An air quality study by the Italian national research agency, Consiglio Nazionale di Ricerca (CNR), has revealed the presence of airborne cocaine in quantities high enough to be considered a pollutant. The initial discovery was made while conducting a broader study of the super-fine particles known to present health hazards in high traffic metro areas.

Levels of the drug were highest in the area around S. Lorenzo and La Sapienza University. Trace amounts of cannibinol (the principal active ingredient in marijuana and hashish), nicotine and caffeine were also found.

The study comes just days after health minister Livia Turco