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Environmental occurrence and ecological risks of psychoactive substances
Hangbiao Jin1, Dan Yang1, Pengfei Wu2
1College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310032, PR China.
Environment International
|November 9, 2021
Summary
Psychoactive substances like tobacco and cannabis are found in the environment. This review highlights research gaps in their analysis, occurrence, and ecological risk assessment, urging for improved environmental safety evaluations.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Ecotoxicology
- Analytical Chemistry
Background:
- Psychoactive substances are widespread environmental contaminants with known biological activity.
- Increasing reports suggest potential ecological risks associated with these compounds.
- Environmental investigations since the 1990s show progress but require modernization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current research on psychoactive substances in the environment.
- To identify deficiencies in analytical methods, occurrence data, and risk assessment.
- To motivate advancements in the field of environmental psychoactive substance research.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of analytical techniques for psychoactive substances.
- Analysis of environmental distribution data across various compartments.
- Evaluation of existing ecological risk assessment frameworks and toxicity data.
Main Results:
- Standardized analytical methods are lacking.
- Comprehensive occurrence data across environmental compartments is insufficient.
- Ecological risk assessment is hampered by a deficit of toxicity data.
Conclusions:
- Urgent need for standardized analytical methodologies.
- Expansion of occurrence literature is critical.
- Development of robust risk evaluation systems requires more toxicity data.
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