1
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Essalmi S, Lotfi S, BaQais A, Saadi M, Arab M, Ait Ahsaine H. Design and application of metal organic frameworks for heavy metals adsorption in water: a review. RSC Adv 2024; 14:9365-9390. [PMID: 38510487 PMCID: PMC10951820 DOI: 10.1039/d3ra08815d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
The growing apprehension surrounding heavy metal pollution in both environmental and industrial contexts has spurred extensive research into adsorption materials aimed at efficient remediation. Among these materials, Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) have risen as versatile and promising contenders due to their adjustable properties, expansive surface areas, and sustainable characteristics, compared to traditional options like activated carbon and zeolites. This exhaustive review delves into the synthesis techniques, structural diversity, and adsorption capabilities of MOFs for the effective removal of heavy metals. The article explores the evolution of MOF design and fabrication methods, highlighting pivotal parameters influencing their adsorption performance, such as pore size, surface area, and the presence of functional groups. In this perspective review, a thorough analysis of various MOFs is presented, emphasizing the crucial role of ligands and metal nodes in adapting MOF properties for heavy metal removal. Moreover, the review delves into recent advancements in MOF-based composites and hybrid materials, shedding light on their heightened adsorption capacities, recyclability, and potential for regeneration. Challenges for optimization, regeneration efficiency and minimizing costs for large-scale applications are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Essalmi
- Laboratoire de Chimie Appliquée des Matériaux, Centre des Sciences des Matériaux, Faculty of Sciences, MohammedV University in Rabat Morocco
- Université de Toulon, AMU, CNRS, IM2NP CS 60584 Toulon Cedex 9 France
| | - S Lotfi
- Laboratoire de Chimie Appliquée des Matériaux, Centre des Sciences des Matériaux, Faculty of Sciences, MohammedV University in Rabat Morocco
| | - A BaQais
- Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University P. O. Box 84428 Riyadh 11671 Saudi Arabia
| | - M Saadi
- Laboratoire de Chimie Appliquée des Matériaux, Centre des Sciences des Matériaux, Faculty of Sciences, MohammedV University in Rabat Morocco
| | - M Arab
- Université de Toulon, AMU, CNRS, IM2NP CS 60584 Toulon Cedex 9 France
| | - H Ait Ahsaine
- Laboratoire de Chimie Appliquée des Matériaux, Centre des Sciences des Matériaux, Faculty of Sciences, MohammedV University in Rabat Morocco
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2
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Gu Z, Han J, Zhang L, Wang H, Luo X, Meng X, Zhang Y, Niu X, Lan Y, Wu S, Cao J, Lichtfouse E. Unanswered questions on the airborne transmission of COVID-19. ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS 2023; 21:725-739. [PMID: 36628267 PMCID: PMC9816530 DOI: 10.1007/s10311-022-01557-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Policies and measures to control pandemics are often failing. While biological factors controlling transmission are usually well explored, little is known about the environmental drivers of transmission and infection. For instance, respiratory droplets and aerosol particles are crucial vectors for the airborne transmission of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, the causation agent of the coronavirus 2019 pandemic (COVID-19). Once expectorated, respiratory droplets interact with atmospheric particulates that influence the viability and transmission of the novel coronavirus, yet there is little knowledge on this process or its consequences on virus transmission and infection. Here we review the effects of atmospheric particulate properties, vortex zones, and air pollution on virus survivability and transmission. We found that particle size, chemical constituents, electrostatic charges, and the moisture content of airborne particles can have notable effects on virus transmission, with higher survival generally associated with larger particles, yet some viruses are better preserved on small particles. Some chemical constituents and surface-adsorbed chemical species may damage peptide bonds in viral proteins and impair virus stability. Electrostatic charges and water content of atmospheric particulates may affect the adherence of virion particles and possibly their viability. In addition, vortex zones and human thermal plumes are major environmental factors altering the aerodynamics of buoyant particles in air, which can strongly influence the transport of airborne particles and the transmission of associated viruses. Insights into these factors may provide explanations for the widely observed positive correlations between COVID-19 infection and mortality with air pollution, of which particulate matter is a common constituent that may have a central role in the airborne transmission of the novel coronavirus. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10311-022-01557-z.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaolin Gu
- School of Human Settlements and Civil Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710049 People’s Republic of China
| | - Jie Han
- School of Human Settlements and Civil Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710049 People’s Republic of China
| | - Liyuan Zhang
- School of Water and Environment, Chang’an University, Xi’an, 710064 People’s Republic of China
| | - Hongliang Wang
- Health Science Center, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710049 People’s Republic of China
| | - Xilian Luo
- School of Human Settlements and Civil Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710049 People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiangzhao Meng
- School of Human Settlements and Civil Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710049 People’s Republic of China
| | - Yue Zhang
- School of Architecture, Chang’an University, Xi’an, 710064 People’s Republic of China
| | - Xinyi Niu
- School of Human Settlements and Civil Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710049 People’s Republic of China
| | - Yang Lan
- School of Public Health, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710049 People’s Republic of China
| | - Shaowei Wu
- School of Public Health, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710049 People’s Republic of China
| | - Junji Cao
- Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100029 People’s Republic of China
| | - Eric Lichtfouse
- State Key Laboratory of Multiphase Flow in Power Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710049 Shaanxi People’s Republic of China
- CNRS, IRD, INRAE, CEREGE, Aix-Marseille University, 13100, Aix-en-Provence, France
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3
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Paital B, Das K. Spike in pollution to ignite the bursting of COVID-19 second wave is more dangerous than spike of SAR-CoV-2 under environmental ignorance in long term: a review. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:85595-85611. [PMID: 34390474 PMCID: PMC8363867 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-15915-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/07/2021] [Indexed: 04/15/2023]
Abstract
Specific areas in many countries such as Italy, India, China, Brazil, Germany and the USA have witnessed that air pollution increases the risk of COVID-19 severity as particulate matters transmit the virus SARS-CoV-2 and causes high expression of ACE2, the receptor for spike protein of the virus, especially under exposure to NO2, SO2 and NOx emissions. Wastewater-based epidemiology of COVID-19 is also noticed in many countries such as the Netherlands, the USA, Paris, France, Australia, Spain, Italy, Switzerland China, India and Hungary. Soil is also found to be contaminated by the RNA of SARS-CoV-2. Activities including defecation and urination by infected people contribute to the source for soil contamination, while release of wastewater containing cough, urine and stool of infected people from hospitals and home isolation contributes to the source of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in both water and soil. Detection of the virus early before the outbreak of the disease supports this fact. Based on this information, spike in pollution is found to be more dangerous in long-term than the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2. It is because the later one may be controlled in future within months or few years by vaccination and with specific drugs, but the former one provides base for many diseases including the current and any future pandemics. Although such predictions and the positive effects of SARS-CoV-2 on environment was already forecasted after the first wave of COVID-19, the learnt lesson as spotlight was not considered as one of the measures for which 2nd wave has quickly hit the world.
