Study Finds Cocaine, Pot in Rome's Air
Thursday, May 31, 2007
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(05-31) 15:15 PDT ROME, Italy (AP) --
Researchers may have figured out what makes la vita so dolce in Rome. A report from Italy's National Research Council released Thursday found that there are traces of cocaine and cannabis in the air of the Eternal City.
The institute made the discovery during a study of toxic substances in the air of Rome, Taranto, in the heel of boot-shaped Italy, as well as in Algiers. The results found that in Rome, there were traces of cocaine and cannabis — as well as nicotine, caffeine and benzopirene, which is commonly released in cigarette smoke and auto emissions.
"The highest concentrations of cocaine were found in the center of Rome and especially in the area of the University of La Sapienza," said Dr. Angelo Cecinato, who led the investigation.
Researchers can't say for sure why the high concentrations were registered in those locations, but Cecinato stressed that the findings didn't necessarily mean that cocaine and cannabis are more heavily used there.
The report said the maximum concentration of cocaine in Rome — 0.1 nanograms per cubic meter — was five times less than the legal limit for toxic substances in the air. Nevertheless, researchers said even the small amount was reason for concern.
There were small traces of the drugs found in Taranto and none in Algiers, the researchers said.
Interesting, but random. This was the entire paper. As unique as this article is, it seems rather open-ended. I mean...was there a purpose to it aside from simple pointing out the fact that there are and can be drugs in the air? Is it trying to stimulate a public response to try to "crack down on drug use"? It just seems...pointless. Not to mention the fact that the article itself states that just because there is a higher level of cocaine in the air in certain areas does not mean it is being used excessively in those areas. Okay...so...?
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Maybe its trying to say something like, when people go there for an uplifting or religious experience and they claimed to feel this experience mentally as well as physically that these people are really getting doped up on the drugs that circulate the air? Thats what i think its trying to say in a more politically correct way.
hahaha, first i laughed, but then i realized, oh my, that is probably right! =P
"We shall not cease from exploration and the end of all our exporing will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time." --T.S. Eliot
that's a very good point...i deinitely agree that that could have possibly been the point of reference to writing the article in the first place. but it would be a VERY indirect politically correct point to make in the article that was published. there was no mention of religion or religious anything in the entire passage, and they made sure to point out that the levels of the drugs in the air were less than 5 times what is legal to consume in Italy (which is basically nothing anyway). i don't know, maybe i'm arguing a mute point. i really appreciate your insight, i just can't see how they communicated that in any way, shape, or form, politically correct or not. :o/
i find a lot of short news articles don't really have "a point" but are just informing people of random events....maybe when there are more conclusive findings/research, they'll use this article as a jumping off point for more in-depth coverage, if there's anything to cover that is.
--stacie
that makes sense. i could definitely see that being the case. i suppose i just always like to get something meaty out of the things that i read. maybe my expectations should fluctuate a little more. thanks :o)
no problem! and yeah, i also prefer it when the articles i read have a point, but i also love learning anything and everything so i read the seemingly pointless stuff too, just in case. =P
--stacie