1
|
Létourneau V, Gagné MJ, Vyskocil JM, Brochu V, Robitaille K, Gauthier M, Brassard J, Duchaine C. Hunting for a viral proxy in bioaerosols of swine buildings using molecular detection and metagenomics. J Environ Sci (China) 2025; 148:69-78. [PMID: 39095200 DOI: 10.1016/j.jes.2023.08.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2024]
Abstract
There are limited biosecurity measures directed at preventing airborne transmission of viruses in swine. The effectiveness of dust mitigation strategies such as oil sprinkling, to decrease risk of airborne virus transmission are unknown. Metagenomics and qPCR for common fecal viruses were used to hunt for a ubiquitous virus to serve as a proxy when evaluating the efficiency of mitigation strategies against airborne viral infectious agents. Air particles were collected from swine buildings using high-volume air samplers. Extracted DNA and RNA were used to perform specific RT-qPCR and qPCR and analyzed by high-throughput sequencing. Porcine astroviruses group 2 were common (from 102 to 105 genomic copies per cubic meter of air or gc/m3, 93% positivity) while no norovirus genogroup II was recovered from air samples. Porcine torque teno sus virus were detected by qPCR in low concentrations (from 101 to 102 gc/m3, 47% positivity). Among the identified viral families by metagenomics analysis, Herelleviridae, Microviridae, Myoviridae, Podoviridae, and Siphoviridae were dominant. The phage vB_AviM_AVP of Aerococcus was present in all air samples and a newly designed qPCR revealed between 101 and 105 gc/m3 among the samples taken for the present study (97% positivity) and banked samples from 5- and 15-year old studies (89% positivity). According to the present study, both the porcine astrovirus group 2 and the phage vB_AviM_AVP of Aerococcus could be proxy for airborne viruses of swine buildings.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Valérie Létourneau
- Quebec Heart and Lung Institute Research Centre - Université Laval, 2725 Chemin Sainte-Foy, Quebec, G1V 4G5, Canada
| | - Marie-Josée Gagné
- Saint-Hyacinthe Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 3600 Casavant Boulevard West, Saint-Hyacinthe, J2S 8E3, Canada
| | - Jonathan M Vyskocil
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Bio-informatics, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Université Laval, 1045 Avenue de la Médecine, Quebec, G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Vincent Brochu
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Bio-informatics, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Université Laval, 1045 Avenue de la Médecine, Quebec, G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Kim Robitaille
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Bio-informatics, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Université Laval, 1045 Avenue de la Médecine, Quebec, G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Martin Gauthier
- Saint-Hyacinthe Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 3600 Casavant Boulevard West, Saint-Hyacinthe, J2S 8E3, Canada
| | - Julie Brassard
- Saint-Hyacinthe Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 3600 Casavant Boulevard West, Saint-Hyacinthe, J2S 8E3, Canada; The Swine and Poultry Infectious Diseases Research Centre, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Université de Montréal, 3200 Rue Sicotte, Saint-Hyacinthe, J2S 2M2, Canada
| | - Caroline Duchaine
- Quebec Heart and Lung Institute Research Centre - Université Laval, 2725 Chemin Sainte-Foy, Quebec, G1V 4G5, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Bio-informatics, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Université Laval, 1045 Avenue de la Médecine, Quebec, G1V 0A6, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Dias M, Gomes B, Pena P, Cervantes R, Beswick A, Duchaine C, Kolk A, Madsen AM, Oppliger A, Pogner C, Duquenne P, Wouters IM, Crook B, Viegas C. Filling the knowledge gap: Scoping review regarding sampling methods, assays, and further requirements to assess airborne viruses. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 946:174016. [PMID: 38908595 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174016] [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: 02/12/2024] [Revised: 06/12/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/24/2024]
Abstract
Assessment of occupational exposure to viruses is crucial to identify virus reservoirs and sources of dissemination at an early stage and to help prevent spread between employees and to the general population. Measuring workers' exposure can facilitate assessment of the effectiveness of protective and mitigation measures in place. The aim of this scoping review is to give an overview of available methods and those already implemented for airborne virus' exposure assessment in different occupational and indoor environments. The results retrieved from the different studies may contribute to the setting of future standards and guidelines to ensure a reliable risk characterization in the occupational environments crucial for the implementation of effective control measures. The search aimed at selecting studies between January 1st 2010 and June 30th 2023 in the selected databases. Fifty papers on virus exposure assessment fitted the eligibility criteria and were selected for data extraction. Overall, this study identified gaps in knowledge regarding virus assessment and pinpointed the needs for further research. Several discrepancies were found (transport temperatures, elution steps, …), as well as a lack of publication of important data related to the exposure conditions (contextual information). With the available information, it is impossible to compare results between studies employing different methods, and even if the same methods are used, different conclusions/recommendations based on the expert judgment have been reported due to the lack of consensus in the contextual information retrieved and/or data interpretation. Future research on the field targeting sampling methods and in the laboratory regarding the assays to employ should be developed bearing in mind the different goals of the assessment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marta Dias
- H&TRC - Health & Technology Research Center, ESTeSL - Escola Superior de Tecnologia e Saúde, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, Portugal; NOVA National School of Public Health, Public Health Research Centre, Comprehensive Health Research Center, CHRC, REAL, CCAL, NOVA University Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Bianca Gomes
- H&TRC - Health & Technology Research Center, ESTeSL - Escola Superior de Tecnologia e Saúde, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, Portugal; CE3C-Center for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Change, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Pedro Pena
- H&TRC - Health & Technology Research Center, ESTeSL - Escola Superior de Tecnologia e Saúde, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, Portugal; NOVA National School of Public Health, Public Health Research Centre, Comprehensive Health Research Center, CHRC, REAL, CCAL, NOVA University Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Renata Cervantes
- H&TRC - Health & Technology Research Center, ESTeSL - Escola Superior de Tecnologia e Saúde, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, Portugal; NOVA National School of Public Health, Public Health Research Centre, Comprehensive Health Research Center, CHRC, REAL, CCAL, NOVA University Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Alan Beswick
- Health and Safety Executive Science and Research Centre, Buxton SK17 9JN, UK
| | - Caroline Duchaine
- Département de biochimie, microbiologie et bio-informatique, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Annette Kolk
- Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the German Social Accident Insurance, Alte Heerstraße 111, 53757 Sankt Augustin, Germany
| | - Anne Mette Madsen
- National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Lersø Parkallé 105, 2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
| | | | | | | | - Inge M Wouters
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Brian Crook
- Health and Safety Executive Science and Research Centre, Buxton SK17 9JN, UK
| | - Carla Viegas
- H&TRC - Health & Technology Research Center, ESTeSL - Escola Superior de Tecnologia e Saúde, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, Portugal; NOVA National School of Public Health, Public Health Research Centre, Comprehensive Health Research Center, CHRC, REAL, CCAL, NOVA University Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Hu YN, Wan WD, Wu JT, Lai TN, Ali W, He SS, Liu S, Li X, Tang ZR, Wang CY, Yan C. Bioaerosols emission from source facilities in a wastewater treatment plant: Critical exposure time and sensitivity analysis. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 360:124611. [PMID: 39053806 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2024] [Revised: 06/22/2024] [Accepted: 07/23/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
Overexposure of sewage workers to bioaerosol released from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) can cause serious infections, but practical method for controlling their health risk is lacking. In this study, reverse quantitative microbial risk assessment was used to estimate the daily critical exposure time (CET) of sewage workers exposing to Staphylococcus aureus bioaerosol emitted by three emission sources facilities in a WWTP based on either U.S. EPA or WHO benchmark, and sensitivity analysis was conducted to analyze the influence of various parameters on the outcomes of CET. The results showed that the CET of females was always 1.12-1.29 times that of males. In addition, the CET after wearing face masks was 28.28-52.37 times as long as before. The working time can be determined based on the CET results of male workers wearing face masks exposed to the inverted-umbrella aeration tank (14.73-550.98 min for U.S. EPA benchmark and 55.07-1972.24 min for WHO benchmark). In each scenario, the variable parameter exposure concentration (ec) always showed the most influence on the CET results. After wearing the face masks, the removal fraction by employing face masks also had a significant effect on the results, only second to ec. Therefore, the wearing of face mask is the most convenient and effective measure to prolong the CET. Furthermore, practical methods to reducing bioaerosol concentration in WWTPs exposure are also necessary to extend CET and safeguard worker health. This study enriches the application range of reverse quantitative microbial risk assessment framework and provides theoretical support for stakeholders to establish reasonable working time threshold guidelines, and practical method and novel perspective to protect the on-site health risks of sewage workers exposing to various facilities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Ning Hu
- School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, PR China
| | - Wei-di Wan
- School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, PR China
| | - Jun-Ting Wu
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Center for R&D of Fine Chemicals of Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, PR China
| | - Tian-Nuo Lai
- School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, PR China
| | - Wajid Ali
- School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, PR China
| | - Shan-Shan He
- Central & Southern China Municipal Engineering Design and Research Institute Co, Ltd., Wuhan, 430010, PR China
| | - Sai Liu
- CITIC Treated Water Into River Engineering Investment Co., Ltd., Wuhan, 430200, PR China
| | - Xiang Li
- Three Gorges Base Development Co., Ltd., Yichang, 443002, PR China
| | - Zhe-Ren Tang
- YANGTZE Eco-Environment Engineering Research Center, China Three Gorges Corporation, Beijing, 100038, PR China
| | - Cheng-Yun Wang
- PowerChina Guiyang Engineering Corp. Ltd., Guizhou, 550081, PR China
| | - Cheng Yan
- School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, PR China.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Khan A, Olajide E, Friedrich M, Holt A, Goehring LS. Evaluation of Non-Invasive Sampling Techniques for the Molecular Surveillance of Equid Herpesviruses in Yearling Horses. Viruses 2024; 16:1091. [PMID: 39066254 PMCID: PMC11281437 DOI: 10.3390/v16071091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2024] [Revised: 06/24/2024] [Accepted: 07/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Equid alphaherpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) is a highly contagious respiratory tract pathogen of horses, and infection may be followed by myeloencephalopathy or abortion. Surveillance and early detection have focused on PCR assays using less tolerated nasal swabs. Here, we assess non-invasive non-contact sampling techniques as surveillance tools in naturally equid gammaherpesvirus 2-shedding horses as surrogates for EHV-1. METHODS Horses were individually housed for 10 h periods on 2 consecutive days. Sampling included nasal swabs, nostril wipes, environmental swabs, droplet-catching devices, and air sampling. The latter was completed via two strategies: a combined air sample collected while going from horse to horse and a collective air sample collected at a stationary central point for 6 h. Samples were screened through quantitative PCR and digital PCR. RESULTS Nine horses on day 1 and 11 horses on day 2 were positive for EHV-1; overall, 90.9% of the nostril wipes, 81.8% of the environmental surfaces, and 90.9% of the droplet-catching devices were found to be positive. Quantitative analysis showed that the mean DNA copies detection per cm2 of nostril wipe sampled concentration (4.3 × 105 per day) was significantly (p < 0.05) comparable to that of nasal swabs (3.6 × 105 per day) followed by environmental swabs (4.3 × 105 per day) and droplet catchers (3.5 × 103 per day), respectively. Overall, 100% of the air samples collected were positive on both qPCR and dPCR. In individual air samples, a mean concentration of 1.0 × 104 copies of DNA were detected in per m3 air sampled per day, while in the collective air samples, the mean concentration was 1.1 × 103. CONCLUSIONS Environmental samples look promising in replacing direct contact sampling. Environmental and air sampling could become efficient surveillance tools at equestrian events; however, it needs threshold calculations for minimum detection levels.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amjad Khan
- Department of Veterinary Science, Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and the Environment, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA (L.S.G.)
- Department of Public Health & Nutrition, University of Haripur, Haripur 22600, Pakistan
| | - Edward Olajide
- Department of Veterinary Science, Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and the Environment, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA (L.S.G.)
| | - Madeline Friedrich
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Lincoln Memorial University, Harrogate, TN 37752-8245, USA
| | - Anna Holt
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Lincoln Memorial University, Harrogate, TN 37752-8245, USA
| | - Lutz S. Goehring
- Department of Veterinary Science, Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and the Environment, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA (L.S.G.)
