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Horne J, Dunne N, Singh N, Safiuddin M, Esmaeili N, Erenler M, Ho I, Luk E. Building parameters linked with indoor transmission of SARS-CoV-2. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 238:117156. [PMID: 37717799 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117156] [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: 03/04/2023] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
The rapid spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has emphasized the importance of understanding and adapting to the indoor remediation of transmissible diseases to decrease the risk for future pandemic threats. While there were many precautions in place to hinder the spread of COVID-19, there has also been a substantial increase of new research on SARS-CoV-2 that can be utilized to further mitigate the transmission risk of this novel virus. This review paper aims to identify the building parameters of indoor spaces that could have considerable influence on the transmission of SARS-CoV-2. The following building parameters have been identified and analyzed, emphasizing their link with the indoor transmission of SARS-CoV-2: temperature and relative humidity, temperature differences between rooms, ventilation rate and access to natural ventilation, occupant density, surface type and finish, airflow direction and speed, air stability, indoor air pollution, central air conditioning systems, capacity of air handling system and HVAC filter efficiency, edge sealing of air filters, room layout and interior design, and compartmentalization of interior space. This paper also explains the interactions of SARS-CoV-2 with indoor environments and its persistence. Furthermore, the modifications of the key building parameters have been discussed for controlling the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in indoor spaces. Understanding the information provided in this paper is crucial to develop effective health and safety measures that will aid in infection prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline Horne
- Centre for Construction and Engineering Technologies, George Brown College, Casa Loma Campus, 160 Kendal Avenue, Toronto, ON M5R 1M3, Canada
| | - Nicholas Dunne
- Centre for Construction and Engineering Technologies, George Brown College, Casa Loma Campus, 160 Kendal Avenue, Toronto, ON M5R 1M3, Canada
| | - Nirmala Singh
- Centre for Construction and Engineering Technologies, George Brown College, Casa Loma Campus, 160 Kendal Avenue, Toronto, ON M5R 1M3, Canada
| | - Md Safiuddin
- Centre for Construction and Engineering Technologies, George Brown College, Casa Loma Campus, 160 Kendal Avenue, Toronto, ON M5R 1M3, Canada.
| | - Navid Esmaeili
- Centre for Construction and Engineering Technologies, George Brown College, Casa Loma Campus, 160 Kendal Avenue, Toronto, ON M5R 1M3, Canada
| | - Merve Erenler
- Centre for Construction and Engineering Technologies, George Brown College, Casa Loma Campus, 160 Kendal Avenue, Toronto, ON M5R 1M3, Canada
| | - Ian Ho
- Sysconverge Inc., 7030 Woodbine Avenue, Suite 500, Markham, ON L3R 6G2, Canada
| | - Edwin Luk
- Sysconverge Inc., 7030 Woodbine Avenue, Suite 500, Markham, ON L3R 6G2, Canada
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Weyersberg L, Sommerfeld F, Vatter P, Hessling M. UV radiation sensitivity of bacteriophage PhiX174 - A potential surrogate for SARS-CoV-2 in terms of radiation inactivation. AIMS Microbiol 2023; 9:431-443. [PMID: 37649795 PMCID: PMC10462461 DOI: 10.3934/microbiol.2023023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Revised: 04/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
To minimize health risks, surrogates are often employed to reduce experiments with pathogenic microorganisms and the associated health risk. Due to structural similarities between the enveloped RNA-viruses SARS-CoV-2 and Phi6, the latter has been established as a nonpathogenic coronavirus surrogate for many applications. However, large discrepancies in the UV log-reduction doses between SARS-CoV-2 and Phi6 necessitate the search for a better surrogate for UV inactivation applications. A literature study provided the bacteriophage PhiX174 as a potentially more suitable nonpathogenic coronavirus surrogate candidate. In irradiation experiments, the sensitivity of PhiX174 was investigated upon exposure to UV radiation of wavelengths 222 nm (Far-UVC), 254 nm (UVC), 302 nm (broad-band UVB), 311 nm (narrow-band UVB) and 366 nm (UVA) using a plaque assay. The determined log-reduction doses for PhiX174 were 1.3 mJ/cm2 @ 222 nm, 5 mJ/cm2 @ 254 nm, 17.9 mJ/cm2 @ 302 nm, 625 mJ/cm2 @ 311 nm and 42.5 J/cm2 @ 366 nm. The comparison of these results with published log-reduction doses of SARS-CoV-2 in the same spectral region, led to the conclusion that the bacteriophage PhiX174 exhibits larger log-reduction doses than SARS-CoV-2, nevertheless, it is a better UV-surrogate at 222 nm (Far-UVC), 254 nm (UVC) and 302 nm (UVB) than the often applied Phi6.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Martin Hessling
