Research
Our nascent team has pioneered WBE research since 2010 to become an international player with strong collaborative industry, government and community links.
Lifestyle and community habits
WBE is an innovative epidemiological approach that enables assessment of illicit drug use, lifestyle chemicals (e.g. alcohol and tobacco) and wider community habits (e.g. pharma compliance or down-the-drain-disposal of pharmaceuticals). Examples of work done in the Centre include:
- IIIicit drug use
- Season driven community-wide pain treatment
- Impact of restriction measures during COVID pandemic on lifestyle choices, pain treatment, non-communicable disease prevalence and personal care products (e.g. disinfectants) use
- down-the-drain disposal of unused medicines, and are captured below.
Assessment of restriction measures implemented during COVID pandemics on community lifestyle choices via wastewater-based epidemiology
This study examined the impact of COVID-19 on lifestyle habits and community wellbeing in two towns (Paulton, Radstock) and two cities (Bath, Bristol) in the UK, over two years, using wastewater-based epidemiology. By monitoring illicit drugs, legal stimulants, abused pharmaceuticals, and pain medication usage, and correlating findings with pandemic measures such as lockdowns and movement restrictions, the research revealed significant trends: cocaine use decreased by 36% during the first lockdown, while amphetamine (+8%), cocaine (+39%), and ketamine (+70%) use increased after the third lockdown when restrictions eased. Caffeine consumption fell by 39% post-third lockdown, nicotine intake remained stable, and the use of pain medications linked to sports injuries (naproxen, diclofenac) declined due to reduced access to sports facilities. Conducted in collaboration with Wessex Water and funded by EPSRC and other partners, the study highlights how wastewater analysis can track community behavioural changes during a pandemic.
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Diagnosing down-the drain disposal of unused pharmaceuticals at a river catchment level: Unrecognized Sources of Environmental Contamination That Require Nontechnological Solutions
Down-the-drain disposal of pharmaceuticals remains an overlooked and unrecognised source of environmental contamination that requires non-technological ‘at-source’ solutions.
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