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Itarte M, Calvo M, Martínez-Frago L, Mejías-Molina C, Martínez-Puchol S, Girones R, Medema G, Bofill-Mas S, Rusiñol M. Assessing environmental exposure to viruses in wastewater treatment plant and swine farm scenarios with next-generation sequencing and occupational risk approaches. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2024; 259:114360. [PMID: 38555823 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2024.114360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
Occupational exposure to pathogens can pose health risks. This study investigates the viral exposure of workers in a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) and a swine farm by analyzing aerosol and surfaces samples. Viral contamination was evaluated using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assays, and target enrichment sequencing (TES) was performed to identify the vertebrate viruses to which workers might be exposed. Additionally, Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment (QMRA) was conducted to estimate the occupational risk associated with viral exposure for WWTP workers, choosing Human Adenovirus (HAdV) as the reference pathogen. In the swine farm, QMRA was performed as an extrapolation, considering a hypothetical zoonotic virus with characteristics similar to Porcine Adenovirus (PAdV). The modelled exposure routes included aerosol inhalation and oral ingestion through contaminated surfaces and hand-to-mouth contact. HAdV and PAdV were widespread viruses in the WWTP and the swine farm, respectively, by qPCR assays. TES identified human and other vertebrate viruses WWTP samples, including viruses from families such as Adenoviridae, Circoviridae, Orthoherpesviridae, Papillomaviridae, and Parvoviridae. In the swine farm, most of the identified vertebrate viruses were porcine viruses belonging to Adenoviridae, Astroviridae, Circoviridae, Herpesviridae, Papillomaviridae, Parvoviridae, Picornaviridae, and Retroviridae. QMRA analysis revealed noteworthy risks of viral infections for WWTP workers if safety measures are not taken. The probability of illness due to HAdV inhalation was higher in summer compared to winter, while the greatest risk from oral ingestion was observed in workspaces during winter. Swine farm QMRA simulation suggested a potential occupational risk in the case of exposure to a hypothetical zoonotic virus. This study provides valuable insights into WWTP and swine farm worker's occupational exposure to human and other vertebrate viruses. QMRA and NGS analyses conducted in this study will assist managers in making evidence-based decisions, facilitating the implementation of protection measures, and risk mitigation practices for workers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marta Itarte
- Laboratory of Viruses Contaminants of Water and Food, Secció de Microbiologia, Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain; Institut de Recerca de l'Aigua (IdRA), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Miquel Calvo
- Secció d'Estadística, Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Lola Martínez-Frago
- Laboratory of Viruses Contaminants of Water and Food, Secció de Microbiologia, Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Cristina Mejías-Molina
- Laboratory of Viruses Contaminants of Water and Food, Secció de Microbiologia, Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain; Institut de Recerca de l'Aigua (IdRA), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sandra Martínez-Puchol
- Laboratory of Viruses Contaminants of Water and Food, Secció de Microbiologia, Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rosina Girones
- Laboratory of Viruses Contaminants of Water and Food, Secció de Microbiologia, Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain; Institut de Recerca de l'Aigua (IdRA), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Sílvia Bofill-Mas
- Laboratory of Viruses Contaminants of Water and Food, Secció de Microbiologia, Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain; Institut de Recerca de l'Aigua (IdRA), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marta Rusiñol
- Laboratory of Viruses Contaminants of Water and Food, Secció de Microbiologia, Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain; Institut de Recerca de l'Aigua (IdRA), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Hadi M, Kheiri R, Baghban M, Sayahi A, Nasseri S, Alimohammadi M, Khastoo H, Aminabad MS, Vaghefi KA, Vakili B, Tashauoei H, Borji SH, Iravani E. The occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 in Tehran's municipal wastewater: performance of treatment systems and feasibility of wastewater-based epidemiology. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCE & ENGINEERING 2024; 22:281-293. [PMID: 38887767 PMCID: PMC11180145 DOI: 10.1007/s40201-024-00897-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
Analyzing municipal wastewater for the presence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) helps to evaluate the efficacy of treatment systems in mitigating virus-related health risks. This research investigates wastewater treatment plants' (WWTPs) performance in the reduction of SARS-CoV-2 from municipal wastewater in Tehran, Iran. SARS-CoV-2 RNA was measured within sewers, at the inlets, and after the primary and secondary treatment stages of three main WWTPs. Within sewers, the average virus titer stood at 58,600 gc/L, while at WWTP inlets, it measured 38,136 gc/L. A substantial 67% reduction in virus titer was observed at the inlets, accompanied by a 2-log reduction post-primary treatment. Remarkably, the biological treatment process resulted in complete virus elimination across all plants. Additionally, a notable positive correlation (r > 0.8) was observed between temperature and virus titer in wastewater. Using wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) technique and the estimated SARS-CoV-2 RNA shedding rates, the infection prevalence among populations served by WWTPs found to be between 0.128% to 0.577%. In conclusion, this research not only advances our understanding of SARS-CoV-2 dynamics within wastewater treatment systems but also provides practical insights for enhancing treatment efficiency and implementing the feasibility of WBE strategies in Tehran. These implications contribute to the broader efforts to protect public health and mitigate the impact of future viral outbreaks. Graphical abstract
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mahdi Hadi
- Center for Water Quality Research (CWQR), Institute for Environmental Research (IER), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Roohollah Kheiri
- Water Quality Control Office, Alborz Province Water and Wastewater Company, Karaj, Iran
| | - Mahtab Baghban
- Reference Laboratory of Water and Wastewater, Tehran Province Water and Wastewater Company, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ahmad Sayahi
- Office of R&D and Industrial Relations of Water and Wastewater Engineering Company, Tehran, Iran
| | - Simin Nasseri
- Center for Water Quality Research (CWQR), Institute for Environmental Research (IER), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahmood Alimohammadi
- Center for Water Quality Research (CWQR), Institute for Environmental Research (IER), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamidreza Khastoo
- Office of R&D and Industrial Relations of Water and Wastewater Engineering Company, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehri Solaimany Aminabad
- Center for Water Quality Research (CWQR), Institute for Environmental Research (IER), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Kooshiar Azam Vaghefi
- Manager of Water Quality Control Bureau, National Water and Wastewater Engineering Company, Tehran, Iran
| | - Behnam Vakili
- Office of Improvement on Wastewater Operation Procedures, National Water and Wastewater Engineering Company, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamidreza Tashauoei
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Islamic Azad University, Tehran Medical Branch, Tehran, Iran
| | - Saeedeh Hemmati Borji
- Center for Water Quality Research (CWQR), Institute for Environmental Research (IER), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Elnaz Iravani
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Dlamini M, Msolo L, Ehi Ebomah K, Nontongana N, Ifeanyi Okoh A. A systematic review on the incidence of influenza viruses in wastewater matrices: Implications for public health. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0291900. [PMID: 38662758 PMCID: PMC11045120 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0291900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Influenza viruses pose a significant public health threat, necessitating comprehensive surveillance strategies to enhance early detection and preventive measures. This systematic review investigates the incidence of influenza viruses in wastewater matrices, aiming to elucidate the potential implications for public health. The study synthesizes existing literature, employing rigorous inclusion criteria to identify relevant studies conducted globally. The essence of the problem lies in the gaps of traditional surveillance methods, which often rely on clinical data and may underestimate the true prevalence of influenza within communities. Wastewater-based epidemiology offers a novel approach to supplementing these conventional methods, providing a broader and more representative assessment of viral circulation. This review systematically examines the methodologies employed in the selected studies, including virus concentration techniques and molecular detection methods, to establish a standardized framework for future research. Our findings reveal a consistent presence of influenza viruses in diverse wastewater matrices across different geographic locations and seasons. Recommendations for future research include the standardization of sampling protocols, improvement of virus concentration methods, and the integration of wastewater surveillance into existing public health frameworks. In conclusion, this systematic review contributes to the understanding of influenza dynamics in wastewater matrices, offering valuable insights for public health practitioners and policymakers. Implementation of wastewater surveillance alongside traditional methods can enhance the resilience of public health systems and better prepare communities for the challenges posed by influenza outbreaks.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mbasa Dlamini
- SAMRC Microbial Water Quality Monitoring Centre, University of Fort Hare, Alice, South Africa
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Applied and Environmental Microbiology Research Group (AEMREG), University of Fort Hare, Alice, South Africa
| | - Luyanda Msolo
- SAMRC Microbial Water Quality Monitoring Centre, University of Fort Hare, Alice, South Africa
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Applied and Environmental Microbiology Research Group (AEMREG), University of Fort Hare, Alice, South Africa
| | - Kingsley Ehi Ebomah
- SAMRC Microbial Water Quality Monitoring Centre, University of Fort Hare, Alice, South Africa
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Applied and Environmental Microbiology Research Group (AEMREG), University of Fort Hare, Alice, South Africa
| | - Nolonwabo Nontongana
- SAMRC Microbial Water Quality Monitoring Centre, University of Fort Hare, Alice, South Africa
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Applied and Environmental Microbiology Research Group (AEMREG), University of Fort Hare, Alice, South Africa
| | - Anthony Ifeanyi Okoh
- SAMRC Microbial Water Quality Monitoring Centre, University of Fort Hare, Alice, South Africa
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Applied and Environmental Microbiology Research Group (AEMREG), University of Fort Hare, Alice, South Africa
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Rossi F, Duchaine C, Tignat-Perrier R, Joly M, Larose C, Dommergue A, Turgeon N, Veillette M, Sellegri K, Baray JL, Amato P. Temporal variations of antimicrobial resistance genes in aerosols: A one-year monitoring at the puy de Dôme summit (Central France). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 912:169567. [PMID: 38145686 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169567] [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: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/27/2023]
Abstract
The recent characterization of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in clouds evidenced that the atmosphere actively partakes in the global spreading of antibiotic resistance worldwide. Indeed, the outdoor atmosphere continuously receives large quantities of particles of biological origins, emitted from both anthropogenic or natural sources at the near Earth's surface. Nonetheless, our understanding of the composition of the atmospheric resistome, especially at mid-altitude (i.e. above 1000 m a.s.l.), remains largely limited. The atmosphere is vast and highly dynamic, so that the diversity and abundance of ARGs are expected to fluctuate both spatially and temporally. In this work, the abundance and diversity of ARGs were assessed in atmospheric aerosol samples collected weekly between July 2016 and August 2017 at the mountain site of puy de Dôme (1465 m a.s.l., central France). Our results evidence the presence of 33 different subtypes of ARGs in atmospheric aerosols, out of 34 assessed, whose total concentration fluctuated seasonally from 59 to 1.1 × 105 copies m-3 of air. These were heavily dominated by genes from the quinolone resistance family, notably the qepA gene encoding efflux pump mechanisms, which represented >95 % of total ARGs concentration. Its abundance positively correlated with that of bacteria affiliated with the genera Kineococcus, Neorhizobium, Devosia or Massilia, ubiquitous in soils. This, along with the high abundance of Sphingomonas species, points toward a large contribution of natural sources to the airborne ARGs. Nonetheless, the increased contribution of macrolide resistance (notably the erm35 gene) during winter suggests a sporadic diffusion of ARGs from human activities. Our observations depict the atmosphere as an important vector of ARGs from terrestrial sources. Therefore, monitoring ARGs in airborne microorganisms appears necessary to fully understand the dynamics of antimicrobial resistances in the environment and mitigate the threats they may represent.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Florent Rossi
- Département de biochimie, de microbiologie et de bio-informatique, Faculté́ des sciences et de génie, Université́ Laval, Québec, Canada; Centre de recherche de l'institut de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - Caroline Duchaine
- Département de biochimie, de microbiologie et de bio-informatique, Faculté́ des sciences et de génie, Université́ Laval, Québec, Canada; Centre de recherche de l'institut de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Québec, Québec, Canada; Canada Research Chair on Bioaerosols, Canada.
| | - Romie Tignat-Perrier
- Laboratoire Ampère, École Centrale de Lyon, CNRS, Université de Lyon, Ecully, France; Institut des Géosciences de l'Environnement, Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, IRD, INRAE, Grenoble INP, Grenoble, France
| | - Muriel Joly
- Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, Institut de Chimie de Clermont-Ferrand, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Catherine Larose
- Laboratoire Ampère, École Centrale de Lyon, CNRS, Université de Lyon, Ecully, France
| | - Aurélien Dommergue
- Institut des Géosciences de l'Environnement, Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, IRD, INRAE, Grenoble INP, Grenoble, France
| | - Nathalie Turgeon
- Département de biochimie, de microbiologie et de bio-informatique, Faculté́ des sciences et de génie, Université́ Laval, Québec, Canada; Centre de recherche de l'institut de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - Marc Veillette
- Département de biochimie, de microbiologie et de bio-informatique, Faculté́ des sciences et de génie, Université́ Laval, Québec, Canada; Centre de recherche de l'institut de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - Karine Sellegri
- Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, Laboratoire de Météorologie physique, UMR 6016, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Jean-Luc Baray
- Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, Observatoire de physique du Globe de Clermont-Ferrand, UAR 833, Clermont-Ferrand, France; Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, Laboratoire de Météorologie physique, UMR 6016, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Pierre Amato
- Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, Institut de Chimie de Clermont-Ferrand, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Torres-Franco AF, Leroy-Freitas D, Martinez-Fraile C, Rodríguez E, García-Encina PA, Muñoz R. Partitioning and inactivation of enveloped and nonenveloped viruses in activated sludge, anaerobic and microalgae-based wastewater treatment systems. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 248:120834. [PMID: 37984037 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
Anaerobic and microalgae-based technologies for municipal wastewater treatment have emerged as sustainable alternatives to activated sludge systems. However, viruses are a major sanitary concern for reuse applications of liquid and solid byproducts from these technologies. To assess their capacity to reduce viruses during secondary wastewater treatment, enveloped Phi6 and nonenveloped MS2 bacteriophages, typically used as surrogates of several types of wastewater viruses, were spiked into batch bioreactors treating synthetic municipal wastewater (SMWW). The decay of Phi6 and MS2 in anaerobic and microalgae-based reactors was compared with the decay in activated sludge batch reactors for 96 h (Phi6) and 144 h (MS2). In each reactor, bacteriophages in the soluble and solids fractions were titered, allowing the assessment of virus partitioning to biomass over time. Moreover, the influence of abiotic conditions such as agitation, oxygen absence and light excess in activated sludge, anaerobic and microalgae reactors, respectively, was assessed using dedicated SMWW control reactors. All technologies showed Phi6 and MS2 reductions. Phi6 was reduced in at least 4.7 to 6.5 log10 units, with 0 h concentrations ranging from 5.0 to 6.5 log10 PFU mL-1. Similarly, reductions achieved for MS2 were of at least 3.9 to 7.2 log10 units, from starting concentrations of 8.0 to 8.6 log10 PFU mL-1. Log-logistic models adjusted to bacteriophages' decay indicated T90 values in activated sludge and microalgae reactors of 2.2 and 7.9 h for Phi6 and of 1.0 and 11.5 h for MS2, respectively, all within typical hydraulic retention times (HRT) of full-scale operation. In the case of the microalgae technology, T99 values for Phi6 and MS2 of 12.7 h and 13.6 h were also lower than typical operating HRTs (2-10 d), while activated sludge and anaerobic treatment achieved less than 99 % of Phi6 and 50 % of MS2 inactivation within 12 h of typical HRT, respectively. Thus, the microalgae-based treatment exhibited a higher potential to reduce the disinfection requirements of treated wastewater.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrés F Torres-Franco
- Institute of Sustainable Processes, Dr. Mergelina, s/n, 47011 Valladolid, Spain; Department of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology, School of Industrial Engineering, University of Valladolid, Dr. Mergelina. s/n, 47011 Valladolid, Spain.
| | - Deborah Leroy-Freitas
- Institute of Sustainable Processes, Dr. Mergelina, s/n, 47011 Valladolid, Spain; Department of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology, School of Industrial Engineering, University of Valladolid, Dr. Mergelina. s/n, 47011 Valladolid, Spain
| | - Cristina Martinez-Fraile
- Institute of Sustainable Processes, Dr. Mergelina, s/n, 47011 Valladolid, Spain; Department of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology, School of Industrial Engineering, University of Valladolid, Dr. Mergelina. s/n, 47011 Valladolid, Spain
| | - Elisa Rodríguez
- Institute of Sustainable Processes, Dr. Mergelina, s/n, 47011 Valladolid, Spain; Department of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology, School of Industrial Engineering, University of Valladolid, Dr. Mergelina. s/n, 47011 Valladolid, Spain
| | - Pedro A García-Encina
- Institute of Sustainable Processes, Dr. Mergelina, s/n, 47011 Valladolid, Spain; Department of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology, School of Industrial Engineering, University of Valladolid, Dr. Mergelina. s/n, 47011 Valladolid, Spain
| | - Raúl Muñoz
- Institute of Sustainable Processes, Dr. Mergelina, s/n, 47011 Valladolid, Spain; Department of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology, School of Industrial Engineering, University of Valladolid, Dr. Mergelina. s/n, 47011 Valladolid, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Minor NR, Ramuta MD, Stauss MR, Harwood OE, Brakefield SF, Alberts A, Vuyk WC, Bobholz MJ, Rosinski JR, Wolf S, Lund M, Mussa M, Beversdorf LJ, Aliota MT, O'Connor SL, O'Connor DH. Metagenomic sequencing detects human respiratory and enteric viruses in air samples collected from congregate settings. Sci Rep 2023; 13:21398. [PMID: 38049453 PMCID: PMC10696062 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-48352-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Innovative methods for evaluating virus risk and spread, independent of test-seeking behavior, are needed to improve routine public health surveillance, outbreak response, and pandemic preparedness. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, environmental surveillance strategies, including wastewater andair sampling, have been used alongside widespread individual-based SARS-CoV-2 testing programs to provide population-level data. These environmental surveillance strategies have predominantly relied on pathogen-specific detection methods to monitor viruses through space and time. However, this provides a limited picture of the virome present in an environmental sample, leaving us blind to most circulating viruses. In this study, we explore whether pathogen-agnostic deep sequencing can expand the utility of air sampling to detect many human viruses. We show that sequence-independent single-primer amplification sequencing of nucleic acids from air samples can detect common and unexpected human respiratory and enteric viruses, including influenza virus type A and C, respiratory syncytial virus, human coronaviruses, rhinovirus, SARS-CoV-2, rotavirus, mamastrovirus, and astrovirus.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Mitchell D Ramuta
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 555 Science Drive, Madison, WI, 53711, USA
| | | | - Olivia E Harwood
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 555 Science Drive, Madison, WI, 53711, USA
| | - Savannah F Brakefield
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 555 Science Drive, Madison, WI, 53711, USA
| | - Alexandra Alberts
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 555 Science Drive, Madison, WI, 53711, USA
| | - William C Vuyk
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 555 Science Drive, Madison, WI, 53711, USA
| | - Max J Bobholz
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 555 Science Drive, Madison, WI, 53711, USA
| | - Jenna R Rosinski
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 555 Science Drive, Madison, WI, 53711, USA
| | - Sydney Wolf
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 555 Science Drive, Madison, WI, 53711, USA
| | - Madelyn Lund
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 555 Science Drive, Madison, WI, 53711, USA
| | - Madison Mussa
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 555 Science Drive, Madison, WI, 53711, USA
| | | | - Matthew T Aliota
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Shelby L O'Connor
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 555 Science Drive, Madison, WI, 53711, USA
| | - David H O'Connor
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, Madison, WI, USA.
