Researchers at UC Merced are using wastewater samples to measure nicotine use across parts of the Central Valley, a pilot project they say offers a way to track smoking trends alongside traditional surveys.
The project analyzed wastewater samples collected at treatment plants in Merced, Modesto and Woodland, as well as on the UC Merced campus.
“We know this stuff works, and we know this stuff works in other states. We know it works in Europe, and as they’ve stated, we’re the first to actually, as we know of that, do this nicotine testing in wastewater in California,” said Jonathan Chavez, a civil and environmental engineering PHD student at UC Merced. “We want to inform these public health communities that our own data, that they can use to properly be able to give supplies or any proper information to the public that is beneficial for them.”…