Cocaine is in the air

If you're visiting Rome in the near future, be warned: apparently you'll have to contend with free-floating cocaine, marijuana, tobacco and caffeine in the air, according to a study that is "the first in the world to show the presence of particles of cocaine suspended in the atmosphere of the city."

The concentration of cocaine in Rome's atmosphere was only 0.1 nanogrammes (1 nanogramme is one billionth of a gramme) per cubic metre at its height during winter months, the researchers said. But the conclusions were worrying for public health.

"It is well documented that even small concentrations in the air of these pollutants can seriously damage health," said Dr. Ivo Allegrini of the CNR's Institute for Atmospheric Pollution.

Did you hear that? It is well documented. I leave it as an exercise to the reader to dig up said documentation as part of your standard travel planning research. But it shouldn't come as any surprise, for back in 2005, researchers discovered:

The levels of cocaine residue in flowing water in Italy suggest that many more people take the drug than official national estimates previously suggested. A study published today in the open access journal Environmental Health reports on a new tool used to measure the levels of a cocaine by-product excreted in urine, and present in rivers and in flowing sewage water. This new method provides evidence that about 40,000 doses of cocaine are consumed every day in the Po valley - according to official estimates for this area, only 15,000 users admit to taking the drug at least once a month.

All the more reason to book your flights now, folks!