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Grants
- ECR/2016/001984 Science and Engineering Research Board
- 1188/ST, Bhubaneswar, dated 01.03.17, ST- (Bio)-02/2017 Department of Biotechnology, DST, Govt. of Odisha, IN
- 36 Seed/2019/Philosophy-1, letter number 941/69/OSHEC/2019, dt 22.11.19 Department of Higher Education, Govt. of Odisha, IN
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Affiliation(s)
- Biswaranjan Paital
- Redox Regulation Laboratory, Department of Zoology, College of Basic Science and Humanities, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar, 751003, India.
| | - Kabita Das
- Department of Philosophy, Utkal University, Bhubaneswar, India
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4
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Han J, He S, Shao W, Wang C, Qiao L, Zhang J, Yang L. Municipal solid waste, an overlooked route of transmission for the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2: a review. ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS 2022; 21:81-95. [PMID: 36124224 PMCID: PMC9476438 DOI: 10.1007/s10311-022-01512-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Municipal solid waste could potentially transmit human pathogens during the collection, transport, handling, and disposal of waste. Workers and residents living in the vicinity of municipal solid waste collection or disposal sites are particularly susceptible, especially unprotected workers and waste pickers. Recent evidence suggests that municipal solid waste-mediated transmission can spread the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) to humans. Such risks, however, have received little attention from public health authorities so far and may present an under-investigated transmission route for SARS-CoV-2 and other infectious agents during pandemics. In this review, we provide a retrospective analysis of the challenges, practices, and policies on municipal solid waste management during the current pandemic, and scrutinize the recent case reports on the municipal solid waste-mediated transmission of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We found abrupt changes in quantity and composition of municipal solid wastes during the COVID-19. We detail pathways of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and other pathogens carried on municipal solid wastes. We disclose evidence of pathogenic transmission by municipal solid waste to humans and animals. Assessments of current policies, gaps, and voluntary actions taken on municipal solid waste handling and disposal in the current pandemic are presented. We propose risk mitigation strategies and research priorities to alleviate the risk for humans and vectors exposed to municipal solid wastes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Han
- School of Human Settlements and Civil Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710049 People’s Republic of China
| | - Shanshan He
- School of Human Settlements and Civil Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710049 People’s Republic of China
| | - Wenyuan Shao
- School of Life Sciences and Technology, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710049 People’s Republic of China
| | - Chaoqi Wang
- School of Human Settlements and Civil Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710049 People’s Republic of China
| | - Longkai Qiao
- School of Human Settlements and Civil Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710049 People’s Republic of China
| | - Jiaqi Zhang
- School of Human Settlements and Civil Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710049 People’s Republic of China
| | - Ling Yang
- School of Engineering and Built Environment, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD 4111 Australia
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5
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Sheikhnejad Y, Aghamolaei R, Fallahpour M, Motamedi H, Moshfeghi M, Mirzaei PA, Bordbar H. Airborne and aerosol pathogen transmission modeling of respiratory events in buildings: An overview of computational fluid dynamics. SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND SOCIETY 2022; 79:103704. [PMID: 35070645 PMCID: PMC8767784 DOI: 10.1016/j.scs.2022.103704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Revised: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/15/2022] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Pathogen droplets released from respiratory events are the primary means of dispersion and transmission of the recent pandemic of COVID-19. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has been widely employed as a fast, reliable, and inexpensive technique to support decision-making and to envisage mitigatory protocols. Nonetheless, the airborne pathogen droplet CFD modeling encounters limitations due to the oversimplification of involved physics and the intensive computational demand. Moreover, uncertainties in the collected clinical data required to simulate airborne and aerosol transport such as droplets' initial velocities, tempo-spatial profiles, release angle, and size distributions are broadly reported in the literature. There is a noticeable inconsistency around these collected data amongst many reported studies. This study aims to review the capabilities and limitations associated with CFD modeling. Setting the CFD models needs experimental data of respiratory flows such as velocity, particle size, and number distribution. Therefore, this paper briefly reviews the experimental techniques used to measure the characteristics of airborne pathogen droplet transmissions together with their limitations and reported uncertainties. The relevant clinical data related to pathogen transmission needed for postprocessing of CFD data and translating them to safety measures are also reviewed. Eventually, the uncertainty and inconsistency of the existing clinical data available for airborne pathogen CFD analysis are scurtinized to pave a pathway toward future studies ensuing these identified gaps and limitations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yahya Sheikhnejad
- Centre for Mechanical Technology and Automation, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Universidade de Aveiro, Aveiro 3810-193, Portugal
- PICadvanced SA, Creative Science Park, Via do Conhecimento, Ed. Central, Ílhavo 3830-352, Portugal
| | - Reihaneh Aghamolaei
- School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Computing, Dublin City University, Dublin 9, Whitehall, Ireland
| | - Marzieh Fallahpour
- School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Computing, Dublin City University, Dublin 9, Whitehall, Ireland
| | - Hamid Motamedi
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tarbiat Modares University, Iran
