PNNL

Abstract

There is very little information available on the presence and persistence of fentanyl in the environment. Although the origins of the opiate are well identified because they follow the same pathways of other drug-related environmental contaminants, the downstream effects of fentanyl in the water supply and its retention in soil are less understood. Few studies have characterized the presence of fentanyl in complex environmental samples such as soil, and even fewer have identified potential degradation products and possible hazards that may result from environmental exposure and degradation. Various studies have determined that trace levels of fentanyl can be found in a variety of environments. Additional data suggests that fentanyl may preferentially partition into soils and persist over time. However, chronic effects from low level fentanyl exposure are currently unknown, and this lack of data highlights the need to improve our understanding of fentanyl persistence, degradation, and toxicity within the environment.