9.3.1 Cocaine Metabolism
Cocaine is a powerful stimulant and addictive drug that has smoking, intranasal and
intravenous routes of administration. The addicts usually mix street cocaine with
diluents which sometimes cause poisoning. The cocaine is metabolized spontaneously in the presence of hepatic esterase and pseudocholinesterase to produce
ecgonine methyl ester. Cocaine under non-enzymatic hydrolysis at pH 6
demethylates and converts to its main metabolite, benzoylecgonine (and this is
detected in urine). The most toxic norcaine is produced through N-demethylation;
Table 9.5 Abused pharmaceuticals in wastewaters
Analytes
Matrix
Influent
(ng L
À1
)
E f fluent (ng L
À1
)
Surface water
(ng L
À1
)
Cocaine
5 STPs, Spain
225.0
47
10
5 STPs, Belgium 22–678
–
1.2–26
37 STPs,
Belgium
32–753
–
–
3 rivers, Italy
–
–
0.3–44
5 STPs, Ireland
489 Æ 117
25–248 Æ 20
0–33 Æ 11
Eastern Spain
370–1000.24 30–560
–
30 STPs,
Belgium
09–683
–
–
2 STPs, Italy
218.4–421.4
0.9–10.7 Æ 3.2
–
4 STPs; River Po 42–120
–
–
42 STPs, NE
Spain
04–4700
01–100
–
Barcelona,
Spain
2.40
–
–
Benzoylecgonine 5 STPs, Spain
2307.0
–
111
5 STPs, Belgium 82–1898
928
44–191
37 STPs,
Belgium
46–2258
–
–
3 rivers, Italy
2.2–183
–
–
5 STPs, Ireland,
UK
290 Æ 11
22
–
Eastern Spain
150–1000.5
22 Æ 4–31 Æ 18
–
30 STPs,
Belgium
37–1550
6.0–7.9
–
2 STPs, Italy
547.4–197.2
–
–
4 STPs; River Po 420–750
0.92–100.3 Æ 28.6 –
42 STPs, NE
Spain
09–7500
–
–
Barcelona,
Spain
5.24
01–1500
–
12 STPs,
Germany
65 Æ 5
7 7Æ 9
7 1
Note: STPs ¼ sewage treatment plants
9 Fate of Pharmaceutical Drugs and Metabolites in the Environment
285
Cocaine is a powerful stimulant and addictive drug that has smoking, intranasal and
intravenous routes of administration. The addicts usually mix street cocaine with
diluents which sometimes cause poisoning. The cocaine is metabolized spontaneously in the presence of hepatic esterase and pseudocholinesterase to produce
ecgonine methyl ester. Cocaine under non-enzymatic hydrolysis at pH 6
demethylates and converts to its main metabolite, benzoylecgonine (and this is
detected in urine). The most toxic norcaine is produced through N-demethylation;
Table 9.5 Abused pharmaceuticals in wastewaters
Analytes
Matrix
Influent
(ng L
À1
)
E f fluent (ng L
À1
)
Surface water
(ng L
À1
)
Cocaine
5 STPs, Spain
225.0
47
10
5 STPs, Belgium 22–678
–
1.2–26
37 STPs,
Belgium
32–753
–
–
3 rivers, Italy
–
–
0.3–44
5 STPs, Ireland
489 Æ 117
25–248 Æ 20
0–33 Æ 11
Eastern Spain
370–1000.24 30–560
–
30 STPs,
Belgium
09–683
–
–
2 STPs, Italy
218.4–421.4
0.9–10.7 Æ 3.2
–
4 STPs; River Po 42–120
–
–
42 STPs, NE
Spain
04–4700
01–100
–
Barcelona,
Spain
2.40
–
–
Benzoylecgonine 5 STPs, Spain
2307.0
–
111
5 STPs, Belgium 82–1898
928
44–191
37 STPs,
Belgium
46–2258
–
–
3 rivers, Italy
2.2–183
–
–
5 STPs, Ireland,
UK
290 Æ 11
22
–
Eastern Spain
150–1000.5
22 Æ 4–31 Æ 18
–
30 STPs,
Belgium
37–1550
6.0–7.9
–
2 STPs, Italy
547.4–197.2
–
–
4 STPs; River Po 420–750
0.92–100.3 Æ 28.6 –
42 STPs, NE
Spain
09–7500
–
–
Barcelona,
Spain
5.24
01–1500
–
12 STPs,
Germany
65 Æ 5
7 7Æ 9
7 1
Note: STPs ¼ sewage treatment plants
9 Fate of Pharmaceutical Drugs and Metabolites in the Environment
285