| | - Mohammad Moshfeghi
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sogang University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Parham A Mirzaei
- Architecture & Built Environment Department, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, UK
| | - Hadi Bordbar
- School of Engineering, Aalto University, Finland
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6
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Ishmatov A. "SARS-CoV-2 is transmitted by particulate air pollution": Misinterpretations of statistical data, skewed citation practices, and misuse of specific terminology spreading the misconception. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 204:112116. [PMID: 34562486 PMCID: PMC8489301 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.112116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Revised: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
In epidemiology, there are still outdated myths associated with the spread of respiratory infections. Recently, we have witnessed the origination of a new misconception, to the effect that SARS-CoV-2 is transmitted in the open air by way of particulate air pollution (atmospheric particulate matter (PM)). There is no evidence to support the idea behind this misconception. Nevertheless, more and more people are involved in animated debate and the number of studies concerning atmospheric PM as a carrier of SARS-CoV-2 is growing rapidly. In this work, the origin of the misconception was investigated, and the published papers which have contributed to the spread of this myth were analyzed. The results show that the following factors lie behind the origin and spread of the misconception: a) The specific terminology is not always clearly defined or consistently used by scientists. In particular, the terms 'particulate matter', 'atmospheric aerosol particles', 'air pollutants', and 'atmospheric aerosols' need to be clarified, and besides they are often equated to 'infectious aerosols', 'virus-bearing aerosols', 'bio-aerosols', 'virus-laden particles', 'respiratory aerosol/droplets', and 'droplet nuclei'. b) Authors misinterpret statistical data and information from other sources. Interpretation of the correlation between PM levels and the increasing incidence and severity of COVID-19 infection, is often changed from "PM may reflect the indirect action of certain atmospheric conditions that maintain infectious nuclei suspended for prolonged periods, parameters that also act on atmospheric pollutants" to "PM could cause an increase in infectious droplets/aerosols containing SARS-CoV-2." This is a dramatic change to the meaning. Moreover, it is often not taken into account that PM may reflect activities in areas with high population density and this population density at the same time contributes to the spread COVID-19. c) Skewed citation practices. Many authors cite a hypothetical conclusion from an original study, then other authors cite the papers of these authors as primary sources. This practice leads to the effect that there are many witnesses to a 'phenomenon' that did not ever occur. Thus, the terminology used in interdisciplinary communications should be more nuanced and defined precisely. Authors should be more careful when citing unconfirmed data (and hypotheses) as well as in interpreting statistical data so as to avoid confusion and spreading false information. This is especially important now in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Ishmatov
- Research Institute of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Timakova St., Bild. 2., Novosibirsk, 630117, Russian Federation; Kazan Federal University, Kremlyovskaya St. 18, Kazan, 420008, Russian Federation; Togliatti State University, Belorusskaya St. 14, Togliatti, 445020, Russian Federation.
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7
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Wang C, Han J. Will the COVID-19 pandemic end with the Delta and Omicron variants? ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS 2022; 20:2215-2225. [PMID: 35069059 PMCID: PMC8760078 DOI: 10.1007/s10311-021-01369-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Chaoqi Wang
- School of Human Settlements and Environmental Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710049 People’s Republic of China
| | - Jie Han
- School of Human Settlements and Environmental Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710049 People’s Republic of China
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8
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Han J. Barcoding drug information to recycle unwanted household pharmaceuticals: a review. ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS 2022; 20:2989-3003. [PMID: 35496467 PMCID: PMC9043091 DOI: 10.1007/s10311-022-01420-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Huge quantities of unwanted pharmaceuticals are left in households, notably as a consequence of the rising drug demand caused by improved healthcare and the aging population. Unwanted pharmaceuticals may thus easily end up polluting ecosystems upon disposal. This pharmaceutical waste issue has been aggravated during the coronavirus disease pandemic (COVID-19) by excess prescription and panic buying. Unwanted household pharmaceuticals are normally collected by owners and volunteers, then incinerated in centralized facilities, yet with low efficiency during the COVID-19 lockdowns. Most pharmaceuticals could be recycled because they are rather stable, however there is actually no sustainable strategy to manage unwanted pharmaceuticals in a pandemic. Here I review the management of unwanted pharmaceuticals in households during the pandemic, with emphasis on drug take-back programs, waste minimization and recycling efforts. Reducing pharamaceutical waste could be done by informing people on what to do with unwanted pharmaceutical products; using machine-readable codes for automatic sorting; and applying existing techniques for recovery of active pharmaceutical ingredients for reuse. I propose a new strategy where owners sort their unwanted pharmaceuticals and submit information online. This will generate coded mailing labels that allow the owner to separate pharmaceuticals into categories such as opened, unused, expired, and non-expired. Once collected by recycling facilities and manufacturers, active ingredients will be extracted to create new pharmaceuticals which will be recycled to other patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Han
- School of Human Settlements and Civil Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710049 People’s Republic of China
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9
