Use of molecular imprinting polymers (MIPs) for solid-phase extraction (MISPE) of marijuana, cocaine (and its metabolites) in domestic sewage from ETE Parque Andreense (Santo André, SP) by separation techniques with DAD and mass spectrometry detection

• Grant number: 10/20762-4
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: February 01, 2012
• End date: January 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Pharmacology - Toxicology
• Principal Investigator: Elizabete Campos de Lima
• Grantee: Elizabete Campos de Lima
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas (CCNH). Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC). Ministério da Educação (Brasil). Santo André , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Emerging pollutants are defined as organic compounds of various origins can be found in environmental and biological matrices and are not controlled by regulatory agencie. It presents a potential risk to human health and the environment. The World Drug Report released in August 2010 in Brazil shows that cocaine is the second most used illegal drug after cannabis. These illicit drugs are considered pseudo-persistent in the environment and are therefore considered as emerging pollutants of interest. After consumption of the drug in its pure form and its metabolites are eliminated via urine. This material is taken to sewage treatment plants and many times that sewage treatment is not effective and can eliminate the drug. The treated sewage is often released in the beds of natural waters (rivers, streams, etc..) Contaminating these water resources are drying up. The toxicity and the cumulative effect of these substances in ecosystems have not been studied. The study of the distribution of illicit drugs in different environments is of great scientific interest. The ubiquity of different target compounds is directly related to local patterns of drug use. The measured values of illicit drugs in wastewater can provide real-time data to estimate drug abuse at the community level where is located the sewage treatment plant and water. Based on these facts the aim of this proposal is the determination of cocaine and marijuana (and respective metabolites) using solid-phase pre-concentration systems with molecular imprinting polymers (MISPE) in sewage samples of WWTP Parque Andreende in Santo André using electrophoretic and chromatographic techniques hyphenated with different detection systems (DAD and MS). The number of individuals involved in illicit drug use associated with increased violence, unemployment, family problems, social studies and the lack of information about the problem of drug use in the city of Santo André were motivating factors for this work . In this context, the chemical analysis for verification of cocaine, benzoylecgonine and cocaethylene in domestic sewage will provide information for prevention and control measures can be planned and carried out by both local users and monitor water resources. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

FERNANDES, LUCIANA S.; HOMEM-DE-MELLO, PAULA; DE LIMA, ELIZABETE C.; HONORIO, KATHIA M.. Rational design of molecularly imprinted polymers for recognition of cannabinoids: A structure-property relationship study. EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL, v. 71, p. 364-371, OCT 2015. (10/20762-4, 12/09954-4)