- Ulm University of Applied Sciences, Department of Medical Engineering and Mechatronics, Biotech-Lab, Albert Einstein-Allee 55, D-89081 Ulm, Germany
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Neale PJ, Williamson CE, Banaszak AT, Häder DP, Hylander S, Ossola R, Rose KC, Wängberg SÅ, Zepp R. The response of aquatic ecosystems to the interactive effects of stratospheric ozone depletion, UV radiation, and climate change. Photochem Photobiol Sci 2023:10.1007/s43630-023-00370-z. [PMID: 37129840 PMCID: PMC10153058 DOI: 10.1007/s43630-023-00370-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Variations in stratospheric ozone and changes in the aquatic environment by climate change and human activity are modifying the exposure of aquatic ecosystems to UV radiation. These shifts in exposure have consequences for the distributions of species, biogeochemical cycles, and services provided by aquatic ecosystems. This Quadrennial Assessment presents the latest knowledge on the multi-faceted interactions between the effects of UV irradiation and climate change, and other anthropogenic activities, and how these conditions are changing aquatic ecosystems. Climate change results in variations in the depth of mixing, the thickness of ice cover, the duration of ice-free conditions and inputs of dissolved organic matter, all of which can either increase or decrease exposure to UV radiation. Anthropogenic activities release oil, UV filters in sunscreens, and microplastics into the aquatic environment that are then modified by UV radiation, frequently amplifying adverse effects on aquatic organisms and their environments. The impacts of these changes in combination with factors such as warming and ocean acidification are considered for aquatic micro-organisms, macroalgae, plants, and animals (floating, swimming, and attached). Minimising the disruptive consequences of these effects on critical services provided by the world's rivers, lakes and oceans (freshwater supply, recreation, transport, and food security) will not only require continued adherence to the Montreal Protocol but also a wider inclusion of solar UV radiation and its effects in studies and/or models of aquatic ecosystems under conditions of the future global climate.
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Affiliation(s)
- P J Neale
- Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, Edgewater, USA.
| | | | - A T Banaszak
- Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Unidad Académica de Sistemas Arrecifales, Puerto Morelos, Mexico
| | - D-P Häder
- Friedrich-Alexander University, Möhrendorf, Germany
| | | | - R Ossola
- Colorado State University, Fort Collins, USA
| | - K C Rose
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, USA
| | | | - R Zepp
- ORD/CEMM, US Environmental Protection Agency, Athens, USA
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Development of a safety protocol for training and using SARS-CoV-2 detection dogs: A pilot study. J Vet Behav 2023; 60:79-88. [PMID: 36628157 PMCID: PMC9815880 DOI: 10.1016/j.jveb.2023.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Medical detection dogs have potential to be used to screen asymptomatic patients in crowded areas at risk of epidemics such as the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. However, the fact that SARS-CoV-2 detection dogs are in direct contact with infected people or materials raises important concerns due to the zoonotic potential of the virus. No study has yet recommended a safety protocol to ensure the health of SARS- CoV-2 detection dogs during training and working in public areas. This study sought to identify suitable decontamination methods to obtain nonpathogenic face mask samples while working with SARS-CoV-2 detection dogs and to investigate whether dogs were able to adapt themselves to other decontamination procedures once they were trained for a specific odor. The present study was designed as a four-phase study: (a) Method development, (b) Testing of decon- tamination methods, (c) Testing of training methodology, and (d) Real life scenario. Surgical face masks were used as scent samples. In total, 3 dogs were trained. The practical use of 3 different decontam- ination procedures (storage, heating, and UV-C light) while training SARS-CoV-2 detection dogs were tested. The dog trained for the task alerted to the samples inactivated by the storage method with a sensitivity of100 % and specificity of 98.28 %. In the last phase of this study, one dog of 2 dogs trained, alerted to the samples inactivated by the UV-C light with a sensitivity of 91.30% and specificity of 97.16% while the other dog detected the sample with a sensitivity of 96.00% and specificity of 97.65 %.