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Roviello V, Gilhen-Baker M, Vicidomini C, Roviello GN. Forest-bathing and physical activity as weapons against COVID-19: a review. ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS 2022; 20:131-140. [PMID: 34566548 PMCID: PMC8453031 DOI: 10.1007/s10311-021-01321-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/04/2021] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Strengthening the immune system in order to better withstand the threat of COVID-19 is an important way to ensure the protection of our health against the current pandemic associated with SARS-CoV-2. There are many ways to achieve this, but with current circumstances, certain modalities stand out as being the most valid and are certainly worth greater consideration. Here we review the effects that particular immuno-strengthening activities can have on limiting the severity of COVID-19 disease as well as preventing virus infection. Physical activity, in particular, should not be discounted as an important method of prevention of viral diseases as it triggers many biological processes within the human body which in turn lead to heightened natural defences against viral infections. When exercise is performed in forested areas, these protective health benefits may be increased since many plant species emit biogenic volatile compounds (VOCs) which, when inhaled, have many protective properties. These VOCs have been shown in particular to have immunostimulatory effects on the human body and, thus, they could be of use in the prevention and/or treatment of COVID-19. Being amongst trees may also help to alleviate stress and anxiety, lowering cortisol levels and consequently helping the proper functioning of the immune system. In the following work, we have performed an analysis of the available scientific literature which looks at the effects of physical exercise as well as 'forest-bathing' on the immune system's ability to fight disease, especially of course as it relates to COVID-19. Our review aims at shedding light on the benefits of exercising outdoors in green areas and suggests reforestation as a protective measure against future outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Roviello
- Department of Chemical, Materials and Industrial Production Engineering (DICMaPI), University of Naples Federico II, Piazzale V. Tecchio 80, 80125 Naples, Italy
| | - Melinda Gilhen-Baker
- Faculty of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Georgian State Teaching University of Physical Education and Sport, 49, Chavchavadze avenue, 0162 Tbilisi, Georgia
| | - Caterina Vicidomini
- Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini, IBB - CNR Mezzocannone Site and Headquarters, 80134 Naples, Italy
| | - Giovanni N. Roviello
- Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini, IBB - CNR Mezzocannone Site and Headquarters, 80134 Naples, Italy
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10
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D. Atoufi H, Lampert DJ, Sillanpää M. COVID-19, a double-edged sword for the environment: a review on the impacts of COVID-19 on the environment. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 28:61969-61978. [PMID: 34558046 PMCID: PMC8460194 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-16551-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/11/2021] [Indexed: 04/16/2023]
Abstract
This review paper discusses the most relevant impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the environment. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) originated in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. The disease has infected 70 million people and caused the death of 1.58 million people since the US Food and Drug Administration issued an Emergency Use Authorization to develop a vaccine to prevent COVID-19 on December 11, 2020. COVID-19 is a global crisis that has impacted everything directly connected with human beings, including the environment. This review discusses the impacts of COVID-19 on the environment during the pandemic and post-COVID-19 era. During the first months of the COVID pandemic, global coal, oil, gas, and electricity demands declined by 8%, 5%, 2%, and 20%, respectively, relative to 2019. Stay-at-home orders in countries increased the concentrations of particles in indoor environments while decreasing the concentrations of PM2.5 and NOX in outdoor environments. Remotely working in response to the COVID-19 pandemic increased the carbon, water, and land footprints of Internet usage. Microplastics are released into our environment from the mishandling and mismanagement of personal protective equipment that endanger our water, soils, and sediments. Since the COVID-19 vaccine cannot be stored for a long time and spoils rapidly, more awareness of the massive waste of unused doses is needed. So COVID-19 is a double-edged sword for the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hossein D. Atoufi
- Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL USA
| | - David J. Lampert
- Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL USA
| | - Mika Sillanpää
- Environmental Engineering and Management Research Group, Ton Duc Thang University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- Faculty of Environment and Labour Safety, Ton Duc Thang University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
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11
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Wang Q, Han J, Chang H, Wang C, Lichtfouse E. Society organization, not pathogenic viruses, is the fundamental cause of pandemics. ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS 2021; 20:1545-1551. [PMID: 34744549 PMCID: PMC8556818 DOI: 10.1007/s10311-021-01346-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Qianqian Wang
- Institute of Global Environmental Change, School of Human Settlements and Civil Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710049 People’s Republic of China
| | - Jie Han
- Institute of Global Environmental Change, School of Human Settlements and Civil Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710049 People’s Republic of China
| | - Hong Chang
- School of Water Conservancy and Civil Engineering, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, 150030 Heilongjiang People’s Republic of China
| | - Chaoqi Wang
- Institute of Global Environmental Change, School of Human Settlements and Civil Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710049 People’s Republic of China
| | - Eric Lichtfouse
- Aix-Marseille University, CNRS, IRD, INRAE, CEREGE, 13100 Aix en Provence, France
- State Key Laboratory of Multiphase Flow in Power Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710049 Shaanxi People’s Republic of China