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 555 Science Drive, Madison, WI, 53711, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Goodwin JM, Golder PM, LeClair AR, Jun SC, Huckstep OJ, Steel JJ, Balboni AL. Designing a Wastewater-Based Epidemiology Study at the U.S. Air Force Academy: Using Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 to Test a Sentinel System for Early Disease Outbreak Detection. Mil Med 2023; 188:e3675-e3679. [PMID: 37405705 DOI: 10.1093/milmed/usad239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/06/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The presence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) in wastewater has been proposed as a sentinel surveillance epidemiological tool for detection of infectious disease at a community level and as a complementary approach to syndromic surveillance of infectious disease outbreaks. We have designed a study to test the presence and quantity of SARS-CoV2, the virus responsible for COVID19, in the wastewater treatment facility (WWTF) of the U.S. Air Force Academy. MATERIALS AND METHODS Wastewater samples were tested in the laboratory to quantify the amount of SARS-CoV2 RNA using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Raw SARS-CoV2 viral titer in wastewater was normalized to the viral titer of a fecal marker, pepper mild mottle virus, to correct for dilutions. Temporal and spatial trends of COVID19 were analyzed. Furthermore, we compared wastewater analysis results against clinical data to assist public health decisions. RESULTS Preliminary data suggest that wastewater analysis can provide temporal and spatial trends of COVID19. The geographically discrete WWTF at the U.S. Air Force suggests that wastewater testing is a useful approach to developing a comprehensive sentinel surveillance system. CONCLUSIONS Together with ongoing syndromic surveillance data, this proof-of-concept study seeks to determine whether early detection of SARS-CoV2 in a closed system WWTF correlates to changes in community and clinically reported COVID19. The well-documented population served by the geographically discrete WWTF at the U.S. Air Force Academy may serve to better elucidate the adjunctive role of wastewater testing in a comprehensive surveillance system. These results may be of particular interest to the DoD and local commanders given the WWTFs under their immediate control and the information that these studies may provide in support of operational readiness through early detection of disease outbreaks.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jordan M Goodwin
- Department of Biology, US Air Force Academy, USAFA, CO 80840, USA
| | - Philip M Golder
- Department of Biology, US Air Force Academy, USAFA, CO 80840, USA
| | - Amy R LeClair
- Department of Biology, US Air Force Academy, USAFA, CO 80840, USA
| | - Samuel C Jun
- Department of Biology, US Air Force Academy, USAFA, CO 80840, USA
| | - Odaro J Huckstep
- Department of Biology, US Air Force Academy, USAFA, CO 80840, USA
- Life Science Research Center, US Air Force Academy, USAFA, CO 80840, USA
| | - J Jordan Steel
- Department of Biology, US Air Force Academy, USAFA, CO 80840, USA
| | - Armand L Balboni
- Department of Biology, US Air Force Academy, USAFA, CO 80840, USA
- Life Science Research Center, US Air Force Academy, USAFA, CO 80840, USA
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Minor NR, Ramuta MD, Stauss MR, Harwood OE, Brakefield SF, Alberts A, Vuyk WC, Bobholz MJ, Rosinski JR, Wolf S, Lund M, Mussa M, Beversdorf LJ, Aliota MT, O’Connor SL, O’Connor DH. Metagenomic sequencing detects human respiratory and enteric viruses in air samples collected from congregate settings. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2023:2023.05.28.23290648. [PMID: 37398492 PMCID: PMC10312882 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.28.23290648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
Innovative methods for evaluating virus risk and spread, independent of test-seeking behavior, are needed to improve routine public health surveillance, outbreak response, and pandemic preparedness. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, environmental surveillance strategies, including wastewater and air sampling, have been used alongside widespread individual-based SARS-CoV-2 testing programs to provide population-level data. These environmental surveillance strategies have predominantly relied on pathogen-specific detection methods to monitor viruses through space and time. However, this provides a limited picture of the virome present in an environmental sample, leaving us blind to most circulating viruses. In this study, we explore whether pathogen-agnostic deep sequencing can expand the utility of air sampling to detect many human viruses. We show that sequence-independent single-primer amplification sequencing of nucleic acids from air samples can detect common and unexpected human respiratory and enteric viruses, including influenza virus type A and C, respiratory syncytial virus, human coronaviruses, rhinovirus, SARS-CoV-2, rotavirus, mamastrovirus, and astrovirus.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Mitchell D. Ramuta
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | | | - Olivia E. Harwood
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Savannah F. Brakefield
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Alexandra Alberts
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - William C. Vuyk
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Max J. Bobholz
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Jenna R. Rosinski
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Sydney Wolf
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Madelyn Lund
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Madison Mussa
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | | | - Matthew T. Aliota
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Shelby L. O’Connor
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, Madison, WI USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - David H. O’Connor
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, Madison, WI USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Pendergraft MA, Belda-Ferre P, Petras D, Morris CK, Mitts BA, Aron AT, Bryant M, Schwartz T, Ackermann G, Humphrey G, Kaandorp E, Dorrestein PC, Knight R, Prather KA. Bacterial and Chemical Evidence of Coastal Water Pollution from the Tijuana River in Sea Spray Aerosol. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:4071-4081. [PMID: 36862087 PMCID: PMC10018732 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c02312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Roughly half of the human population lives near the coast, and coastal water pollution (CWP) is widespread. Coastal waters along Tijuana, Mexico, and Imperial Beach (IB), USA, are frequently polluted by millions of gallons of untreated sewage and stormwater runoff. Entering coastal waters causes over 100 million global annual illnesses, but CWP has the potential to reach many more people on land via transfer in sea spray aerosol (SSA). Using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, we found sewage-associated bacteria in the polluted Tijuana River flowing into coastal waters and returning to land in marine aerosol. Tentative chemical identification from non-targeted tandem mass spectrometry identified anthropogenic compounds as chemical indicators of aerosolized CWP, but they were ubiquitous and present at highest concentrations in continental aerosol. Bacteria were better tracers of airborne CWP, and 40 tracer bacteria comprised up to 76% of the bacteria community in IB air. These findings confirm that CWP transfers in SSA and exposes many people along the coast. Climate change may exacerbate CWP with more extreme storms, and our findings call for minimizing CWP and investigating the health effects of airborne exposure.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew A. Pendergraft
- Scripps
Institution of Oceanography, University
of California San Diego, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Pedro Belda-Ferre
- Department
of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Daniel Petras
- Scripps
Institution of Oceanography, University
of California San Diego, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
- Collaborative
Mass Spectrometry Innovation Center, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and
Pharmaceutical Science, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
- CMFI
Cluster of Excellence, Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and
Medicine, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen 72076, Germany
| | - Clare K. Morris
- Scripps
Institution of Oceanography, University
of California San Diego, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Brock A. Mitts
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Allegra T. Aron
- Collaborative
Mass Spectrometry Innovation Center, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and
Pharmaceutical Science, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of Denver, Denver, Colorado 80210, United
States
| | - MacKenzie Bryant
- Department
of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Tara Schwartz
- Department
of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Gail Ackermann
- Department
of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Greg Humphrey
- Department
of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Ethan Kaandorp
- Independent
Researcher, Darwin, California 93522, United States
| | - Pieter C. Dorrestein
- Department
of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
- Collaborative
Mass Spectrometry Innovation Center, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and
Pharmaceutical Science, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
- Center
for Microbiome Innovation, University of
California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Rob Knight
- Department
of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
- Center
for Microbiome Innovation, University of
California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
- Department
of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
- Department
of Computer Sciences and Engineering, University
of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Kimberly A. Prather
- Scripps
Institution of Oceanography, University
of California San Diego, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Jantharadej K, Kongprajug A, Mhuantong W, Limpiyakorn T, Suwannasilp BB, Mongkolsuk S, Sirikanchana K. Comparative genomic analyses of pathogenic bacteria and viruses and antimicrobial resistance genes in an urban transportation canal. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 848:157652. [PMID: 35905960 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157652] [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: 05/25/2022] [Revised: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Water commuting is a major urban transportation method in Thailand. However, urban boat commuters risk exposure to microbially contaminated bioaerosols or splash. We aimed to investigate the microbial community structures, identify bacterial and viral pathogens, and assess the abundance of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) using next-generation sequencing (NGS) at 10 sampling sites along an 18 km transportation boat route in the Saen Saep Canal, which traverses cultural, commercial, and suburban land-based zones. The shotgun metagenomic (Illumina HiSeq) and 16S rRNA gene amplicon (V4 region) (Illumina MiSeq) sequencing platforms revealed diverse microbial clusters aligned with the zones, with explicit segregation between the cultural and suburban sites. The shotgun metagenomic sequencing further identified bacterial and viral pathogens, and ARGs. The predominant bacterial pathogens (>0.5 % relative abundance) were the Burkholderia cepacia complex, Arcobacter butzleri, Burkholderia vietnamiensis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and the Enterobacter cloacae complex. The viruses (0.28 %-0.67 % abundance in all microbial sequences) comprised mainly vertebrate viruses and bacteriophages, with encephalomyocarditis virus (33.3 %-58.2 % abundance in viral sequences), hepatitis C virus genotype 1, human alphaherpesvirus 1, and human betaherpesvirus 6A among the human viral pathogens. The 15 ARG types contained 611 ARG subtypes, including those resistant to beta-lactam, which was the most diverse and abundant group (206 subtypes; 17.0 %-27.5 %), aminoglycoside (94 subtypes; 9.6 %-15.3 %), tetracycline (80 subtypes; 15.6 %-20.2 %), and macrolide (79 subtypes; 14.5 %-32.1 %). Interestingly, the abundance of ARGs associated with resistance to beta-lactam, trimethoprim, and sulphonamide, as well as A. butzleri and crAssphage, at the cultural sites was significantly different from the other sites (p < 0.05). We demonstrated the benefits of using NGS to deliver insights into microbial communities, and antimicrobial resistance, both of which pose a risk to human health. Using NGS may facilitate microbial risk mitigation and management for urban water commuters and proximal residents.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Krittayapong Jantharadej
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Akechai Kongprajug
- Research Laboratory of Biotechnology, Chulabhorn Research Institute, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Wuttichai Mhuantong
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Enzyme Technology Research Team, Pathum Thani, Thailand
| | - Tawan Limpiyakorn
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand; Center of Excellence on Hazardous Substance Management, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand; Biotechnology for Wastewater Engineering Research Group, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Benjaporn Boonchayaanant Suwannasilp
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand; Center of Excellence on Hazardous Substance Management, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand; Biotechnology for Wastewater Engineering Research Group, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Skorn Mongkolsuk
- Research Laboratory of Biotechnology, Chulabhorn Research Institute, Bangkok, Thailand; Center of Excellence on Environmental Health and Toxicology (EHT), OPS, MHESI, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Kwanrawee Sirikanchana
- Research Laboratory of Biotechnology, Chulabhorn Research Institute, Bangkok, Thailand; Center of Excellence on Environmental Health and Toxicology (EHT), OPS, MHESI, Bangkok, Thailand.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Tian J, Yan C, Alcega SG, Hassard F, Tyrrel S, Coulon F, Nasir ZA. Detection and characterization of bioaerosol emissions from wastewater treatment plants: Challenges and opportunities. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:958514. [PMID: 36439798 PMCID: PMC9684734 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.958514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 09/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Rapid population growth and urbanization process have led to increasing demand for wastewater treatment capacity resulting in a non-negligible increase of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in several cities around the world. Bioaerosol emissions from WWTPs may pose adverse health risks to the sewage workers and nearby residents, which raises increasing public health concerns. However, there are still significant knowledge gaps on the interplay between process-based bioaerosol characteristics and exposures and the quantification of health risk which limit our ability to design effective risk assessment and management strategies. This review provides a critical overview of the existing knowledge of bioaerosol emissions from WWTPs including their nature, magnitude and size distribution, and highlights the shortcoming associated with existing sampling and analysis methods. The recent advancements made for rapid detection of bioaerosols are then discussed, especially the emerging real time detection methods to highlight the directions for future research needs to advance the knowledge on bioaerosol emissions from WWTPs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jianghan Tian
- School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Cheng Yan
- School of Water, Energy and Environment, Cranfield University, Cranfield, United Kingdom
- School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Sonia Garcia Alcega
- School of Physical Sciences, The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom
| | - Francis Hassard
- School of Water, Energy and Environment, Cranfield University, Cranfield, United Kingdom
- Institute for Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability, University of South Africa, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Sean Tyrrel
- School of Water, Energy and Environment, Cranfield University, Cranfield, United Kingdom
| | - Frederic Coulon
- School of Water, Energy and Environment, Cranfield University, Cranfield, United Kingdom
| | - Zaheer Ahmad Nasir
- School of Water, Energy and Environment, Cranfield University, Cranfield, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Eryildiz B, Yavuzturk Gul B, Koyuncu I. A sustainable approach for the removal methods and analytical determination methods of antiviral drugs from water/wastewater: A review. JOURNAL OF WATER PROCESS ENGINEERING 2022; 49:103036. [PMID: 35966450 PMCID: PMC9359512 DOI: 10.1016/j.jwpe.2022.103036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Revised: 06/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
In the last years, antiviral drugs especially used for the treatment of COVID-19 have been considered emerging contaminants because of their continuous occurrence and persistence in water/wastewater even at low concentrations. Furthermore, as compared to antiviral drugs, their metabolites and transformation products of these pharmaceuticals are more persistent in the environment. They have been found in environmental matrices all over the world, demonstrating that conventional treatment technologies are unsuccessful for removing them from water/wastewater. Several approaches for degrading/removing antiviral drugs have been studied to avoid this contamination. In this study, the present level of knowledge on the input sources, occurrence, determination methods and, especially, the degradation and removal methods of antiviral drugs are discussed in water/wastewater. Different removal methods, such as conventional treatment methods (i.e. activated sludge), advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), adsorption, membrane processes, and combined processes, were evaluated. In addition, the antiviral drugs and these metabolites, as well as the transformation products created as a result of treatment, were examined. Future perspectives for removing antiviral drugs, their metabolites, and transformation products were also considered.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bahriye Eryildiz
- Istanbul Technical University, Environmental Engineering Department, Maslak 34469, Istanbul, Turkey
- National Research Center on Membrane Technologies, Istanbul Technical University, Maslak 34469, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Bahar Yavuzturk Gul
- National Research Center on Membrane Technologies, Istanbul Technical University, Maslak 34469, Istanbul, Turkey
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Istanbul Technical University, Maslak 34469, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Ismail Koyuncu
- Istanbul Technical University, Environmental Engineering Department, Maslak 34469, Istanbul, Turkey
- National Research Center on Membrane Technologies, Istanbul Technical University, Maslak 34469, Istanbul, Turkey
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Weagle CL, Saint-Louis R, Dumas-Lefebvre É, Chavanne C, Dumont D, Chang RYW. Sea-air transfer of a tracer dye observed during the Tracer Release Experiment with implications for airborne contaminant exposure. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 182:113945. [PMID: 35905703 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113945] [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: 04/07/2022] [Revised: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Rhodamine water tracer (RWT) released during the 2021 Tracer Release Experiment in the St. Lawrence Estuary provides a proxy for the water-soluble fractions of contaminant spills. Measurements of total and size-resolved aerosols were taken onboard a research vessel throughout the experiment. Size-resolved aerosol measurements show airborne transmission of water-soluble RWT in a bimodal distribution peaking at 5.2 μm and 0.9 μm. Highest aerosol RWT (30.5 pg m-3) was observed in the 12-hour daytime period following the first dye release (Sept. 5), while the lowest (8.8 pg m-3) was observed in the subsequent nighttime sample. Available wind and RWT patch information were used to identify factors contributing to the factor-of-three variation in aerosol RWT concentrations. Negligible correlations were found between aerosol RWT and wind speed and sample time-of-day. Wind direction is isolated as the key variable for consideration in identifying the impact of contaminant spills on coastal and inland communities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Crystal L Weagle
- Department of Physics and Atmospheric Science, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada.
