital admissions whose fundamental discharge diagnosis was malaria (codes CIE-9 from 084.0 to 084.9), using the national surveillance system for hospital data (CMBD) between 1999 and 2002. Results: 2,044 hospitalizations for malaria were recorded in Spain (incidence rate 1.3 cases per 100,000 inhabitants/year). 20.6% were children under the age of 15. We found an increasing linear trend in the incidence rate of malaria in the 0-4 age group (p < 0.001). 57.3% of malaria cases were due to Plasmodium falciparum, 11.5% to P. vivax, 2.4% to P. malariae and 3.3% to P. ovale. On the other hand, 64% of admissions occurred between summer and autumn, a seasonal pattern attributable to P. falciparum. The annual cost of the hospitalizations was e 1.2 million. Conclusions: There is an increasing number of hospitalizations in Spain due to malaria, which might be higher in coming years. This fact mainly owes to the population movements we are currently experiencing