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12
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Dutta D, Arya S, Kumar S, Lichtfouse E. Electronic waste pollution and the COVID-19 pandemic. ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS 2021; 20:971-974. [PMID: 34335129 PMCID: PMC8314023 DOI: 10.1007/s10311-021-01286-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Deblina Dutta
- CSIR- National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI), Nehru Marg, Nagpur, 440 020 India
| | - Shashi Arya
- CSIR- National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI), Nehru Marg, Nagpur, 440 020 India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Uttar Pradesh, Ghaziabad, 201 002 India
| | - Sunil Kumar
- CSIR- National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI), Nehru Marg, Nagpur, 440 020 India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Uttar Pradesh, Ghaziabad, 201 002 India
| | - Eric Lichtfouse
- Aix-Marseille Univ, CNRS, IRD, INRAE, CEREGE, 13100 Aix en Provence, France
- State Key Laboratory of Multiphase Flow in Power Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710049 China
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13
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Chen WH, Mutuku JK, Yang ZW, Hwang CJ, Lee WJ, Ashokkumar V. An investigation for airflow and deposition of PM 2.5 contaminated with SAR-CoV-2 virus in healthy and diseased human airway. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 197:111096. [PMID: 33794172 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.111096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Revised: 03/21/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
This study is motivated by the amplified transmission rates of the SAR-CoV-2 virus in areas with high concentrations of fine particulates (PM2.5) as reported in northern Italy and Mexico. To develop a deeper understanding of the contribution of PM2.5 in the propagation of the SAR-CoV-2 virus in the population, the deposition patterns and efficiencies (DEs) of PM2.5 laced with the virus in healthy and asthmatic airways are studied. Physiologically correct 3-D models for generations 10-12 of the human airways are applied to carry out a numerical analysis of two-phase flow for full breathing cycles. Two concentrations of PM2.5 are applied for the simulation, i.e., 30 μg⋅m-3 and 80 μg⋅m-3 for three breathing statuses, i.e., rest, light exercise, and moderate activity. All the PM2.5 injected into the control volume is assumed to be 100% contaminated with the SAR-CoV-2 virus. Skewed air-flow phenomena at the bifurcations are proportional to the Reynolds number at the inlet, and their intensity in the asthmatic airway exceeded that of the healthy one. Upon exhalation, two peak air-flow vectors from daughter branches combine to form one big vector in the parent generation. Asthmatic airway models has higher deposition efficiencies (DEs) for contaminated PM2.5 as compared to the healthy one. Higher DEs arise in the asthmatic airway model due to complex secondary flows which increase the impaction of contaminated PM2.5 on airways' walls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Hsin Chen
- Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 701, Taiwan; Research Center for Smart Sustainable Circular Economy, Tunghai University, Taichung, 407, Taiwan; Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Chin-Yi University of Technology, Taichung, 411, Taiwan.
| | - Justus Kavita Mutuku
- Center for Environmental Toxin and Emerging- Contaminant Research, Cheng Shiu University, Taiwan; Super Micro Research and Technology Center, Cheng Shiu University, Taiwan; Department of Environmental Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 701, Taiwan
| | - Zhe-Wei Yang
- Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 701, Taiwan
| | - Chii-Jong Hwang
- Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 701, Taiwan
| | - Wen Jhy Lee
- Department of Environmental Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 701, Taiwan
| | - Veeramuthu Ashokkumar
- Center of Excellence in Catalysis for Bioenergy and Renewable Chemicals (CBRC), Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand
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14
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Khan TR, Parker DS, Withers C. Mitigation of Airborne Contaminant Spread through Simple Interventions in an Occupied Single-Family Home. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:5880. [PMID: 34070834 PMCID: PMC8197807 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18115880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Revised: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Historically, reducing aerosol-based transmission of respired viruses in indoor environments has been of importance for controlling influenza viruses and common-cold rhinoviruses. The present public health emergency associated with SARS-CoV-2 makes this topic critically important. Yet to be tested is the potential effectiveness of simple interventions that create an isolation zone (IZ) for a suspected/confirmed sick or sensitive person requiring quarantine. The intent in existing homes is to find a practical means to mitigate exposure to airborne contaminants. In creating an IZ in an occupied single-family home in the study, four simple strategies were tested. The test configurations were: (1) IZ windows closed with IZ bathroom exhaust ventilation fan off, (2) IZ windows closed with IZ exhaust fan on, (3) IZ window open with IZ exhaust fan off, and (4) IZ window open with IZ exhaust fan on. Incense-generated fine particulate matter (PM2.5) was used as a marker for virus transmission. The measured transfer of PM2.5 from the IZ into the main zone (MZ) of the house enabled us to determine the relative effectiveness of four containment strategies. Collectively, the data from pressure differential (across zones) and PM2.5 measurements suggested that the best containment strategy was achieved through continuously operating the bathroom exhaust fan while keeping the windows closed in the IZ (configuration 2). Interventions using open windows were found to be less reliable, due to variability in wind speed and direction, resulting in an unpredictable and sometimes detrimental pressure differential in the IZ with reference to MZ. Our findings strongly suggest a simple IZ exhaust ventilation strategy has the potential for mitigating the risk from the airborne spread of contaminants, such as SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanvir R. Khan
- FSEC Energy Research Center, University of Central Florida, Cocoa, FL 32922, USA; (D.S.P.); (C.W.)