| | - Richard Saint-Louis
- Département De Biologie, Chimie et Géographie, Université du Québec à Rimouski, Rimouski, QC G5L 2Z9, Canada
| | - Élie Dumas-Lefebvre
- Institut des Sciences de la mer de Rimouski, Université du Québec à Rimouski, Rimouski, QC G5L 3A1, Canada
| | - Cédric Chavanne
- Institut des Sciences de la mer de Rimouski, Université du Québec à Rimouski, Rimouski, QC G5L 3A1, Canada
| | - Dany Dumont
- Institut des Sciences de la mer de Rimouski, Université du Québec à Rimouski, Rimouski, QC G5L 3A1, Canada
| | - Rachel Y-W Chang
- Department of Physics and Atmospheric Science, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Farkas K, Pellett C, Alex-Sanders N, Bridgman MTP, Corbishley A, Grimsley JMS, Kasprzyk-Hordern B, Kevill JL, Pântea I, Richardson-O’Neill IS, Lambert-Slosarska K, Woodhall N, Jones DL. Comparative Assessment of Filtration- and Precipitation-Based Methods for the Concentration of SARS-CoV-2 and Other Viruses from Wastewater. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0110222. [PMID: 35950856 PMCID: PMC9430619 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01102-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) has been widely used to track levels of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the community during the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the rapid expansion of WBE, many methods have been used and developed for virus concentration and detection in wastewater. However, very little information is available on the relative performance of these approaches. In this study, we compared the performance of five commonly used wastewater concentration methods for the detection and quantification of pathogenic viruses (SARS-CoV-2, norovirus, rotavirus, influenza, and measles viruses), fecal indicator viruses (crAssphage, adenovirus, pepper mild mottle virus), and process control viruses (murine norovirus and bacteriophage Phi6) in laboratory spiking experiments. The methods evaluated included those based on either ultrafiltration (Amicon centrifugation units and InnovaPrep device) or precipitation (using polyethylene glycol [PEG], beef extract-enhanced PEG, and ammonium sulfate). The two best methods were further tested on 115 unspiked wastewater samples. We found that the volume and composition of the wastewater and the characteristics of the target viruses greatly affected virus recovery, regardless of the method used for concentration. All tested methods are suitable for routine virus concentration; however, the Amicon ultrafiltration method and the beef extract-enhanced PEG precipitation methods yielded the best recoveries. We recommend the use of ultrafiltration-based concentration for low sample volumes with high virus titers and ammonium levels and the use of precipitation-based concentration for rare pathogen detection in high-volume samples. IMPORTANCE As wastewater-based epidemiology is utilized for the surveillance of COVID-19 at the community level in many countries, it is crucial to develop and validate reliable methods for virus detection in sewage. The most important step in viral detection is the efficient concentration of the virus particles and/or their genome for subsequent analysis. In this study, we compared five different methods for the detection and quantification of different viruses in wastewater. We found that dead-end ultrafiltration and beef extract-enhanced polyethylene glycol precipitation were the most reliable approaches. We also discovered that sample volume and physico-chemical properties have a great effect on virus recovery. Hence, wastewater process methods and start volumes should be carefully selected in ongoing and future wastewater-based national surveillance programs for COVID-19 and beyond.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kata Farkas
- Centre for Environmental Biotechnology, School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, United Kingdom
- School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Anglesey, United Kingdom
| | - Cameron Pellett
- Centre for Environmental Biotechnology, School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, United Kingdom
| | - Natasha Alex-Sanders
- Centre for Environmental Biotechnology, School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew T. P. Bridgman
- Centre for Environmental Biotechnology, School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, United Kingdom
| | - Alexander Corbishley
- Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Roslin, United Kingdom
| | - Jasmine M. S. Grimsley
- UK Health Security Agency, Environmental Monitoring for Health Protection, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Jessica L. Kevill
- Centre for Environmental Biotechnology, School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, United Kingdom
| | - Igor Pântea
- Centre for Environmental Biotechnology, School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, United Kingdom
| | - India S. Richardson-O’Neill
- Centre for Environmental Biotechnology, School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, United Kingdom
| | - Kathryn Lambert-Slosarska
- Centre for Environmental Biotechnology, School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, United Kingdom
| | - Nick Woodhall
- Centre for Environmental Biotechnology, School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, United Kingdom
| | - Davey L. Jones
- Centre for Environmental Biotechnology, School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, United Kingdom
- Food Futures Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Li J, Liu J, Yu H, Zhao W, Xia X, You S, Zhang J, Tong H, Wei L. Sources, fates and treatment strategies of typical viruses in urban sewage collection/treatment systems: A review. DESALINATION 2022; 534:115798. [PMID: 35498908 PMCID: PMC9033450 DOI: 10.1016/j.desal.2022.115798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Revised: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The ongoing coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) throughout the world has severely threatened the global economy and public health. Due to receiving severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) from a wide variety of sources (e.g., households, hospitals, slaughterhouses), urban sewage treatment systems are regarded as an important path for the transmission of waterborne viruses. This review presents a quantitative profile of the concentration distribution of typical viruses within wastewater collection systems and evaluates the influence of different characteristics of sewer systems on virus species and concentration. Then, the efficiencies and mechanisms of virus removal in the units of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are summarized and compared, among which the inactivation efficiencies of typical viruses by typical disinfection approaches under varied operational conditions are elucidated. Subsequently, the occurrence and removal of viruses in treated effluent reuse and desalination, as well as that in sewage sludge treatment, are discussed. Potential dissemination of viruses is emphasized by occurrence via aerosolization from toilets, the collection system and WWTP aeration, which might have a vital role in the transmission and spread of viruses. Finally, the frequency and concentration of viruses in reclaimed water, the probability of infection are also reviewed for discussing the potential health risks.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jianju Li
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resources and Environment (SKLUWRE), School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Jing Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resources and Environment (SKLUWRE), School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
- School of Geosciences, China University of Petroleum, Qingdao 266580, China
| | - Hang Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resources and Environment (SKLUWRE), School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Weixin Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resources and Environment (SKLUWRE), School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Xinhui Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resources and Environment (SKLUWRE), School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Shijie You
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resources and Environment (SKLUWRE), School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Jun Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resources and Environment (SKLUWRE), School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Hailong Tong
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resources and Environment (SKLUWRE), School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
- Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150069, China
| | - Liangliang Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resources and Environment (SKLUWRE), School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Sodhi KK, Singh CK. A systematic review on the occurrence, fate, and remediation of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY : IJEST 2022; 20:8073-8086. [PMID: 35755183 PMCID: PMC9207430 DOI: 10.1007/s13762-022-04326-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Revised: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization. Along with impairing the respiratory system, it also affects the gastrointestinal system. By reviewing experiments on the wastewater analysis for the detection of coronavirus, this study explores the fate, persistence, and various remediation strategies for the virus removal from the wastewater. The results indicated that the virus can be detected in the wastewater samples, feces, and sewage, even before the onset of symptoms. Coronavirus can be a potential panzootic disease, as several mammalian species get infected by the deadly virus. The disinfection strategies used earlier for the treatment of wastewater are not sufficient for the removal of viruses from the wastewater. Therefore, concerted efforts should be made to understand their fate, sources, and occurrence in the environmental matrices. To prevent the spread of the panzootic disease, revised guidelines should be issued for the remediation of the virus. Recent viral remediation methods such as membrane bioreactors and advanced oxidation methods can be used. Therefore, the present review puts a light on the current knowledge on the occurrence of coronaviruses in wastewater, the possible sources, fate, and removal strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- K. K. Sodhi
- Department of Zoology, Hansraj College, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110007 India
- Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110007 India
| | - C. K. Singh
- Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110007 India
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Stobnicka-Kupiec A, Gołofit-Szymczak M, Cyprowski M, Górny RL. Detection and identification of potentially infectious gastrointestinal and respiratory viruses at workplaces of wastewater treatment plants with viability qPCR/RT-qPCR. Sci Rep 2022; 12:4517. [PMID: 35296727 PMCID: PMC8924946 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-08452-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to qualitatively and quantitatively assess the prevalence of the most common respiratory and gastrointestinal viruses in the air, surface swab, and influent/effluent samples collected in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Application of qPCR/RT-qPCR (quantitative polymerase chain reaction/reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction) assays combined with PMA (propidium monoazide) dye pretreatment allowed detecting the potentially infectious and disintegrated viral particles in collected samples. In the air at workplaces in WWTPs, the most frequent isolation with the highest concentrations (reaching up to 103 gc/m3 of potentially infectious intact viral particles) were observed in case of adenoviruses (AdVs) and rotaviruses (RoVs), followed by noroviruses (NoVs). Viruses were significantly more often detected in the air samples collected with Coriolis μ impinger, than with MAS-100NT impactor. The temperature negatively (Spearman correlation: –1 < R < 0; p < 0.05), while RH (relative humidity) positively (0 < R < 1; p < 0.05) affected airborne concentrations of potentially infectious viral particles. In turn, the predominant viruses on studied surfaces were RoVs and noroviruses GII (NoV GII) with concentrations of potentially infectious virions up to 104 gc/100 cm2. In the cases of SARS-CoV-2 and presumptive SARS-CoV-2 or other coronaviruses, their concentrations reached up to 103 gc/100 cm2. The contamination level of steel surfaces in WWTPs was similar to this on plastic ones. This study revealed that the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of respiratory and gastrointestinal viruses at workplaces in WWTPs is important for proper exposure assessment and needs to be included in risk management in occupational environment with high abundance of microbial pollutants derived from wastewater.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Agata Stobnicka-Kupiec
- Central Institute for Labour Protection - National Research Institute, Czerniakowska 16 Street, Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Małgorzata Gołofit-Szymczak
- Central Institute for Labour Protection - National Research Institute, Czerniakowska 16 Street, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Marcin Cyprowski
- Central Institute for Labour Protection - National Research Institute, Czerniakowska 16 Street, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Rafał L Górny
- Central Institute for Labour Protection - National Research Institute, Czerniakowska 16 Street, Warsaw, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Wu JT, Song XQ, Liang LW, Yan C. Estimating acceptable exposure time for bioaerosols emission in a wastewater treatment plant by reverse quantitative microbial risk assessment based on various risk benchmarks. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:13345-13355. [PMID: 34590226 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-16699-w] [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: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Populations exposed to bioaerosols over time in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) will be infected. Then, the reverse quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) provides a quantitative framework for the estimation of acceptable exposure time to protect people from excessive exposure and then manage their health risk. In this study, the acceptable exposure time for staffs and visiting researchers exposed to S. aureus or E. coli bioaerosols emitted from aeration ponds in WWTPs was estimated and analyzed by Monte Carlo simulation-based reverse QMRA (using the 1E-4 pppy suggested by the US EPA or 1E-6 DALYs pppy suggested by the WHO as benchmarks). The 1E-3 and 1E-2 pppy were selected as a series of loose annual infection risk benchmarks to calculate a practical acceptable exposure time. The results showed that for the acceptable exposure time in each specific exposure scenario, the exposure of females was consistently 0.3-0.4 times longer than that of males; the exposure of staffs was 3.6-3.9 times shorter than that of visiting researchers; the exposures of populations in the rotating-disc aeration mode were consistently 6.3-6.6 and 2.8-3.1 times longer than those in the microporous aeration mode for S. aureus and E. coli bioaerosols, respectively. The acceptable exposure time with the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) was 33.4-35.0 times as long as that without PPE. The US EPA benchmark is stricter than the WHO benchmark with regard to the estimation of the acceptable exposure time of S. aureus or E. coli bioaerosols. The 1E-3 pppy is more appropriate and practical than the US EPA benchmark, but the 1E-2 pppy is notably too loose for health risk management. This research can assist managers of WWTPs to formulate a justified exposure time and develop applicable administrative and personal intervention strategies. The results can enrich the knowledge bases of reverse QMRA to elect a series of loose health-based target risk benchmarks for health risk management.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jun-Ting Wu
- School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, 388 Lumo Road, Wuhan, 430074, People's Republic of China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Environmental Water Science in the Yangtze River Basin, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiao-Qing Song
- The Pollution Control Engineering Technology Center of Taizhou, Taizhou, 318000, People's Republic of China
| | - Lan-Wei Liang
- School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, 388 Lumo Road, Wuhan, 430074, People's Republic of China
| | - Cheng Yan
- School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, 388 Lumo Road, Wuhan, 430074, People's Republic of China.
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Environmental Water Science in the Yangtze River Basin, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, People's Republic of China.
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Detection and Phylogenetic Analysis of Hepatitis A Virus in the Wastewater Treatment Plant of Ekbatan Town in Tehran, Iran. HEPATITIS MONTHLY 2022. [DOI: 10.5812/hepatmon.121270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/13/2023]
Abstract
Background: Limited sources of fresh water necessitate the application of health policies for treatment and decontamination of human sewage for further use. A wide variety of infectious agents, including bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses, can be found in sewage. Enteric viruses such as hepatitis A virus (HAV) can survive the current treatments and infect susceptible hosts. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate HAV contamination in human sewage before and after treatment in the wastewater treatment plant of Ekbatan town in Tehran, Iran, and analyze the phylogenetic properties of the identified viruses. Methods: Over a 12-month period, we collected the wastewater samples including influent, before chlorination, and effluent, from the wastewater treatment plant of Ekbatan town in Tehran, Iran. Ribonucleic acid (RNA) extraction, complementary deoxyribonucleic acid (cDNA) synthesis, and semi-nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were performed to identify HAV contamination. Phylogenetic analysis was performed to investigate subgenotypes of the virus. Results: HAV was detected in all influents and samples before chlorination, while the virus was detected in 50% of the effluent samples. All detected viruses belonged to subgenotype IB. Conclusions: Investigating the presence of HAV in sewage provides a general picture of the virus spread in the population of interest. HAV was detected in all influent samples, indicating that the infection is endemic in this area all year round. This also indicates the inability of the current treatment protocols in virus removal, which can be a threat to the public health.
