The concentrations are so small that “even breathing would be 1000 years to consume the equivalent dose.
The air of Madrid and Barcelona contains molecules of cocaine, according to a research team comprised of researchers or Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC), the Center for Energy, Environment and Technology (CIEMAT) and the Catalan Institute for Research Water (ICRA) have developed a method to detect drug for particles in the air in the two cities.
Researchers have analyzed the airborne particles in suspension and have certified the presence of up to five classes of drugs in the two study areas of the cities. Although not clear in which of the two cities has been found more drugs, have indicated that the data “are not representative of the air in two cities, and these were reflected in very specific areas where expected greater consumption.
Thus, the researchers found up to 17 components belonging to five different drugs in both cities, but noted that most of the particles that were found are attributable to cocaine. Components were also found amphetamines, opiates, cannabinoids and lysergic acid.
Regarding the level of drug concentration in the air, clarified that he is “in such small quantities that even breathing is 1000 years come to consume the equivalent dose.
Finally, they say that what they want with this technique is to “provide tools to evaluate the drug enters the population quickly and anonymously.
Most weekends
In all samples of the tests were conducted in Madrid and Barcelona were found detectable levels of cocaine and its metabolite, benzoylecgonine, and a cannabinoid, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
The concentrations vary between 29 and 850 psicogramos (a psychograms is a billionth of a gram) per cubic meter. The concentrations were highest on weekends.
The study, published in the journal Analytical Chemistry in its online edition on May 8, has been carried out by installing a quartz micro fiber filters which collected particles suspended in the air.
Tags: Barcelona, Benzoylecgonine, Cannabinoid, Cannabinoids, Cocaine, Drugs, Lysergic acid, Madrid, Molecules of cocaine, Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)
