Psychotropic substances in ithe air: the state-of-art, experience and possible importance

The occurrence of psychotropic substances (PS) in the environment is well known. Most concern is given to nicotine, as typical emission of tobacco smoking, and with regards to illicit substances to waters, as portion of pharmaceuticals and drugs and output of their consume. By contrast, investigations dealing with air remain niche or curiosity researches. Till now extensive studies of airborne PS have been conducted overall in Italy and Europe (Spain, spottily in Serbia and Portugal), and some measurements in Latin America (Brazil, Chile, Mexico). Overall cocaine and cannabinoid compounds were studied, although attention was paid also to licit drugs (nicotine and caffeine) as well as to amphetamines, ecstasy and heroin. Cocaine was found almost in all cities investigated, the sole exceptions consisting of Pan?evo (Serbia) and Algiers (Algeria); there, traces of cannabinoids were found. Cocaine ranged from 0.01 to 500 pg/m3 but peaked up to 17 ng/m3. Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol was often found in winter but not in summer, since it easily decomposes; cannabinol is found as probable transformation product. Total cannabinoids ranged from 0 to 5 ng/m3. Heroin, when occurring, did not exceed a few pg. Nicotine and caffeine, although semi-volatile, were associated to airborne particulates as much as to reach 100 and 30 ng/m3, respectively. The extension of measurements to other world regions and the chance of indexing the drug consume through environmental monitoring appear as two promising issues, while investigations concerning possible sanitary impacts on population.