Collapse
|
24
|
Kataki S, Patowary R, Chatterjee S, Vairale MG, Sharma S, Dwivedi SK, Kamboj DV. Bioaerosolization and pathogen transmission in wastewater treatment plants: Microbial composition, emission rate, factors affecting and control measures. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 287:132180. [PMID: 34560498 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.132180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2021] [Revised: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 09/04/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Environmental consequences during wastewater management are vital and getting increased attention to interrupt any possible disease transmission pathways. Evidence of bioaerosolization of pathogen from wastewater to atmosphere during wastewater treatment have been highlighted previously. Understanding aerosol-based transmission in wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) is important because of the hazard it presents to the workers involved or to the population around and appears to be very significant during pandemic occurrences. This work aims to evaluate the possibility of pathogenic content of wastewater getting aerosolized during treatment by synthesizing the evidence on the potential aerosol generating treatment phases of WWTP, bioaerosol microbial composition, emission load and the factors affecting the bioaerosol formation. We also present some potential control strategies to take up in WWTP which may be useful to avoid such occurrences. Implementation of Aeration based strategies (use of diffused, submerged aeration, reduction in aeration rate), Improved ventilation based strategies (effective ventilation with adequate supply of clean air, minimizing air recirculation, supplementation with infection control measures such as filtration, irradiation), Improved protection based strategy (periodic monitoring of disinfection efficiency, pathogenic load of wastewater, improved operation policy) and other strategies (provision of buffer zone, wind shielding, water spraying on aerosol, screened surface of treatment units) could be very much relevant and significant in case of disease outbreak through aerosol formation in wastewater environment. Recent progress in sensor-based data collection, analysis, cloud-based storage, and early warning techniques in WWTP may help to reduce the risk of infectious transmission, especially during a pandemic situation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sampriti Kataki
- Biodegradation Technology Division, Defence Research Laboratory, DRDO, Tezpur, Assam, India
| | - Rupam Patowary
- Foundation for Environmental and Economic Development Services, Manipur, India
| | - Soumya Chatterjee
- Biodegradation Technology Division, Defence Research Laboratory, DRDO, Tezpur, Assam, India.
| | - Mohan G Vairale
- Biodegradation Technology Division, Defence Research Laboratory, DRDO, Tezpur, Assam, India
| | - Sonika Sharma
- Biodegradation Technology Division, Defence Research Laboratory, DRDO, Tezpur, Assam, India
| | - Sanjai K Dwivedi
- Biodegradation Technology Division, Defence Research Laboratory, DRDO, Tezpur, Assam, India
| | - Dev Vrat Kamboj
- Biodegradation Technology Division, Defence Research Laboratory, DRDO, Tezpur, Assam, India
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
De Pasquale I, Lo Porto C, Dell’Edera M, Curri ML, Comparelli R. TiO2-based nanomaterials assisted photocatalytic treatment for virus inactivation: perspectives and applications. Curr Opin Chem Eng 2021; 34:100716. [DOI: 10.1016/j.coche.2021.100716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
|
26
|
Liu Z, Skowron K, Grudlewska-Buda K, Wiktorczyk-Kapischke N. The existence, spread, and strategies for environmental monitoring and control of SARS-CoV-2 in environmental media. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 795:148949. [PMID: 34252782 PMCID: PMC8262394 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Revised: 06/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is the most influential infectious disease to emerge in the early 21st century. The outbreak of COVID-19 has caused a great many deaths and has had a negative impact on the world's economic development. The etiological agent of COVID-19 is severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). SARS-CoV-2, which is highly infectious and variable, can be transmitted through different environmental media (gaseous, liquid, and solid). There are many unanswered questions surrounding this virus. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the latest global COVID-19 epidemic situation, SARS-CoV-2 variants, the progress in SARS-CoV-2 vaccine use, and the existence and spread of SARS-CoV-2 in gaseous, liquid, and solid media, with particular emphasis on the prevention and control of further spread of the disease. This review aims to help people worldwide to become more familiar with the transmission characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 in environmental media, so as targeted measures to fight the epidemic, reduce deaths, and restore the economy can be implemented under the pressure of global SARS-CoV-2 vaccine shortages.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhongchuang Liu
- Green Intelligence Environmental School, Yangtze Normal University, 16 Juxian Rd. Lidu, Fuling District of Chongqing, China; Chongqing Multiple-source Technology Engineering Research Center for Ecological Environment Monitoring, Yangtze Normal University, 16 Juxian Rd. Lidu, Fuling District of Chongqing, China.
| | - Krzysztof Skowron
- Department of Microbiology, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Collegium Medicum of L. Rydygier in Bydgoszcz, 9 M. Skłodowskiej-Curie Street, 85-094 Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Grudlewska-Buda
- Department of Microbiology, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Collegium Medicum of L. Rydygier in Bydgoszcz, 9 M. Skłodowskiej-Curie Street, 85-094 Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - Natalia Wiktorczyk-Kapischke
- Department of Microbiology, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Collegium Medicum of L. Rydygier in Bydgoszcz, 9 M. Skłodowskiej-Curie Street, 85-094 Bydgoszcz, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Nozza E, Valentini S, Melzi G, Vecchi R, Corsini E. Advances on the immunotoxicity of outdoor particulate matter: A focus on physical and chemical properties and respiratory defence mechanisms. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 780:146391. [PMID: 33774291 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146391] [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: 12/10/2020] [Revised: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Particulate matter (PM) is acknowledged to have multiple detrimental effects on human health. In this review, we report literature results on the possible link between outdoor PM and health outcomes with a focus on pulmonary infections and the mechanisms responsible for observed negative effects. PM physical and chemical properties, such as size and chemical composition, as well as major emission sources are described for a more comprehensive view about the role played by atmospheric PM in the observed adverse health effects; to this aim, major processes leading to the deposition of PM in the respiratory tract and how this can pave the way to the onset of pathologies are also presented. From the literature works here reviewed, two ways in which PM can threaten human health promoting respiratory infectious diseases are mostly taken into account. The first pathway is related to an enhanced susceptibility and here we will also report on molecular mechanisms in the lung immune system responsible for the augmented susceptibility to pathogens, such as the damage of mechanical defensive barriers, the alteration of the innate immune response, and the generation of oxidative stress. The second one deals with the relationship between infectious agents and PM; here we recall that viruses and bacteria (BioPM) are themselves part of atmospheric PM and are collected during sampling together with particles of different origin; so, data should be analysed with caution in order to avoid any false cause-effect relation. To face these issues a multidisciplinary approach is mandatory as also evident from the ongoing research about the mechanisms hypothesized for the SARS-CoV-2 airborne spreading, which is still controversial and claims for further investigation. Therefore, we preferred not to include papers dealing with SARS-CoV-2.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- E Nozza
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Balzaretti 9, 20133 Milan, Italy; Department of Physics, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 16, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - S Valentini
- Department of Physics, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 16, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - G Melzi
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences (DiSFeB), Università degli Studi di Milano, via Balzaretti 9, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - R Vecchi
- Department of Physics, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 16, 20133 Milan, Italy.
| | - E Corsini
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Balzaretti 9, 20133 Milan, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Hube S, Wu B. Mitigation of emerging pollutants and pathogens in decentralized wastewater treatment processes: A review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 779:146545. [PMID: 33752021 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Revised: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Emerging pollutants (such as micropollutants, microplastics) and pathogens present in wastewater are of rising concern because their release can affect the natural environment and drinking water resources. In this decade, with increasing numbers of small-scale decentralized wastewater systems globally, the status of emerging pollutant and pathogen mitigation in the decentralized wastewater treatment processes has received more attention. This state-of-the-art review aims to discuss the mitigation efficiencies and mechanisms of micropollutants, microplastics, and pathogens in single-stage and hybrid decentralized wastewater treatment processes. The reviewed results revealed that hybrid wastewater treatment facilities could display better performance compared to stand-alone facilities. This is because the multiple treatment steps could offer various microenvironments, allowing incorporating several mitigation mechanisms (such as sorption, degradation, filtration, etc.) to remove complicated emerging pollutants and pathogens. The factors (such as system operation conditions, environmental conditions, wastewater matrix) influencing the removals of emerging pollutants from wastewater in these systems have been further identified. Nevertheless, it was found that very limited research work focused on synergised or conflicted effects of operation conditions on various emerging pollutants naturally present in the wastewater. Meanwhile, effective, reliable, and rapid analysis of the emerging pollutants and pathogens in the complicated wastewater matrix is still a major challenge.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Selina Hube
- Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Iceland, Hjardarhagi 2-6, IS-107 Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - Bing Wu
- Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Iceland, Hjardarhagi 2-6, IS-107 Reykjavik, Iceland.
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Pendergraft MA, Grimes DJ, Giddings SN, Feddersen F, Beall CM, Lee C, Santander MV, Prather KA. Airborne transmission pathway for coastal water pollution. PeerJ 2021; 9:e11358. [PMID: 34164231 PMCID: PMC8191489 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.11358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Each year, over one hundred million people become ill and tens of thousands die from exposure to viruses and bacteria from sewage transported to the ocean by rivers, estuaries, stormwater, and other coastal discharges. Water activities and seafood consumption have been emphasized as the major exposure pathways to coastal water pollution. In contrast, relatively little is known about the potential for airborne exposure to pollutants and pathogens from contaminated seawater. The Cross Surfzone/Inner-shelf Dye Exchange (CSIDE) study was a large-scale experiment designed to investigate the transport pathways of water pollution along the coast by releasing dye into the surfzone in Imperial Beach, CA. Additionally, we leveraged this ocean-focused study to investigate potential airborne transmission of coastal water pollution by collecting complementary air samples along the coast and inland. Aerial measurements tracked sea surface dye concentrations along 5+ km of coast at 2 m × 2 m resolution. Dye was detected in the air over land for the first 2 days during two of the three dye releases, as far as 668 m inland and 720 m downwind of the ocean. These coordinated water/air measurements, comparing dye concentrations in the air and upwind source waters, provide insights into the factors that lead to the water-to-air transfer of pollutants. These findings show that coastal water pollution can reach people through an airborne pathway and this needs to be taken into account when assessing the full impact of coastal ocean pollution on public health. This study sets the stage for further studies to determine the details and importance of airborne exposure to sewage-based pathogens and toxins in order to fully assess the impact of coastal pollution on public health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew A Pendergraft
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Derek J Grimes
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Sarah N Giddings
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Falk Feddersen
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Charlotte M Beall
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Christopher Lee
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America.,Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States
| | - Mitchell V Santander
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States
| | - Kimberly A Prather
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America.,Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Ji B, Zhao Y, Esteve-Núñez A, Liu R, Yang Y, Nzihou A, Tai Y, Wei T, Shen C, Yang Y, Ren B, Wang X, Wang Y. Where do we stand to oversee the coronaviruses in aqueous and aerosol environment? Characteristics of transmission and possible curb strategies. CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL (LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND : 1996) 2021; 413:127522. [PMID: 33132743 PMCID: PMC7590645 DOI: 10.1016/j.cej.2020.127522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2020] [Revised: 10/20/2020] [Accepted: 10/23/2020] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
By 17 October 2020, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has caused confirmed infection of more than 39,000,000 people in 217 countries and territories globally and still continues to grow. As environmental professionals, understanding how SARS-CoV-2 can be transmitted via water and air environment is a concern. We have to be ready for focusing our attention to the prompt diagnosis and potential infection control procedures of the virus in integrated water and air system. This paper reviews the state-of-the-art information from available sources of published papers, newsletters and large number of scientific websites aimed to provide a comprehensive profile on the transmission characteristics of the coronaviruses in water, sludge, and air environment, especially the water and wastewater treatment systems. The review also focused on proposing the possible curb strategies to monitor and eventually cut off the coronaviruses under the authors' knowledge and understanding.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bin Ji
- Department of Municipal and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Water Resources and Hydroelectric Engineering, Xi'an University of Technology, Xi'an 710048, PR China
- State Key Laboratory of Eco-Hydraulics in Northwest Arid Region, Xi'an University of Technology, Xi'an 710048, PR China
| | - Yaqian Zhao
- Department of Municipal and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Water Resources and Hydroelectric Engineering, Xi'an University of Technology, Xi'an 710048, PR China
- State Key Laboratory of Eco-Hydraulics in Northwest Arid Region, Xi'an University of Technology, Xi'an 710048, PR China
- Dooge Centre for Water Resources Research, School of Civil Engineering, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | | | - Ranbin Liu
- Sino-Dutch R&D Centre for Future Wastewater Treatment Technologies/Beijing Advanced Innovation Center of Future Urban Design, Beijing University of Civil Engineering & Architecture, Beijing 100044, PR China
| | - Yang Yang
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, PR China
- Engineering Research Center of Tropical and Subtropical Aquatic Ecological Engineering, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Ange Nzihou
- Université de Toulouse, IMT Mines Albi, RAPSODEE CNRS, UMR-5302, Jarlard, Albi 81013 Cedex 09, France
| | - Yiping Tai
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, PR China
- Engineering Research Center of Tropical and Subtropical Aquatic Ecological Engineering, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Ting Wei
- Department of Municipal and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Water Resources and Hydroelectric Engineering, Xi'an University of Technology, Xi'an 710048, PR China
- Chemical Engineering Department, University of Alcalá, Madrid, Spain
| | - Cheng Shen
- Dooge Centre for Water Resources Research, School of Civil Engineering, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
- School of Environment and Natural Resources, Zhejiang University Sci. & Technol./Zhejiang Prov, Key Lab. of Recycling & Ecotreatment Waste, Hangzhou 310023, Zhejiang, PR China
| | - Yan Yang
- Dooge Centre for Water Resources Research, School of Civil Engineering, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Baimimng Ren
- Dooge Centre for Water Resources Research, School of Civil Engineering, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
- Université de Toulouse, IMT Mines Albi, RAPSODEE CNRS, UMR-5302, Jarlard, Albi 81013 Cedex 09, France
- School of Water and Environment, Chang'an University, Xi'an 710061, PR China
| | - Xingxing Wang
- Xi'an Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xi 'an 710021, PR China
| | - Ya'e Wang
- School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Lanzhou Jiaotong University, Lanzhou 730070, PR China
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Sbaoui Y, Bennis F, Chegdani F. SARS-CoV-2 as Enteric Virus in Wastewater: Which Risk on the Environment and Human Behavior? Microbiol Insights 2021; 14:1178636121999673. [PMID: 33795937 PMCID: PMC7968024 DOI: 10.1177/1178636121999673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2020] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Microorganisms such as viruses, bacteria, and protozoa are the cause of many waterborne human infections. These microbes are either naturally present in aquatic environments or transferred within them by fecal sources. They remain in these environments for varying lengths of time before contaminating a new host. With the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, some studies have reported the presence of viral nucleic acids in stool samples from COVID-19 patients, suggesting the possibility of fecal-oral transmission. The SARS-CoV-2 RNA was thereby detected in the wastewater of symptomatic and asymptomatic people with a risk to human and environmental health. In this work, we try to discuss the different potential sources of this contamination, the forms of persistence in the environment, the techniques of partial elimination, and the possibility of creating new reservoirs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yousra Sbaoui
- Health and Environment Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences Aïn Chock, Hassan II University of Casablanca, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Faïza Bennis
- Health and Environment Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences Aïn Chock, Hassan II University of Casablanca, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Fatima Chegdani
- Health and Environment Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences Aïn Chock, Hassan II University of Casablanca, Casablanca, Morocco
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Elsamadony M, Fujii M, Miura T, Watanabe T. Possible transmission of viruses from contaminated human feces and sewage: Implications for SARS-CoV-2. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 755:142575. [PMID: 33022459 PMCID: PMC7522648 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Revised: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 09/20/2020] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Humanity has experienced outbreaks by viruses such as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 1 (SARS-CoV-1) in 2003, Eastern respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in 2012, Ebola virus in 2014 and nowadays SARS-CoV-2. While clinicians seek for a vaccine to reduce the epidemic outbreak, environmental engineers need to understand consequence of virus entity in sewage given the reported persistency of viruses in human feces and sewage environments for more than days. Herein, we discuss about concerns associated with virus occurrence in human feces and sewage, with attention to the possible SARS-CoV-2 transmission routes, based on the review of recent studies on SARS-CoV-2 as well as the previous pandemic events. Given the reported environmental stability of coronavirus, the feces- and sewage-derived transmission routes may be of importance to prevent unprecedented spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) particularly in developing countries. However, so far, limited number of studies detected infectious SARS-CoV-2 even in human feces, whereas a number of virus RNA copies were identified in both feces and sewage specimens. Therefore, uncertainty remains in the possibility of this transmission pathway, and further investigation is warranted in future studies, for example, by increasing the number of specimens, examining the effectiveness of methods for viral viability test, considering the patient medical history, and so forth.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed Elsamadony
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8552, Japan; Department of Public Works Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tanta University, 31521 Tanta City, Egypt.
