Calculation of pollution loadings and preliminary estimation of alcohol consumption in Hanoi

Abstract

Alcohol consumption is a cultural practice in many countries around the world, including Vietnam. Estimating alcohol consumption is essential for making public health recommendations. Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) is a tool that can help estimate alcohol consumption within a community based on information such as the concentration of the alcohol biomarker ethyl sulfate (EtS) in wastewater, the population residing in the area, and the wastewater flow rate. This study determined the flow rate of the Kim Nguu River and analyzed its water quality in November 2023. The results indicate that the water quality of the Kim Nguu River is poor, with daily loads of approximately 21.3 tons of COD, 9.6 tons of BOD5, 17.59 tons of TSS, 5.35 tons of TN, and 0.96 tons of TP. Based on EtS concentrations referenced from another study, the estimated alcohol consumption in Hanoi is approximately 2.61±0.33 mL/person/day. These findings contribute to the recommendations for wastewater treatment and environmental pollution reduction in Hanoi, while also providing a preliminary estimate of alcohol consumption among the city's residents, which can inform public health recommendations. Keywords: Alcohol, wastewater, pollution, loads, Hanoi