Abstract: By detecting drugs or their metabolites in sewage, we can infer the drug consumption per capita. Wastewater-based epidemiology （WBE） has become an important field for monitoring the global illicit drug abuse and the public health situation. However, in this method, the uncertainty of population size is an important factor affecting the predicted results. Census results, the design capability of wastewater treatment plant and population biomarkers， these three means can provide population number for wastewater-based epidemiology. After a brief introduction of the characteristics of the three methods, this paper mainly focused on description of the selection criteria and classification of population biomarkers, the characteristics of typical population biomarkers, and potential population biomarkers. This paper provides reference for theoretical researches on population estimation using population biomarkers, and facilitating more accurate monitoring and early warning of the production and consumption of illegal drug and public health situation in the future.

Key words: wastewater-based epidemiology （WBE）, population estimation, population biomarker, monitoring of illicit drug abuse

摘要： 污水流行病学通过检测污水中的药物或其代谢物含量，进而反推人均药物消费量，该方法已成为全球监测非法药物的生产、消费以及公共卫生情况的重要手段。但在该方法中，人口数量的不确定性是影响推测结果的主要不确定因素。人口普查、污水处理厂设计能力和人口生物标志物这三种方法都可以为污水流行病学提供人口数量信息。通过对三种人口估算方法的特点简要描述，主要在人口生物标志物选择标准和分类、典型人口生物标志物的特点以及潜在人口生物标志物等方面进行了综述，为采用人口生物标志物进行人口数量估算的理论研究提供参考，以期在未来实现对非法药物的生产、消费以及公共卫生情况更准确的监测预警。

关键词: 污水流行病学, 人口估算, 人口生物标志物, 非法药物滥用监测