| | - Manabu Fujii
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8552, Japan.
| | - Takayuki Miura
- Department of Environmental Health, National Institute of Public Health, 2-3-6 Minami, Wako, Saitama 351-0197, Japan.
| | - Toru Watanabe
- Faculty of Agriculture, Yamagata University, 1-23 Wakaba-machi, Tsuruoka, Yamagata 997-8555, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Siddique A, Shahzad A, Lawler J, Mahmoud KA, Lee DS, Ali N, Bilal M, Rasool K. Unprecedented environmental and energy impacts and challenges of COVID-19 pandemic. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 193:110443. [PMID: 33171120 PMCID: PMC7648503 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.110443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Revised: 11/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/04/2020] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
The rapid transmission tendency, severity, and wide geographical spread of newly emerged novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) in different environmental matrices, including water, air, and soil, has posed severe health, environmental, energy, and economic challenges worldwide. Despite the severe health effects, unprecedented improvements in air quality in many countries due to emergency measures, and public behavior changes have been reported. SARS-CoV-2 has been detected in air and sewage samples in several studies across the globe. The use of wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) could be a valuable method to monitor the outbreak of COVID-19, which requires fast and reliable methods for virus detection in sewage. However, water treatment companies face many pressures due to potential for aerosolization, PPE shortages, and changed usage patterns. In addition, the unprecedented impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on the worldwide economy especially the energy sector, and its impact on our ecosystem required instant responses. This article discusses the recent developments and challenges faced in water, air, and energy resources, including renewables and non-renewables as the significant and interrelated components of the ecosystem. Furthermore, some recommendations have been directed, which may serve as a guideline to the scientists, legislators, and other stakeholders. A future roadmap has been proposed to overcome the tragic effects of COVID-19 and developing a sustainable environmental system to minimize the impact of such infectious outbreaks in the future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Azhar Siddique
- Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute (QEERI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar Foundation, P.O. Box 5825, Doha, Qatar
| | - Asif Shahzad
- Department of Energy and Materials Engineering, Dongguk University, Seoul, 04620, Republic of Korea
| | - Jenny Lawler
- Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute (QEERI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar Foundation, P.O. Box 5825, Doha, Qatar
| | - Khaled A Mahmoud
- Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute (QEERI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar Foundation, P.O. Box 5825, Doha, Qatar
| | - Dae Sung Lee
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Kyungpook National University, 80 Daehak-ro, Buk-gu, Daegu, 41566, Republic of Korea
| | - Nisar Ali
- Key Laboratory for Palygorskite Science and Applied Technology of Jiangsu Province, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Centre for Deep Utilization Technology of Rock-salt Resource, Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Huaiyin Institute of Technology, Huai'an, 223003, China
| | - Muhammad Bilal
- School of Life Science and Food Engineering, Huaiyin Institute of Technology, Huai'an, 223003, China
| | - Kashif Rasool
- Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute (QEERI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar Foundation, P.O. Box 5825, Doha, Qatar.
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Alygizakis N, Markou AN, Rousis NI, Galani A, Avgeris M, Adamopoulos PG, Scorilas A, Lianidou ES, Paraskevis D, Tsiodras S, Tsakris A, Dimopoulos MA, Thomaidis NS. Analytical methodologies for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater: Protocols and future perspectives. Trends Analyt Chem 2021; 134:116125. [PMID: 33235400 PMCID: PMC7677696 DOI: 10.1016/j.trac.2020.116125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
In March 2020 the World Health Organization announced a pandemic outbreak. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative pathogen for the coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic. The authorities worldwide use clinical science to identify infected people, but this approach is not able to track all symptomatic and asymptomatic cases due to limited sampling capacity of the testing laboratories. This drawback is eliminated by the Wastewater-Based Epidemiology (WBE) approach. In this review, we summarized the peer-reviewed published literature (available as of September 28, 2020), in the field of WBE. The commonly used steps (sampling, storage, concentration, isolation, detection) of the analytical protocols were identified. The potential limitations of each stage of the protocols and good practices were discussed. Finally, new methods for the efficient detection of SARS-CoV-2 were proposed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nikiforos Alygizakis
- Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece
| | - Athina N. Markou
- Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece
| | - Nikolaos I. Rousis
- Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece
| | - Aikaterini Galani
- Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece
| | - Margaritis Avgeris
- Laboratory of Clinical Biochemistry and Molecular Diagnostics, Second Department of Pediatrics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Panagiotis G. Adamopoulos
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Department of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece
| | - Andreas Scorilas
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Department of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece
| | - Evi S. Lianidou
- Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitrios Paraskevis
- Department of Hygiene Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece
| | - Sotirios Tsiodras
- Fourth Department of Propedeutic Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University General Hospital Attikon, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece
| | - Athanassios Tsakris
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece
| | | | - Nikolaos S. Thomaidis
- Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece,Corresponding author
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Jones DL, Baluja MQ, Graham DW, Corbishley A, McDonald JE, Malham SK, Hillary LS, Connor TR, Gaze WH, Moura IB, Wilcox MH, Farkas K. Shedding of SARS-CoV-2 in feces and urine and its potential role in person-to-person transmission and the environment-based spread of COVID-19. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 749:141364. [PMID: 32836117 PMCID: PMC7836549 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 241] [Impact Index Per Article: 60.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Revised: 07/27/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 04/14/2023]
Abstract
The recent detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in feces has led to speculation that it can be transmitted via the fecal-oral/ocular route. This review aims to critically evaluate the incidence of gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, the quantity and infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 in feces and urine, and whether these pose an infection risk in sanitary settings, sewage networks, wastewater treatment plants, and the wider environment (e.g. rivers, lakes and marine waters). A review of 48 independent studies revealed that severe GI dysfunction is only evident in a small number of COVID-19 cases, with 11 ± 2% exhibiting diarrhea and 12 ± 3% exhibiting vomiting and nausea. In addition to these cases, SARS-CoV-2 RNA can be detected in feces from some asymptomatic, mildly- and pre-symptomatic individuals. Fecal shedding of the virus peaks in the symptomatic period and can persist for several weeks, but with declining abundances in the post-symptomatic phase. SARS-CoV-2 RNA is occasionally detected in urine, but reports in fecal samples are more frequent. The abundance of the virus genetic material in both urine (ca. 102-105 gc/ml) and feces (ca. 102-107 gc/ml) is much lower than in nasopharyngeal fluids (ca. 105-1011 gc/ml). There is strong evidence of multiplication of SARS-CoV-2 in the gut and infectious virus has occasionally been recovered from both urine and stool samples. The level and infectious capability of SARS-CoV-2 in vomit remain unknown. In comparison to enteric viruses transmitted via the fecal-oral route (e.g. norovirus, adenovirus), the likelihood of SARS-CoV-2 being transmitted via feces or urine appears much lower due to the lower relative amounts of virus present in feces/urine. The biggest risk of transmission will occur in clinical and care home settings where secondary handling of people and urine/fecal matter occurs. In addition, while SARS-CoV-2 RNA genetic material can be detected by in wastewater, this signal is greatly reduced by conventional treatment. Our analysis also suggests the likelihood of infection due to contact with sewage-contaminated water (e.g. swimming, surfing, angling) or food (e.g. salads, shellfish) is extremely low or negligible based on very low predicted abundances and limited environmental survival of SARS-CoV-2. These conclusions are corroborated by the fact that tens of million cases of COVID-19 have occurred globally, but exposure to feces or wastewater has never been implicated as a transmission vector.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David L Jones
- Centre for Environmental Biotechnology, School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2UW, UK; UWA School of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia.
| | | | - David W Graham
- School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK
| | - Alexander Corbishley
- The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, Easter Bush Campus Midlothian, EH25 9RG, UK
| | - James E McDonald
- Centre for Environmental Biotechnology, School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2UW, UK
| | - Shelagh K Malham
- School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge, Anglesey LL59 5AB, UK
| | - Luke S Hillary
- Centre for Environmental Biotechnology, School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2UW, UK
| | - Thomas R Connor
- Organisms and Environment Division, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK; Public Health Wales, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff CF14 4XW, UK
| | - William H Gaze
- European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, ESI, Penryn Campus, TR10 9FE, UK
| | - Ines B Moura
- Leeds Institute for Medical Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Leeds, Leeds LS1 3EX, UK
| | - Mark H Wilcox
- Healthcare Associated Infections Research Group, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Kata Farkas
- Centre for Environmental Biotechnology, School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2UW, UK; School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge, Anglesey LL59 5AB, UK
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Jones DL, Baluja MQ, Graham DW, Corbishley A, McDonald JE, Malham SK, Hillary LS, Connor TR, Gaze WH, Moura IB, Wilcox MH, Farkas K. Shedding of SARS-CoV-2 in feces and urine and its potential role in person-to-person transmission and the environment-based spread of COVID-19. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 749:141364. [PMID: 32836117 DOI: 10.20944/preprints202007.0471.v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Revised: 07/27/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
The recent detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in feces has led to speculation that it can be transmitted via the fecal-oral/ocular route. This review aims to critically evaluate the incidence of gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, the quantity and infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 in feces and urine, and whether these pose an infection risk in sanitary settings, sewage networks, wastewater treatment plants, and the wider environment (e.g. rivers, lakes and marine waters). A review of 48 independent studies revealed that severe GI dysfunction is only evident in a small number of COVID-19 cases, with 11 ± 2% exhibiting diarrhea and 12 ± 3% exhibiting vomiting and nausea. In addition to these cases, SARS-CoV-2 RNA can be detected in feces from some asymptomatic, mildly- and pre-symptomatic individuals. Fecal shedding of the virus peaks in the symptomatic period and can persist for several weeks, but with declining abundances in the post-symptomatic phase. SARS-CoV-2 RNA is occasionally detected in urine, but reports in fecal samples are more frequent. The abundance of the virus genetic material in both urine (ca. 102-105 gc/ml) and feces (ca. 102-107 gc/ml) is much lower than in nasopharyngeal fluids (ca. 105-1011 gc/ml). There is strong evidence of multiplication of SARS-CoV-2 in the gut and infectious virus has occasionally been recovered from both urine and stool samples. The level and infectious capability of SARS-CoV-2 in vomit remain unknown. In comparison to enteric viruses transmitted via the fecal-oral route (e.g. norovirus, adenovirus), the likelihood of SARS-CoV-2 being transmitted via feces or urine appears much lower due to the lower relative amounts of virus present in feces/urine. The biggest risk of transmission will occur in clinical and care home settings where secondary handling of people and urine/fecal matter occurs. In addition, while SARS-CoV-2 RNA genetic material can be detected by in wastewater, this signal is greatly reduced by conventional treatment. Our analysis also suggests the likelihood of infection due to contact with sewage-contaminated water (e.g. swimming, surfing, angling) or food (e.g. salads, shellfish) is extremely low or negligible based on very low predicted abundances and limited environmental survival of SARS-CoV-2. These conclusions are corroborated by the fact that tens of million cases of COVID-19 have occurred globally, but exposure to feces or wastewater has never been implicated as a transmission vector.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David L Jones
- Centre for Environmental Biotechnology, School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2UW, UK; UWA School of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia.
| | | | - David W Graham
- School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK
| | - Alexander Corbishley
- The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, Easter Bush Campus Midlothian, EH25 9RG, UK
| | - James E McDonald
- Centre for Environmental Biotechnology, School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2UW, UK
| | - Shelagh K Malham
- School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge, Anglesey LL59 5AB, UK
| | - Luke S Hillary
- Centre for Environmental Biotechnology, School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2UW, UK
| | - Thomas R Connor
- Organisms and Environment Division, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK; Public Health Wales, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff CF14 4XW, UK
| | - William H Gaze
- European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, ESI, Penryn Campus, TR10 9FE, UK
| | - Ines B Moura
- Leeds Institute for Medical Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Leeds, Leeds LS1 3EX, UK
| | - Mark H Wilcox
- Healthcare Associated Infections Research Group, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Kata Farkas
- Centre for Environmental Biotechnology, School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2UW, UK; School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge, Anglesey LL59 5AB, UK
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Jones DL, Baluja MQ, Graham DW, Corbishley A, McDonald JE, Malham SK, Hillary LS, Connor TR, Gaze WH, Moura IB, Wilcox MH, Farkas K. Shedding of SARS-CoV-2 in feces and urine and its potential role in person-to-person transmission and the environment-based spread of COVID-19. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020. [PMID: 32836117 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141364pmid-32836117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
The recent detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in feces has led to speculation that it can be transmitted via the fecal-oral/ocular route. This review aims to critically evaluate the incidence of gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, the quantity and infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 in feces and urine, and whether these pose an infection risk in sanitary settings, sewage networks, wastewater treatment plants, and the wider environment (e.g. rivers, lakes and marine waters). A review of 48 independent studies revealed that severe GI dysfunction is only evident in a small number of COVID-19 cases, with 11 ± 2% exhibiting diarrhea and 12 ± 3% exhibiting vomiting and nausea. In addition to these cases, SARS-CoV-2 RNA can be detected in feces from some asymptomatic, mildly- and pre-symptomatic individuals. Fecal shedding of the virus peaks in the symptomatic period and can persist for several weeks, but with declining abundances in the post-symptomatic phase. SARS-CoV-2 RNA is occasionally detected in urine, but reports in fecal samples are more frequent. The abundance of the virus genetic material in both urine (ca. 102-105 gc/ml) and feces (ca. 102-107 gc/ml) is much lower than in nasopharyngeal fluids (ca. 105-1011 gc/ml). There is strong evidence of multiplication of SARS-CoV-2 in the gut and infectious virus has occasionally been recovered from both urine and stool samples. The level and infectious capability of SARS-CoV-2 in vomit remain unknown. In comparison to enteric viruses transmitted via the fecal-oral route (e.g. norovirus, adenovirus), the likelihood of SARS-CoV-2 being transmitted via feces or urine appears much lower due to the lower relative amounts of virus present in feces/urine. The biggest risk of transmission will occur in clinical and care home settings where secondary handling of people and urine/fecal matter occurs. In addition, while SARS-CoV-2 RNA genetic material can be detected by in wastewater, this signal is greatly reduced by conventional treatment. Our analysis also suggests the likelihood of infection due to contact with sewage-contaminated water (e.g. swimming, surfing, angling) or food (e.g. salads, shellfish) is extremely low or negligible based on very low predicted abundances and limited environmental survival of SARS-CoV-2. These conclusions are corroborated by the fact that tens of million cases of COVID-19 have occurred globally, but exposure to feces or wastewater has never been implicated as a transmission vector.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David L Jones
- Centre for Environmental Biotechnology, School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2UW, UK; UWA School of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia.
