We also observed various trends for other pharmaceuticals identified in our analysis (Table , Table , Figures ). Some of these trends are likely related to pandemic-induced changes in behaviour, while others are not. For example, tolycaine, a local anaesthetic used in dental injections , decreased in the sludge samples, which corresponds to a decrease in dental appointments during the shutdown . Pramocaine, a mild anaesthetic used in over-the-counter creams , had increasing levels in sludge which is more likely due to seasonal changes in exposure to insect bites and poison ivy than to pandemic related changes. Diphenhydramine, an allergy medication, also increased during the study period (Table , Table ).