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15
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Hofmeister AM, Seckler JM, Criss GM. Possible Roles of Permafrost Melting, Atmospheric Transport, and Solar Irradiance in the Development of Major Coronavirus and Influenza Pandemics. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:3055. [PMID: 33809626 PMCID: PMC8000708 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18063055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2021] [Revised: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Major pandemics involving respiratory viruses develop semi-regularly and require a large flux of novel viruses, yet their origination is equivocal. This paper explores how natural processes could give rise to this puzzling combination of characteristics. Our model is based on available data regarding the emergence of historic influenzas, early COVID-19 cases and spreading, the microbiome of permafrost, long-distance airborne transport of viruses reaching stratospheric levels, ultraviolet immunosuppression, sunlight variations, weather patterns, Arctic thawing, and global warming. Atmospheric conveyance is supported by hemispheric distribution disparities, ties of COVID-19 cases to air pollution particulate concentrations, and contemporaneous animal infections. The following sequence is proposed: (1) virus emergence after hot Arctic summers, predominantly near solar irradiance maxima or involving wildfires, indicates release of large amounts of ancient viruses during extensive permafrost melting, which are then incorporated in autumn polar air circulation, where cold storage and little sunlight permit survival. (2) Pandemics onset in winter to spring at rather few locations: from climate data on Wuhan, emergence occurs where the North Polar Jet stream hovers while intersecting warmer, moist air, producing rain which deposits particulates with the viral harvest on a vulnerable human population. (3) Spring and summer increases in COVID-19 cases link to high solar irradiance, implicating ultraviolet immune suppression as one means of amplification. (4) Viruses multiplied by infected humans at close range being incorporated in atmospheric circulation explains rapid global spread, periodic case surges (waves), and multi-year durations. Pollution and wind geography affect uptake and re-distribution. Our model can be tested, e.g., against permafrost stored in laboratories as well as Artic air samples, and suggests mitigating actions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne M. Hofmeister
- Department of Earth and Planetary Science, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
| | - James M. Seckler
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA;
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16
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Choi H, Chatterjee P, Lichtfouse E, Martel JA, Hwang M, Jinadatha C, Sharma VK. Classical and alternative disinfection strategies to control the COVID-19 virus in healthcare facilities: a review. ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS 2021; 19:1945-1951. [PMID: 33500689 PMCID: PMC7820091 DOI: 10.1007/s10311-021-01180-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
The coronavirus disease COVID-19 has spread throughout the world and has been declared as a pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 11th, 2020. The COVID-19 is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). One possible mode of virus transmission is through surfaces in the healthcare settings. This paper reviews currently used disinfection strategies to control SARS-CoV-2 at the healthcare facilities. Chemical disinfectants include hypochlorite, peroxymonosulfate, alcohols, quaternary ammonium compounds, and hydrogen peroxide. Advanced strategies include no-touch techniques such as engineered antimicrobial surfaces and automated room disinfection systems using hydrogen peroxide vapor or ultraviolet light.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hosoon Choi
- Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, 1901 Veterans Memorial Drive, Temple, TX USA
| | - Piyali Chatterjee
- Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, 1901 Veterans Memorial Drive, Temple, TX USA
| | - Eric Lichtfouse
- Aix-Marseille Univ, CNRS, IRD, INRAE, Coll France, CEREGE, 13100 Aix en Provence, France
- State Key Laboratory of Multiphase Flow in Power Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, 710049 China
| | - Julie A. Martel
- Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, 1901 Veterans Memorial Drive, Temple, TX USA
| | - Munok Hwang
- Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, 1901 Veterans Memorial Drive, Temple, TX USA
| | - Chetan Jinadatha
- Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, 1901 Veterans Memorial Drive, Temple, TX USA
| | - Virender K. Sharma
- Program of the Environment and Sustainability, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843 USA
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17
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Chen B, Jia P, Han J. Role of indoor aerosols for COVID-19 viral transmission: a review. ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS 2021; 19:1953-1970. [PMID: 33462543 PMCID: PMC7805572 DOI: 10.1007/s10311-020-01174-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
The relationship between outdoor atmospheric pollution by particulate matter and the morbidity and mortality of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infections was recently disclosed, yet the role of indoor aerosols is poorly known . Since people spend most of their time indoor, indoor aerosols are closer to human occupants than outdoors, thus favoring airborne transmission of COVID-19. Therefore, here we review the characteristics of aerosol particles emitted from indoor sources, and how exposure to particles affects human respiratory infections and transport of airborne pathogens. We found that tobacco smoking, cooking, vacuum cleaning, laser printing, burning candles, mosquito coils and incenses generate large quantities of particles, mostly in the ultrafine range below 100 nm. These tiny particles stay airborne, are deposited in the deeper regions of human airways and are difficult to be removed by the respiratory system. As a consequence, adverse effects can be induced by inhaled aerosol particles via oxidative stress and inflammation. Early epidemiological evidence and animal studies have revealed the adverse effects of particle exposure in respiratory infections. In particular, inhaled particles can impair human respiratory systems and immune functions, and induce the upregulation of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, thus inducing higher vulnerability to COVID-19 infection. Moreover, co-production of inflammation mediators by COVID-19 infection and particle exposure magnifies the cytokine storm and aggravates symptoms in patients. We also discuss the role of indoor aerosol particles as virus carriers. Although many hypotheses were proposed, there is still few knowledge on interactions between aerosol articles and virus-laden droplets or droplet nuclei.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Chen
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000 People’s Republic of China
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710049 People’s Republic of China
| | - Puqi Jia
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000 People’s Republic of China
| | - Jie Han
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710049 People’s Republic of China
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18