| | | | - David W Graham
- School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK
| | - Alexander Corbishley
- The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, Easter Bush Campus Midlothian, EH25 9RG, UK
| | - James E McDonald
- Centre for Environmental Biotechnology, School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2UW, UK
| | - Shelagh K Malham
- School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge, Anglesey LL59 5AB, UK
| | - Luke S Hillary
- Centre for Environmental Biotechnology, School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2UW, UK
| | - Thomas R Connor
- Organisms and Environment Division, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK; Public Health Wales, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff CF14 4XW, UK
| | - William H Gaze
- European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, ESI, Penryn Campus, TR10 9FE, UK
| | - Ines B Moura
- Leeds Institute for Medical Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Leeds, Leeds LS1 3EX, UK
| | - Mark H Wilcox
- Healthcare Associated Infections Research Group, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Kata Farkas
- Centre for Environmental Biotechnology, School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2UW, UK; School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge, Anglesey LL59 5AB, UK
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Maal-Bared R, Loudon J. Strategies for managing N95 mask shortages at water resource recovery facilities during pandemics: a review. WATER SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY : A JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION ON WATER POLLUTION RESEARCH 2020; 82:2798-2812. [PMID: 33341771 DOI: 10.2166/wst.2020.537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
As the numbers of COVID-19 cases grew globally, the severe shortages of health care respiratory protective equipment impacted the ability of water resource recovery facilities (WRRFs) to acquire N95 masks for worker protection. While the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) encourages WRRFs to conduct job safety assessments to mitigate risks from bioaerosols, it does not provide clear guidance on respiratory protection requirements, leaving the use of N95 masks across the industry non-standardized and difficult to justify. Strategies need to be developed to cope with shortages during pandemics, and these should take into consideration a WRRF's size and disinfection equipment available. Our objective is to provide an overview of respiratory protection-related practices recommended for health care professionals that apply to WRRFs (e.g., elimination, substitution, extended use, reuse, disinfection). Reviewed N95 mask disinfection strategies included using hydrogen peroxide, autoclaving, moist heat, dry heat, ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI), ethylene oxide, chlorine and ethanol. Of these, dry heat, autoclaving and UVGI present the most promise for WRRFs, with UVGI being limited to larger utilities. We recommend that WRRFs work closely with disinfection technology manufacturers, mask providers, health and safety staff and inspectors to develop suitable programs to cope with N95 mask shortages during pandemics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rasha Maal-Bared
- Senior Microbiologist, Scientific Services, EPCOR Water Services Inc., EPCOR Tower, 2000-10423 101 Street NW, Edmonton, Alberta T5H 0E8, Canada E-mail:
| | - Jennifer Loudon
- Laboratory Supervisor, Raritan Township Municipal Utilities Authority, 365 Old York Road, Flemington, NJ 08822, USA
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Corpuz MVA, Buonerba A, Vigliotta G, Zarra T, Ballesteros F, Campiglia P, Belgiorno V, Korshin G, Naddeo V. Viruses in wastewater: occurrence, abundance and detection methods. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 745:140910. [PMID: 32758747 PMCID: PMC7368910 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 137] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2020] [Revised: 07/09/2020] [Accepted: 07/10/2020] [Indexed: 04/14/2023]
Abstract
This paper presents an updated and comprehensive review on the different methods used for detection and quantification of viruses in wastewater treatment systems. The analysis of viability of viruses in wastewater and sludge is another thrust of this review. Recent studies have mostly focused on determining the abundance and diversity of viruses in wastewater influents, in samples from primary, secondary, and tertiary treatment stages, and in final effluents. A few studies have also examined the occurrence and diversity of viruses in raw and digested sludge samples. Recent efforts to improve efficiency of virus detection and quantification methods in the complex wastewater and sludge matrices are highlighted in this review. A summary and a detailed comparison of the pre-treatment methods that have been utilized for wastewater and sludge samples are also presented. The role of metagenomics or sequencing analysis in monitoring wastewater systems to predict disease outbreaks, to conduct public health surveillance, to assess the efficiency of existing treatment systems in virus removal, and to re-evaluate current regulations regarding pathogenic viruses in wastewater is discussed in this paper. Challenges and future perspectives in the detection of viruses, including emerging and newly emerged viruses such as the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), in wastewater systems are discussed in this review.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mary Vermi Aizza Corpuz
- Environmental Engineering Program, National Graduate School of Engineering, University of the Philippines, 1101 Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines.
| | - Antonio Buonerba
- Sanitary Environmental Engineering Division (SEED), Department of Civil Engineering, University of Salerno, 84084, Fisciano (SA), Italy; Inter-University Centre for Prediction and Prevention of Major Hazards (C.U.G.RI.), Via Giovanni Paolo II, 84084, Fisciano (SA), Italy.
| | - Giovanni Vigliotta
- Laboratory of Microbiology, University of Salerno, 84084 Fisciano, Italy.
| | - Tiziano Zarra
- Sanitary Environmental Engineering Division (SEED), Department of Civil Engineering, University of Salerno, 84084, Fisciano (SA), Italy; Inter-University Centre for Prediction and Prevention of Major Hazards (C.U.G.RI.), Via Giovanni Paolo II, 84084, Fisciano (SA), Italy.
| | - Florencio Ballesteros
- Environmental Engineering Program, National Graduate School of Engineering, University of the Philippines, 1101 Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines; Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of the Philippines, 1101 Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines.
| | - Pietro Campiglia
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, 84084 Fisciano, Italy.
| | - Vincenzo Belgiorno
- Sanitary Environmental Engineering Division (SEED), Department of Civil Engineering, University of Salerno, 84084, Fisciano (SA), Italy; Inter-University Centre for Prediction and Prevention of Major Hazards (C.U.G.RI.), Via Giovanni Paolo II, 84084, Fisciano (SA), Italy.
| | - Gregory Korshin
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Washington, Box 352700, Seattle, WA 98105-2700, United States.
| | - Vincenzo Naddeo
- Sanitary Environmental Engineering Division (SEED), Department of Civil Engineering, University of Salerno, 84084, Fisciano (SA), Italy; Inter-University Centre for Prediction and Prevention of Major Hazards (C.U.G.RI.), Via Giovanni Paolo II, 84084, Fisciano (SA), Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Miyani B, McCall C, Xagoraraki I. High abundance of human herpesvirus 8 in wastewater from a large urban area. J Appl Microbiol 2020; 130:1402-1411. [PMID: 33058412 DOI: 10.1111/jam.14895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Revised: 09/18/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
AIMS This study assesses the diversity and abundance of Human Herpesviruses (HHVs) in the influent of an urban wastewater treatment plant using shotgun sequencing, metagenomic analysis and qPCR. METHODS AND RESULTS Influent wastewater samples were collected from the three interceptors that serve the City of Detroit and Wayne, Macomb and Oakland counties between November 2017 to February 2018. The samples were subjected to a series of processes to concentrate viruses which were further sequenced and amplified using qPCR. All nine types of HHV were detected in wastewater. Human Herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8), known as Kaposi's sarcoma herpesvirus, which is only prevalent in 5-10% of USA population, was found to be the most abundant followed by HHV-3 or Varicella-zoster virus. CONCLUSIONS The high abundance of HHV-8 in the Detroit metropolitan area may be attributed to the HIV-AIDS outbreak that was ongoing in Detroit during the sampling period. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY The approach described in this paper can be used to establish a baseline of viruses secreted by the community as a whole. Sudden changes in the baseline would identify changes in community health and immunity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- B Miyani
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - C McCall
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - I Xagoraraki
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Amoah ID, Kumari S, Bux F. Coronaviruses in wastewater processes: Source, fate and potential risks. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2020; 143:105962. [PMID: 32711332 PMCID: PMC7346830 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.105962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Revised: 07/04/2020] [Accepted: 07/05/2020] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
The last 17 years have seen three major outbreaks caused by coronaviruses, with the latest outbreak, COVID-19, declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization. The frequency of these outbreaks, their mortality and associated disruption to normal life calls for concerted efforts to understand their occurrence and fate in different environments. There is an increased interest in the occurrence of coronaviruses in wastewater from the perspective of wastewater-based epidemiology. However, there is no comprehensive review of the knowledge on coronavirus occurrence, fate and potential transmission in wastewater. This paper, provides a review of the literature on the occurrence of coronaviruses in wastewater treatment processes. We discuss the presence of viral RNA in feces as a result of diarrhoea caused by gastrointestinal infections. We also reviewed the literature on the presence, survival and potential removal of coronaviruses in common wastewater treatment processes. The detection of infectious viral particles in feces of patients raises questions on the potential risks of infection for people exposed to untreated sewage/wastewater. We, therefore, highlighted the potential risk of infection with coronaviruses for workers in wastewater treatment plants and the public that may be exposed through faulty plumbing or burst sewer networks. The mortalities and morbidities associated with the current COVID-19 pandemic warrants a much more focused research on the role of environments, such as wastewater and surface water, in disease transmission. The current wealth of knowledge on coronaviruses in wastewater based on the reviewed literature is scant and therefore calls for further studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Isaac Dennis Amoah
- Institute for Water and Wastewater Technology, Durban University of Technology, P.O. Box 1334, Durban 4000, South Africa
| | - Sheena Kumari
- Institute for Water and Wastewater Technology, Durban University of Technology, P.O. Box 1334, Durban 4000, South Africa.
| | - Faizal Bux
- Institute for Water and Wastewater Technology, Durban University of Technology, P.O. Box 1334, Durban 4000, South Africa
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Setti L, Passarini F, De Gennaro G, Barbieri P, Perrone MG, Borelli M, Palmisani J, Di Gilio A, Torboli V, Fontana F, Clemente L, Pallavicini A, Ruscio M, Piscitelli P, Miani A. SARS-Cov-2RNA found on particulate matter of Bergamo in Northern Italy: First evidence. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 188:109754. [PMID: 32526492 DOI: 10.1101/2020.04.15.20065995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2020] [Revised: 05/26/2020] [Accepted: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The burden of COVID-19 was extremely severe in Northern Italy, an area characterized by high concentrations of particulate matter (PM), which is known to negatively affect human health. Consistently with evidence already available for other viruses, we initially hypothesized the possibility of SARS-CoV-2 presence on PM, and we performed a first experiment specifically aimed at confirming or excluding this research hyphotesys. METHODS We have collected 34 PM10 samples in Bergamo area (the epicenter of the Italian COVID-19 epidemic) by using two air samplers over a continuous 3-weeks period. Filters were properly stored and underwent RNA extraction and amplification according to WHO protocols in two parallel blind analyses performed by two different authorized laboratories. Up to three highly specific molecular marker genes (E, N, and RdRP) were used to test the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA on particulate matter. RESULTS The first test showed positive results for gene E in 15 out of 16 samples, simultaneously displaying positivity also for RdRP gene in 4 samples. The second blind test got 5 additional positive results for at least one of the three marker genes. Overall, we tested 34 RNA extractions for the E, N and RdRP genes, reporting 20 positive results for at least one of the three marker genes, with positivity separately confirmed for all the three markers. Control tests to exclude false positivities were successfully accomplished. CONCLUSION This is the first evidence that SARS-CoV-2 RNA can be present on PM, thus suggesting a possible use as indicator of epidemic recurrence.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo Setti
- Dept. Industrial Chemistry, University of Bologna, Viale Del Risorgimento - 4, I-40136, Bologna, Italy.
| | - Fabrizio Passarini
- Interdepartmental Centre for Industrial Research "Renewable Sources, Environment, Blue Growth, Energy", University of Bologna, Rimini, Italy.
| | | | - Pierluigi Barbieri
- Dept. of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy.
| | | | - Massimo Borelli
- Dept. of Life Sciences - University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy.
| | | | | | | | - Francesco Fontana
- Division of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital Giuliano Isontina (ASU GI), Trieste, Italy.
| | - Libera Clemente
- Division of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital Giuliano Isontina (ASU GI), Trieste, Italy.
| | | | - Maurizio Ruscio
- Division of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital Giuliano Isontina (ASU GI), Trieste, Italy.
| | | | - Alessandro Miani
- Italian Society of Environmental Medicine (SIMA), Milan, Italy; Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Setti L, Passarini F, De Gennaro G, Barbieri P, Perrone MG, Borelli M, Palmisani J, Di Gilio A, Torboli V, Fontana F, Clemente L, Pallavicini A, Ruscio M, Piscitelli P, Miani A. SARS-Cov-2RNA found on particulate matter of Bergamo in Northern Italy: First evidence. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 188:109754. [PMID: 32526492 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.109754.b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2020] [Revised: 05/26/2020] [Accepted: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The burden of COVID-19 was extremely severe in Northern Italy, an area characterized by high concentrations of particulate matter (PM), which is known to negatively affect human health. Consistently with evidence already available for other viruses, we initially hypothesized the possibility of SARS-CoV-2 presence on PM, and we performed a first experiment specifically aimed at confirming or excluding this research hyphotesys. METHODS We have collected 34 PM10 samples in Bergamo area (the epicenter of the Italian COVID-19 epidemic) by using two air samplers over a continuous 3-weeks period. Filters were properly stored and underwent RNA extraction and amplification according to WHO protocols in two parallel blind analyses performed by two different authorized laboratories. Up to three highly specific molecular marker genes (E, N, and RdRP) were used to test the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA on particulate matter. RESULTS The first test showed positive results for gene E in 15 out of 16 samples, simultaneously displaying positivity also for RdRP gene in 4 samples. The second blind test got 5 additional positive results for at least one of the three marker genes. Overall, we tested 34 RNA extractions for the E, N and RdRP genes, reporting 20 positive results for at least one of the three marker genes, with positivity separately confirmed for all the three markers. Control tests to exclude false positivities were successfully accomplished. CONCLUSION This is the first evidence that SARS-CoV-2 RNA can be present on PM, thus suggesting a possible use as indicator of epidemic recurrence.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo Setti
- Dept. Industrial Chemistry, University of Bologna, Viale Del Risorgimento - 4, I-40136, Bologna, Italy.
| | - Fabrizio Passarini
- Interdepartmental Centre for Industrial Research "Renewable Sources, Environment, Blue Growth, Energy", University of Bologna, Rimini, Italy.
| | | | - Pierluigi Barbieri
- Dept. of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy.
| | | | - Massimo Borelli
- Dept. of Life Sciences - University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy.
| | | | | | | | - Francesco Fontana
- Division of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital Giuliano Isontina (ASU GI), Trieste, Italy.
| | - Libera Clemente
- Division of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital Giuliano Isontina (ASU GI), Trieste, Italy.
| | | | - Maurizio Ruscio
- Division of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital Giuliano Isontina (ASU GI), Trieste, Italy.
