Estimation of health risk associated with alcohol consumption in Debrecen and other European cities using the results of wastewater analysis

Abstract

This research essay evaluates the utility of wastewater-based epidemiology as a public health surveillance tool by estimating population-level alcohol consumption. By measuring the specific ethanol metabolite, ethyl sulfate, in wastewater, the alcohol consumption in Debrecen was back-calculated. These local results were then compared against data from various European cities compiled through a systematic literature review. To assess community-level health risks, these consumption figures were paired with Monte Carlo simulations to determine the Margin of Exposure across the different urban populations. The results of the analysis highlight considerable spatial variations in alcohol consumption while emphasizing a consistently elevated public health risk across all evaluated settlements.