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Zhang X, Chen B, Jia P, Han J. Locked on salt? Excessive consumption of high-sodium foods during COVID-19 presents an underappreciated public health risk: a review. ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS 2021; 19:3583-3595. [PMID: 34093102 PMCID: PMC8167309 DOI: 10.1007/s10311-021-01257-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Abrupt changes in food preferences and eating habits have induced an overlooked health risk during the coronavirus disease pandemic (COVID-19). Indeed, emerging evidence points to a major shift to consumption of high-sodium foods during the pandemic lockdowns in the population from different countries and cultures. High-sodium foods have sodium contents exceeding 500 mg per 100 g, and many processed and preserved foods fall into this category. Excessive dietary sodium intake is associated with chronic diseases including hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and kidney diseases, and thus poses confounding risks during the pandemic. Here, we review food categories in consumers' shopping lists and food parcels delivered to people who needed assistance during the pandemic, when frozen meals, canned foods, instant foods, snacks, and other high-sodium foods gained substantial popularity. Such change in consumers' behavior is driven by several factors: the perceived risk of viral infection in grocery shopping trips, limited supplies and inflated prices of fresh produce, preference on foods with long shelf lives, and emotional eating. Moreover, the general low awareness of sodium contents in food has contributed to the increased consumption of high-sodium foods during the pandemic. We also discuss the possible effects on COVID-19 infection and severity caused by excessive sodium intake. We conclude that the public should be educated to maintain a healthy sodium intake during the pandemic, and measures should be adopted by governments and private donors in procuring food parcels with more balanced sodium contents to lower the risks of prolonged and excessive sodium intakes in the vulnerable population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Zhang
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000 People’s Republic of China
- Institute of Global Environmental Change, School of Human Settlements and Civil Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710049 People’s Republic of China
| | - Bo Chen
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000 People’s Republic of China
- Institute of Global Environmental Change, School of Human Settlements and Civil Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710049 People’s Republic of China
| | - Puqi Jia
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000 People’s Republic of China
| | - Jie Han
- Institute of Global Environmental Change, School of Human Settlements and Civil Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710049 People’s Republic of China
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19
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Di Girolamo P. Assessment of the potential role of atmospheric particulate pollution and airborne transmission in intensifying the first wave pandemic impact of SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 in Northern Italy. BULLETIN OF ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 2020; 1:515-550. [PMID: 38624634 PMCID: PMC7750914 DOI: 10.1007/s42865-020-00024-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which exploded in Wuhan (Hebei Region, China) in late 2019, has later spread around the world, causing pandemic effects on humans. During the first wave of the pandemic, Italy, and especially its Northern regions around the Po Valley, faced severe consequences in terms of infected individuals and casualties (more than 31,000 deaths and 255,000 infected people by mid-May 2020). While the spread and effective impact of the virus is primarily related to the lifestyles and social habits of the different human communities, environmental and meteorological factors also play a role. Among these, particulate pollution may directly impact the human respiratory system or act as virus carrier, thus behaving as potential amplifying factor in the pandemic spread of SARS-CoV-2. Enhanced levels of PM2.5 and PM10 particles in Northern Italy were observed over the 2-month period preceding the virus pandemic spread. Threshold levels for PM10 (< 50 μg/m3) were exceeded on 20-35 days over the period January-February 2020 in many areas in the Po Valley, where major effects in terms of infections and casualties occurred, with levels in excess of 80 μg/m3 occasionally observed in the 1-3 weeks preceding the contagious activation around February 25, 2020. Threshold values for PM2.5 indicated in WHO air quality guidelines (< 25 μg/m3) were exceeded on more than 40 days over the period January-February 2020 in large portions of the Po Valley, with levels up to 70 μg/m3 observed in the weeks preceding the contagious activation. In this paper, PM10 particle measurements are compared with epidemiologic parameters' data. Specifically, a statistical analysis is carried out to correlate the infection rate, or incidence of the pathology, the mortality rate, and the case fatality rate with PM concentrations. The study considers epidemiologic data for all 110 Italian provinces, as reported by the Italian Statistics Institute, over the period 20 February-31 March 2020. Corresponding PM10 concentrations covering the period 15-26 February 2020 were collected from the network of air quality monitoring stations run by different regional and provincial environment agencies. The case fatality rate is found to be highly correlated to the average PM10 concentration, with a correlation coefficient of 0.89 and a slope of the regression line of (6.7 ± 0.3) × 10-3 m3/μg, which implies a doubling (from 3 to 6%) of the mortality rate of infected patients for an average PM10 concentration increase from 22 to 27 μg/m3. Infection and mortality rates are also found to be correlated with PM10 concentrations, with correlation coefficients being 0.82 and 0.80, respectively, and the slopes of the regression lines indicating a doubling (from 1 to 2‰) of the infection rate and a tripling (from 0.1 to 0.3‰) of the mortality rate for an average PM10 concentration increase from 25 to 29 μg/m3. Considerations on the exhaled particles' sizes, their concentrations and residence times, the transported viral dose and the minimum infective dose, in combination with PM2.5 and PM10 pollution measurements and an analytical microphysical model, allowed assessing the potential role of airborne transmission through virus-laden PM particles, in addition to droplet and the traditional airborne transmission, in conveying SARS-CoV-2 in the human respiratory system. In specific circumstances which can be found in indoor environments, the number of small potentially infectious particles coalescing on PM2.5 and PM10 particles is estimated to exceed the number of infectious particles needed to activate COVID-19 infection in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Di Girolamo
- Scuola di Ingegneria, Università degli Studi della Basilicata, Viale dell’Ateneo Lucano, 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy
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20