| | | | - Alessandro Miani
- Italian Society of Environmental Medicine (SIMA), Milan, Italy; Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Setti L, Passarini F, De Gennaro G, Barbieri P, Perrone MG, Borelli M, Palmisani J, Di Gilio A, Torboli V, Fontana F, Clemente L, Pallavicini A, Ruscio M, Piscitelli P, Miani A. SARS-Cov-2RNA found on particulate matter of Bergamo in Northern Italy: First evidence. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 188:109754. [PMID: 32526492 PMCID: PMC7260575 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.109754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 281] [Impact Index Per Article: 70.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2020] [Revised: 05/26/2020] [Accepted: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The burden of COVID-19 was extremely severe in Northern Italy, an area characterized by high concentrations of particulate matter (PM), which is known to negatively affect human health. Consistently with evidence already available for other viruses, we initially hypothesized the possibility of SARS-CoV-2 presence on PM, and we performed a first experiment specifically aimed at confirming or excluding this research hyphotesys. METHODS We have collected 34 PM10 samples in Bergamo area (the epicenter of the Italian COVID-19 epidemic) by using two air samplers over a continuous 3-weeks period. Filters were properly stored and underwent RNA extraction and amplification according to WHO protocols in two parallel blind analyses performed by two different authorized laboratories. Up to three highly specific molecular marker genes (E, N, and RdRP) were used to test the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA on particulate matter. RESULTS The first test showed positive results for gene E in 15 out of 16 samples, simultaneously displaying positivity also for RdRP gene in 4 samples. The second blind test got 5 additional positive results for at least one of the three marker genes. Overall, we tested 34 RNA extractions for the E, N and RdRP genes, reporting 20 positive results for at least one of the three marker genes, with positivity separately confirmed for all the three markers. Control tests to exclude false positivities were successfully accomplished. CONCLUSION This is the first evidence that SARS-CoV-2 RNA can be present on PM, thus suggesting a possible use as indicator of epidemic recurrence.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo Setti
- Dept. Industrial Chemistry, University of Bologna, Viale Del Risorgimento - 4, I-40136, Bologna, Italy.
| | - Fabrizio Passarini
- Interdepartmental Centre for Industrial Research "Renewable Sources, Environment, Blue Growth, Energy", University of Bologna, Rimini, Italy.
| | | | - Pierluigi Barbieri
- Dept. of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy.
| | | | - Massimo Borelli
- Dept. of Life Sciences - University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy.
| | | | | | | | - Francesco Fontana
- Division of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital Giuliano Isontina (ASU GI), Trieste, Italy.
| | - Libera Clemente
- Division of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital Giuliano Isontina (ASU GI), Trieste, Italy.
| | | | - Maurizio Ruscio
- Division of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital Giuliano Isontina (ASU GI), Trieste, Italy.
| | | | - Alessandro Miani
- Italian Society of Environmental Medicine (SIMA), Milan, Italy; Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Shi Z, Qin S, Zhang C, Chiu YH, Zhang L. The Impacts of Water Pollution Emissions on Public Health in 30 Provinces of China. Healthcare (Basel) 2020; 8:E119. [PMID: 32365866 PMCID: PMC7349760 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare8020119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2020] [Revised: 04/23/2020] [Accepted: 04/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
China's economy in recent decades has developed at a very rapid speed, as evidenced by its GDP jumping to second place in the world. Although utilization of domestic water resources has helped spur economic development, sewage discharge as an undesirable output has unfortunately caused many negative effects on human health, causing concern from all walks of life. Therefore, governments in China at all levels are committed to urban sewage treatment policies in order to reduce the negative impact of water pollution on society. While most existing studies have targeted the macro-level modes of economic development and environmental pollution, their selection of research objects is too narrow by failing to adequately consider China's water pollution and the consequential national health crisis. This study takes cities in 30 provinces of China as the research objects and applies various influencing factors of urban wastewater treatment and health (as two stages) to the modified two-stage dynamic Slacks-Based Measures (SBM) Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) model. The results reveal that the overall efficiency of each province is increasing and that the efficiency of the wastewater treatment stage is greater, thus contributing to overall efficiency. Conversely, the health stage's efficiency is far lower than the wastewater treatment stage's efficiency, which has a notably adverse effect on overall efficiency. In addition, most input-output variables need much improvement. Based on the findings herein, we offer specific suggestions to each province for improving sewage treatment capacity, the level of medical care, and the quality of national health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Shi
- Department of International Trade and Economics, Business School, Hohai University, Changzhou 213022, China;
| | - Shijiong Qin
- Department of Accounting, Business School, Hohai University, Changzhou 213022, China;
| | - Chenjun Zhang
- Department of Accounting, Business School, Hohai University, Changzhou 213022, China;
| | - Yung-ho Chiu
- Department of Economics, Soochow University, 56, Kueiyang St., Sec. 1, Taipei 10048, Taiwan;
| | - Lina Zhang
- Department of Business Administration, Business School, Hohai University, Changzhou 213022, China;
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Matsubara K, Katayama H. Development of a Portable Detection Method for Enteric Viruses from Ambient Air and Its Application to a Wastewater Treatment Plant. Pathogens 2019; 8:pathogens8030131. [PMID: 31450599 PMCID: PMC6789845 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens8030131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2019] [Revised: 08/18/2019] [Accepted: 08/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The ambient air from wastewater treatment plants has been considered as a potential source of pathogenic microorganisms to cause an occupational risk for the workers of the plants. Existing detection methods for enteric viruses from the air using a liquid as the collection medium therefore require special care to handle on-site. Knowledge accumulation on airborne virus risks from wastewater has been hindered by a lack of portable and handy collection methods. Enteric viruses are prevalent at high concentrations in wastewater; thus, the surrounding air may also be a potential source of viral transmission. We developed a portable collection and detection method for enteric viruses from ambient air and applied it to an actual wastewater treatment plant in Japan. Materials of the collection medium and eluting methods were optimized for real-time polymerase chain reaction-based virus quantification. The method uses a 4 L/min active air sampler, which is capable of testing 0.7–1.6 m3 air after 3–7 h sampling with a detection limit of 102 copies/m3 air in the field. Among 16 samples collected at five to seven locations in three sampling trials (November 2007–January 2008), 56% (9/16) samples were positive for norovirus (NV) GII, with the highest concentration of 3.2 × 103 copies/m3 air observed at the sampling point near a grit chamber. Adenoviruses (4/16), NV GI (6/16), FRNA bacteriophages GIII (3/16), and enteroviruses (3/16) were also detected but at lower concentrations. The virus concentration in the air was associated with that of the wastewater at each process. The results imply that the air from the sewer pipes or treatment process is contaminated by enteric viruses and thus special attention is needed to avoid accidental ingestion of viruses via air.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Koichi Matsubara
- Department of Urban Engineering, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Katayama
- Department of Urban Engineering, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Mbareche H, Morawska L, Duchaine C. On the interpretation of bioaerosol exposure measurements and impacts on health. JOURNAL OF THE AIR & WASTE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION (1995) 2019; 69:789-804. [PMID: 30821643 DOI: 10.1080/10962247.2019.1587552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Bioaerosols are recognized as one of the main transmission routes for infectious diseases and are responsible for other various types of health effects through inhalation and potential ingestion. Associating exposure with bioaerosol and health problems is challenging, and adequate exposure monitoring is a top priority for aerosol scientists. The multiple factors affecting bioaerosol content, the variability in the focus of each bioaerosol exposure study, and the variations in experimental design and the standardization of methods make bioaerosol exposure studies very difficult. Therefore, the health impacts of bioaerosol exposure are still poorly understood. This paper presents a brief description of a state-of-the-art development in bioaerosol exposure studies supported by studies on several related subjects. The main objective of this paper is to propose new considerations for bioaerosol exposure guidelines and the development of tools and study designs to better interpret bioaerosol data. The principal observations and findings are the discrepancy of the applicable methods in bioaerosol studies that makes result comparison impossible. Furthermore, the silo mentality helps in creating a bigger gap in the knowledge accumulated about bioaerosol exposure. Innovative and original ideas are presented for aerosol scientists and health scientists to consider and discuss. Although many examples cited herein are from occupational exposure, the discussion has relevance to any human environment. This work gives concrete suggestions for how to design a full bioaerosol study that includes all of the key elements necessary to help understand the real impacts of bioaerosol exposure in the short term. The creation of the proposed bioaerosol public database could give crucial information to control the public health. Implications: How can we move toward a bioaerosol exposure guidelines? The creation of the bioaerosol public database will help accumulate information for long-term association studies and help determine specific exposure biomarkers to bioaerosols. The implementation of such work will lead to a deeper understanding and more efficient utilization of bioaerosol studies to prevent public health hazards.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hamza Mbareche
- a Centre de recherche de l'institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Québec , Quebec City , Quebec , Canada
- b Département de biochimie, de microbiologie et de bio-informatique , Faculté des sciences et de génie, Université Laval , Quebec City , Quebec , Canada
| | - Lidia Morawska
- c School of Chemistry, Physics, and Mechanical Engineering, Department of Environmental Technologies , Queensland University of Technology , Brisbane , Queensland , Australia
| | - Caroline Duchaine
- a Centre de recherche de l'institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Québec , Quebec City , Quebec , Canada
- b Département de biochimie, de microbiologie et de bio-informatique , Faculté des sciences et de génie, Université Laval , Quebec City , Quebec , Canada
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Mbareche H, Veillette M, Pilote J, Létourneau V, Duchaine C. Bioaerosols Play a Major Role in the Nasopharyngeal Microbiota Content in Agricultural Environment. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2019; 16:ijerph16081375. [PMID: 30995814 PMCID: PMC6518280 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16081375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2019] [Revised: 04/09/2019] [Accepted: 04/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Background: Bioaerosols are a major concern for public health and sampling for exposure assessment purposes is challenging. The nasopharyngeal region could be a potent carrier of long-term bioaerosol exposure agents. This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between nasopharyngeal bacterial flora of swine workers and the swine barns bioaerosol biodiversity. Methods: Air samples from eight swine barns as well as nasopharyngeal swabs from pig workers (n = 25) and from a non-exposed control group (n = 29) were sequenced using 16S rRNA gene high-throughput sequencing. Wastewater treatment plants were used as the industrial, low-dust, non-agricultural environment control to validate the microbial link between the bioaerosol content (air) and the nasopharynxes of workers. Results: A multivariate analysis showed air samples and nasopharyngeal flora of pig workers cluster together, compared to the non-exposed control group. The significance was confirmed with the PERMANOVA statistical test (p-value of 0.0001). Unlike the farm environment, nasopharynx samples from wastewater workers did not cluster with air samples from wastewater treatment plants. The difference in the microbial community of nasopharynx of swine workers and a control group suggest that swine workers are carriers of germs found in bioaerosols. Conclusion: Nasopharynx sampling and microbiota could be used as a proxy of air sampling for exposure assessment studies or for the determination of exposure markers in highly contaminated agricultural environments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hamza Mbareche
- Centre de Recherche de l'Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Québec G1V 4G5, Canada.
- Département de Biochimie, de Microbiologie et de Bio-Informatique, Faculté des Sciences et de Génie, Université Laval, Québec G1V 0A6, Canada.
| | - Marc Veillette
- Centre de Recherche de l'Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Québec G1V 4G5, Canada.
| | - Jonathan Pilote
- Centre de Recherche de l'Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Québec G1V 4G5, Canada.
- Département de Biochimie, de Microbiologie et de Bio-Informatique, Faculté des Sciences et de Génie, Université Laval, Québec G1V 0A6, Canada.
| | - Valérie Létourneau
- Centre de Recherche de l'Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Québec G1V 4G5, Canada.
| | - Caroline Duchaine
- Centre de Recherche de l'Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Québec G1V 4G5, Canada.
- Département de Biochimie, de Microbiologie et de Bio-Informatique, Faculté des Sciences et de Génie, Université Laval, Québec G1V 0A6, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Prussin AJ, Torres PJ, Shimashita J, Head SR, Bibby KJ, Kelley ST, Marr LC. Seasonal dynamics of DNA and RNA viral bioaerosol communities in a daycare center. MICROBIOME 2019; 7:53. [PMID: 30935423 PMCID: PMC6444849 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-019-0672-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2018] [Accepted: 03/22/2019] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Viruses play an important role in ecosystems, including the built environment (BE). While numerous studies have characterized bacterial and fungal microbiomes in the BE, few have focused on the viral microbiome (virome). Longitudinal microbiome studies provide insight into the stability and dynamics of microbial communities; however, few such studies exist for the microbiome of the BE, and most have focused on bacteria. Here, we present a longitudinal, metagenomic-based analysis of the airborne DNA and RNA virome of a children's daycare center. Specifically, we investigate how the airborne virome varies as a function of season and human occupancy, and we identify possible sources of the viruses and their hosts, mainly humans, animals, plants, and insects. RESULTS Season strongly influenced the airborne viral community composition, and a single sample collected when the daycare center was unoccupied suggested that occupancy also influenced the community. The pattern of influence differed between DNA and RNA viromes. Human-associated viruses were much more diverse and dominant in the winter, while the summertime virome contained a high relative proportion and diversity of plant-associated viruses. CONCLUSIONS This airborne microbiome in this building exhibited seasonality in its viral community but not its bacterial community. Human occupancy influenced both types of communities. By adding new data about the viral microbiome to complement burgeoning information about the bacterial and fungal microbiomes, this study contributes to a more complete understanding of the airborne microbiome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aaron J. Prussin
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061 USA
| | - Pedro J. Torres
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182 USA
| | - John Shimashita
- Next Generation Sequencing and Microarray Core Facility, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037 USA
| | - Steven R. Head
- Next Generation Sequencing and Microarray Core Facility, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037 USA
| | - Kyle J. Bibby
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556 USA
| | - Scott T. Kelley
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182 USA
| | - Linsey C. Marr
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061 USA
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Mubareka S, Groulx N, Savory E, Cutts T, Theriault S, Scott JA, Roy CJ, Turgeon N, Bryce E, Astrakianakis G, Kirychuk S, Girard M, Kobinger G, Zhang C, Duchaine C. Bioaerosols and Transmission, a Diverse and Growing Community of Practice. Front Public Health 2019; 7:23. [PMID: 30847337 PMCID: PMC6394210 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2019.00023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2018] [Accepted: 01/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The transmission of infectious microbes via bioaerosols is of significant concern for both human and animal health. However, gaps in our understanding of respiratory pathogen transmission and methodological heterogeneity persist. New developments have enabled progress in this domain, and one of the major turning points has been the recognition that cross-disciplinary collaborations across spheres of human and animal health, microbiology, biophysics, engineering, aerobiology, infection control, public health, occupational health, and industrial hygiene are essential. Collaborative initiatives support advances in topics such as bioaerosol behavior, dispersion models, risk assessment, risk/exposure effects, and mitigation strategies in clinical, experimental, agricultural, and other field settings. There is a need to enhance the knowledge translation for researchers, stakeholders, and private partners to support a growing network of individuals and agencies to achieve common goals to mitigate inter- and intra-species pathogen transmission via bioaerosols.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Samira Mubareka
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | - Eric Savory
- Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Todd Cutts
- Public Health Agency of Canada, Branch of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Applied Biosafety Research Program, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Steven Theriault
- Public Health Agency of Canada, Branch of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Applied Biosafety Research Program, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - James A Scott
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Chad J Roy
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Tulane School of Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Nathalie Turgeon
- Recherche de l'Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, and Département de Biochimie, de Microbiologie et de Bio-Informatique, Faculté des Sciences et de Génie, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Elizabeth Bryce
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - George Astrakianakis
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Shelley Kirychuk
- Canadian Centre for Health and Safety in Agriculture, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Matthieu Girard
- Institut de Recherche et de Développement en Agroenvironnement, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Gary Kobinger
- Centre de Recherche en Infectiologie, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Chao Zhang
- Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Caroline Duchaine
- Recherche de l'Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, and Département de Biochimie, de Microbiologie et de Bio-Informatique, Faculté des Sciences et de Génie, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| |
Collapse
|