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Ganesh PS, Kim SY. A comparison of conventional and advanced electroanalytical methods to detect SARS-CoV-2 virus: A concise review. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 307:135645. [PMID: 35817176 PMCID: PMC9270057 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.135645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Revised: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Respiratory viruses are a serious threat to human wellbeing that can cause pandemic disease. As a result, it is critical to identify virus in a timely, sensitive, and precise manner. The present novel coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19) disease outbreak has increased these concerns. The research of developing various methods for COVID-19 virus identification is one of the most rapidly growing research areas. This review article compares and addresses recent improvements in conventional and advanced electroanalytical approaches for detecting COVID-19 virus. The popular conventional methods such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR), loop mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), serology test, and computed tomography (CT) scan with artificial intelligence require specialized equipment, hours of processing, and specially trained staff. Many researchers, on the other hand, focused on the invention and expansion of electrochemical and/or bio sensors to detect SARS-CoV-2, demonstrating that they could show a significant role in COVID-19 disease control. We attempted to meticulously summarize recent advancements, compare conventional and electroanalytical approaches, and ultimately discuss future prospective in the field. We hope that this review will be helpful to researchers who are interested in this interdisciplinary field and desire to develop more innovative virus detection methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pattan-Siddappa Ganesh
- Interaction Laboratory, Advanced Technology Research Center, Future Convergence Engineering, Korea University of Technology and Education (KoreaTech), Cheonan-si, Chungcheongnam-do, 330-708, Republic of Korea.
| | - Sang-Youn Kim
- Interaction Laboratory, Advanced Technology Research Center, Future Convergence Engineering, Korea University of Technology and Education (KoreaTech), Cheonan-si, Chungcheongnam-do, 330-708, Republic of Korea.
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Investigation of turning points in the effectiveness of Covid-19 social distancing. Sci Rep 2022; 12:17783. [PMID: 36273235 PMCID: PMC9588076 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-22747-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Covid-19 is the first digitally documented pandemic in history, presenting a unique opportunity to learn how to best deal with similar crises in the future. In this study we have carried out a model-based evaluation of the effectiveness of social distancing, using Austria and Slovenia as examples. Whereas the majority of comparable studies have postulated a negative relationship between the stringency of social distancing (reduction in social contacts) and the scale of the epidemic, our model has suggested a varying relationship, with turning points at which the system changes its predominant regime from 'less social distancing-more cumulative deaths and infections' to 'less social distancing-fewer cumulative deaths and infections'. This relationship was found to persist in scenarios with distinct seasonal variation in transmission and limited national intensive care capabilities. In such situations, relaxing social distancing during low transmission seasons (spring and summer) was found to relieve pressure from high transmission seasons (fall and winter) thus reducing the total number of infections and fatalities. Strategies that take into account this relationship could be particularly beneficial in situations where long-term containment is not feasible.
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A comparative analysis of SARS-CoV-2 viral load across different altitudes. Sci Rep 2022; 12:17179. [PMID: 36229507 PMCID: PMC9558017 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-20516-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 has spread throughout the world, including areas located at high or very high altitudes. There is a debate about the role of high altitude hypoxia on viral transmission, incidence, and COVID-19 related mortality. This is the first comparison of SARS-CoV-2 viral load across elevations ranging from 0 to 4300 m. To describe the SARS-CoV-2 viral load across samples coming from 62 cities located at low, moderate, high, and very high altitudes in Ecuador. An observational analysis of viral loads among nasopharyngeal swap samples coming from a cohort of 4929 patients with a RT-qPCR test positive for SARS-CoV-2. The relationship between high and low altitude only considering our sample of 4929 persons is equal in both cases and not significative (p-value 0.19). In the case of low altitude, adding the sex variable to the analysis, it was possible to find a significative difference between men and women (p-value < 0.05). Considering initially sex and then altitude, it was possible to find a significative difference between high and low altitude for men (p-value 0.05). There is not enough evidence to state that viral load is affected directly by altitude range but adding a new variable as sex in the analysis shows that the presence of new variables influences the relationship of altitude range and viral load. There is no evidence that viral loads (Ct and copies/ml) differ at low or high altitude. Using sex as a co-factor, we found that men have higher viral loads than women at low and moderate altitude locations, while living at high altitude, no differences were found. When Ct values were aggregated by low, moderate, and high viral load, we found no significant differences when sex was excluded from the analysis. We conclude that viral load is not directly affected by altitude, but COVID-19 incidence and mortality are rather affected by socio-demographic and idiosyncratic dynamics.