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Wang X, Sun S, Zhang B, Han J. Solar heating to inactivate thermal-sensitive pathogenic microorganisms in vehicles: application to COVID-19. ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS 2020; 19:1765-1772. [PMID: 33173449 PMCID: PMC7644797 DOI: 10.1007/s10311-020-01132-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Disinfection is a common practice to inhibit pathogens, yet success is limited by microbial adaptation and our poor knowledge of viral transmission, notably in the current COVID-19 pandemic. There is a need for alternative disinfection strategies and techniques that are adapted to the actual behavior of humans living in densely populated mega-cities. Here, high public circulation in shared passenger vehicles such as taxis, buses and personal cars represents a major risk of viral transmission due to confined space and commonly touched surfaces. Actual regulatory guidelines are not fully successful because they rely both on passengers' willingness to wear face masks and on drivers' willingness to disinfect cars after each shift or each ride with symptomatic individuals. Here we propose that passive solar heating, a sustainable technique that has been used in agronomy to kill weeds and soil pathogens, could inactivate the virus in vehicles during warm-to-hot weather within few minutes to half an hour at 50-60 °C. We measured temperatures in a white compact-size sedan left in a parking lot under direct sunlight. Air temperatures increased from 30 to 42-49 °C after 30 min and then reached a plateau at 52-57 °C after 90 min. Temperatures were about 3 °C higher in front versus back of the car and about 5 °C higher at face height compared to knee height. Since COVID-19 is inactivated in 30 min at 56 °C, our findings confirm that hot air generated passively by solar heating in enclosed spaces is a promising strategy of disinfection with benefits of no added costs, chemicals or worktime. Though this technique appears limited to hot climate, possible heating systems that work during parking time might be developed by vehicle makers to extend the technique to cold climates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Wang
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710049 People’s Republic of China
| | - Shiyi Sun
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710049 People’s Republic of China
| | - Boxin Zhang
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710049 People’s Republic of China
| | - Jie Han
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710049 People’s Republic of China
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21
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Han J, Zhang X, He S, Jia P. Can the coronavirus disease be transmitted from food? A review of evidence, risks, policies and knowledge gaps. ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS 2020; 19:5-16. [PMID: 33024427 PMCID: PMC7529092 DOI: 10.1007/s10311-020-01101-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 136] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 09/12/2020] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has brought speculations on possible transmission routes of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causal agent of the pandemic. Air pollution has been linked to increased risks of COVID-19 infection and mortality rates in regions with poor air quality, yet no retrospective study has been reported on foodborne transmission of COVID-19. While studies have shown that low temperature could dramatically prolong the persistence on SARS-CoV-2 and other coronaviruses, frozen and refrigerated foods have been widely overlooked as potential vectors in policy frameworks and risk mitigation strategies. Food transmission evidence has been disclosed in China early July 2020 by the detection of SARS-CoV-2 on frozen foods, including their packaging materials and storage environments, with two re-emergent outbreaks linked to contaminated food sources. The contamination risk is augmented by a complex farm-to-table process, which favors exposure to food workers and ambient environments. Moreover, the food cold-chain also promotes contamination because laboratory studies showed that SARS-CoV-2 remained highly stable under refrigerated, at 4 °C, and freezing conditions, from - 10 to - 80 °C, on fish, meat, poultry, and swine skin, during 14-21 days. While data are lacking on long-term survival and infectivity under these conditions, ample evidence has been shown on other coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-1. We therefore hypothesize that contaminated cold-storage foods may present a systematic risk for SARS-CoV-2 transmission between countries and regions. Here, we review the evidence, risk factors, current policy and knowledge gaps, on food contamination and foodborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Han
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710049 People’s Republic of China
| | - Xue Zhang
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710049 People’s Republic of China
- Department of Environmental Engineering, College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000 People’s Republic of China
| | - Shanshan He
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710049 People’s Republic of China
| | - Puqi Jia
- Department of Environmental Engineering, College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000 People’s Republic of China
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22
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Paital B, Agrawal PK. Air pollution by NO 2 and PM 2.5 explains COVID-19 infection severity by overexpression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 in respiratory cells: a review. ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS 2020; 19:25-42. [PMID: 32982622 PMCID: PMC7499935 DOI: 10.1007/s10311-020-01091-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 09/05/2020] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Many major cities that witnessed heavy air pollution by nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particulate matter (PM) have experienced a high rate of infection and severity of the coronavirus disease pandemic (COVID-19). This phenomenon could be explained by the overexpression of the angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2) on epithelial cell surfaces of the respiratory tract. Indeed, ACE-2 is a receptor for coronaviruses including the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 1 and 2 (SARS-CoV), and ACE-2 is overexpressed under chronic exposure to air pollution such as NO2 and PM2.5. In this review, we explain that ACE-2 acts as the sole receptor for the attachment of the SARS-CoV-2 via its spike protein. The fact that respiratory and vascular epithelial cells express ACE-2 has been previously observed during the 2003 epidemic of the SARS-CoV-1 in China, and during the 2012 Middle East respiratory syndrome in Saudi Arabia. High ACE-2 expression in respiratory epithelial cells under air pollution explains the positive correlation between the severity in COVID-19 patients and elevated air pollution, notably high NO2 and PM2.5 levels. Specific areas in India, China, Italy, Russia, Chile and Qatar that experience heavy air pollution also show high rates of COVID-19 infection and severity. Overall, we demonstrate a link between NO2 emissions, PM2.5 levels, ACE-2 expression and COVID-19 infection severity. Therefore, air pollution should be reduced in places where confirmed cases of COVID-19 are unexpectedly high.
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Affiliation(s)
- Biswaranjan Paital
- Redox Regulation Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, College of Basic Science and Humanities, Bhubaneswar, 751003 India
| | - Pawan Kumar Agrawal
- Main Building, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar, 751003 India
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23
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Dai H, Han J, Lichtfouse E. Who is running faster, the virus or the vaccine? ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS 2020; 18:1761-1766. [PMID: 33082737 PMCID: PMC7561242 DOI: 10.1007/s10311-020-01110-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Han Dai
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710049 Shaanxi People’s Republic of China
| | - Jie Han
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710049 Shaanxi People’s Republic of China
| | - Eric Lichtfouse
- CNRS, IRD, INRAE, Coll France, CEREGE, Aix-Marseille University, 13100 Aix en Provence, France
- State Key Laboratory of Multiphase Flow in Power Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710049 Shaanxi People’s Republic of China
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