Amphetamine
Cities measured
87
Detected in
84 / 87
Highest
0.018 μg/L — Beirut
Overview
Amphetamine is a CNS stimulant controlled substance whose presence in water arises from illegal drug use (speed) and legal medical use (ADHD medications). EMCDDA WBE data show highest European amphetamine concentrations in Finland, Norway, and the Netherlands.
Health Relevance
At environmental trace concentrations, no pharmacological effect. Behavioural alterations observed in zebrafish at sub-μg/L concentrations.
Regulatory Limits
Drinking Water Directive 2020/2184
No regulatory limit.
Controversy & Contested Science
The global legal amphetamine market (Adderall, Vyvanse, dextroamphetamine for ADHD treatment) is growing rapidly. US amphetamine prescriptions increased 700% between 1993 and 2007. The environmental footprint of the legal stimulant market — where pharmaceutical manufacturing standards prohibit environmental release but patient excretion is entirely unregulated — has received little regulatory attention compared to illicit drug pollution.