Nicosia: A relatively stable mean monthly alcohol consumption in the capital area of Cyprus, with daily consumption ranging from 0.31 to 10.60 mL/day/inh, has been revealed through the first wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) study for alcohol monitoring in Cyprus. This study was conducted by scientists from Nireas-International Water Research Centre, University of Cyprus, Paralimni and Agia Napa Sewage Treatment Plant, and Cyprus National Addictions Authority.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the study highlights significant variations in alcohol consumption between the capital and coastal areas, particularly during the summer months. In the coastal area, tourist activity was associated with nearly a tenfold increase in alcohol use compared to the winter months. This one-year study, authored by Magda Psichoudaki, Dimitrios Tzelios, Maria Savvidou, Christos Mina, Costas Michael, and Despo Fatta-Kassinos, aims to provide a systematic assessment of alcohol consumption in Cyprus through WBE.
This groundbreaking work employed daily influent wastewater samples from two wastewater treatment plants, one serving part of the capital city and the other a coastal touristic area. Samples were collected every three days for a year, and EtS (ethyl sulphate) was determined using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. The analysis suggests that alcohol consumption remains relatively stable throughout the year in Nicosia, whereas coastal areas experience significant spikes during peak tourist seasons.
Additionally, the study conducted four weekly campaigns to assess the presence of five stimulant illicit drugs. Results indicated a statistically significant association between alcohol and some stimulants, such as methamphetamine, MDMA, and ketamine. Although this association does not confirm direct causation, it suggests potential patterns of concurrent presence within wastewater samples.
Traditional methods for assessing alcohol consumption, like self-reported surveys and sales statistics, often face challenges such as biases and the inability to capture unregulated alcohol use. WBE, however, offers an objective and comprehensive measure of community-wide substance use. By comparing the capital city of Nicosia and the smaller, tourism-driven Agia Napa-Paralimni area, the study provides insights into how population density, tourism, and socio-economic conditions influence alcohol consumption patterns.
The findings of this study underscore the potential of wastewater analysis as a real-time monitoring tool for public health strategies. By identifying fluctuations related to tourism and social behaviors, the research contributes to a broader understanding of substance use dynamics, aiding evidence-based policymaking and targeted public health interventions.
Furthermore, by investigating the presence of stimulant illicit drugs, the study sheds light on their coexistence with alcohol consumption, offering a deeper understanding of consumption behaviors across the studied communities. This comprehensive analysis aims to inform public health strategies by uncovering temporal and spatial patterns of substance use.