Drugs of abuse are problematic, not only because of the widespread problem of drug abuse, but also because pharmaceuticals may not be removed by wastewater treatment and can enter the environment. Some of the most commonly abused drugs are opioid-based compounds such as heroin, morphine, hydrocodone and hydromorphone. Previous research has been conducted to develop Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) methods for detecting hydrocodone and oxycodone in wastewater. The primary goal of this study focuses on developing quantification LC-MS/MS methods for heroin and morphine and providing “real time” data regarding the abundance of these opioid compounds in urban wastewater. Wastewater grab samples were collected from influent, effulent (pre-UV treatment), and effluent (post-UV) basins at the Cookeville Wastewater Treatment Plant. In addition to determining concentration of heroin and morphine in wastewater, four rounds of samples were collected throughout the year to determine seasonal variations in the concentration of opioids.

Detection and quantification of various opioid compounds in urban wastewater by utilization of liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

251st National Meeting (2016)

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