About this Research Topic
Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) has been widely known as a critical tool in monitoring substance use and chemical exposure, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. This innovative approach offers rapid and precise spatial-temporal insights into chemical usage, encompassing both illicit and legal drugs, alcohol, tobacco, and personal care products across various population scales. The approach harnesses the power of biomarkers – drugs and their metabolites – excreted and flushed into urban sewer networks, enabling analysis from raw wastewater samples. In the post-COVID era, there is a compelling need to expand the application of WBE across a variety of communities, spanning from local neighborhoods to entire countries. This expansion should involve the comprehensive assessment of both chemical substances and biological organisms, contributing to a more robust understanding of public health and human well-being.
The primary objective of this Research Topic is to concentrate on the utilization of the WBE approach in understanding substance use patterns and chemical exposure. The research goals encompass a broad perspective, including the development of new analytical methods for detecting emerging biomarkers, evaluating the stability of existing biomarkers, estimating new correction factors, and assessing new biomarkers. This comprehensive approach aims to advance our understanding of WBE's potential applications and enhance its effectiveness in a variety of contexts.
The focus of this Research Topic is monitoring emerging substance use and chemical exposure for wastewater-based epidemiology. We welcome contributions addressing the current research progress on WBE concerning:
• monitoring of substance abuse
• monitoring emerging contaminants
• new biomarkers for WBE
• new applications of WBE
• evaluation of methodology uncertainties
Studies that focus on public health issues without a foundation in environmental science fall outside the scope of Frontiers in Environmental Science and will be re-directed if deemed out of scope for the journal.
The primary objective of this Research Topic is to concentrate on the utilization of the WBE approach in understanding substance use patterns and chemical exposure. The research goals encompass a broad perspective, including the development of new analytical methods for detecting emerging biomarkers, evaluating the stability of existing biomarkers, estimating new correction factors, and assessing new biomarkers. This comprehensive approach aims to advance our understanding of WBE's potential applications and enhance its effectiveness in a variety of contexts.
The focus of this Research Topic is monitoring emerging substance use and chemical exposure for wastewater-based epidemiology. We welcome contributions addressing the current research progress on WBE concerning:
• monitoring of substance abuse
• monitoring emerging contaminants
• new biomarkers for WBE
• new applications of WBE
• evaluation of methodology uncertainties
Studies that focus on public health issues without a foundation in environmental science fall outside the scope of Frontiers in Environmental Science and will be re-directed if deemed out of scope for the journal.
Keywords: wastewater analysis, biomarker, emerging substance use, chemical exposure
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