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Rumaling MI, Chee FP, Bade A, Hasbi NH, Daim S, Juhim F, Duinong M, Rasmidi R. Methods of optical spectroscopy in detection of virus in infected samples: A review. Heliyon 2022; 8:e10472. [PMID: 36060463 PMCID: PMC9422564 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e10472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Revised: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Izzuddin Rumaling
- Faculty of Science and Natural Resources, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
| | - Fuei Pien Chee
- Faculty of Science and Natural Resources, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
- Corresponding author.
| | - Abdullah Bade
- Faculty of Science and Natural Resources, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
| | - Nur Hasshima Hasbi
- Faculty of Science and Natural Resources, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
| | - Sylvia Daim
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
| | - Floressy Juhim
- Faculty of Science and Natural Resources, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
| | - Mivolil Duinong
- Faculty of Science and Natural Resources, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
| | - Rosfayanti Rasmidi
- Faculty of Science and Natural Resources, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
- Faculty of Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA Sabah Branch, Kota Kinabalu Campus, 88997 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
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Iqbal N, Rafiq M, Shah M, Tareen S, Ahmad M, Nawaz F, Khan S, Riaz R, Yang T, Fatima A, Jamal M, Mansoor S, Liu X, Ahmed N. The SARS-CoV-2 differential genomic adaptation in response to varying UVindex reveals potential genomic resources for better COVID-19 diagnosis and prevention. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:922393. [PMID: 36016784 PMCID: PMC9396647 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.922393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been a pandemic disease reported in almost every country and causes life-threatening, severe respiratory symptoms. Recent studies showed that various environmental selection pressures challenge the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infectivity and, in response, the virus engenders new mutations, leading to the emergence of more virulent strains of WHO concern. Advance prediction of the forthcoming virulent SARS-CoV-2 strains in response to the principal environmental selection pressures like temperature and solar UV radiation is indispensable to overcome COVID-19. To discover the UV-solar radiation-driven genomic adaption of SARS-CoV-2, a curated dataset of 2,500 full-grade genomes from five different UVindex regions (25 countries) was subjected to in-depth downstream genome-wide analysis. The recurrent variants that best respond to UV-solar radiations were extracted and extensively annotated to determine their possible effects and impacts on gene functions. This study revealed 515 recurrent single nucleotide variants (rcntSNVs) as SARS-CoV-2 genomic responses to UV-solar radiation, of which 380 were found to be distinct. For all discovered rcntSNVs, 596 functional effects (rcntEffs) were detected, containing 290 missense, 194 synonymous, 81 regulatory, and 31 in the intergenic region. The highest counts of missense rcntSNVs in spike (27) and nucleocapsid (26) genes explain the SARS-CoV-2 genomic adjustment to escape immunity and prevent UV-induced DNA damage, respectively. Among all, the most commonly observed rcntEffs were four missenses (RdRp-Pro327Leu, N-Arg203Lys, N-Gly204Arg, and Spike-Asp614Gly) and one synonymous (ORF1ab-Phe924Phe) functional effects. The highest number of rcntSNVs found distinct and were uniquely attributed to the specific UVindex regions, proposing solar-UV radiation as one of the driving forces for SARS-CoV-2 differential genomic adaptation. The phylogenetic relationship indicated the high UVindex region populating SARS-CoV-2 as the recent progenitor of all included samples. Altogether, these results provide baseline genomic data that may need to be included for preparing UVindex region-specific future diagnostic and vaccine formulations.
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SARS-CoV-2 Viral Load Analysis at Low and High Altitude: A Case Study from Ecuador. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19137945. [PMID: 35805606 PMCID: PMC9265329 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19137945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Revised: 05/03/2022] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 has spread throughout the world, including remote areas such as those located at high altitudes. There is a debate about the role of hypobaric hypoxia on viral transmission and COVID-19 incidence. A descriptive cross-sectional analysis of SARS-CoV-2 infection and viral load among patients living at low (230 m) and high altitude (3800 m) in Ecuador was completed. Within these two communities, the total number of infected people at the time of the study was 108 cases (40.3%). The COVID-19 incidence proportion at low altitude was 64% while at high altitude was 30.3%. The mean viral load from those patients who tested positive was 3,499,184 copies/mL (SD = 23,931,479 copies/mL). At low altitude (Limoncocha), the average viral load was 140,223.8 copies/mL (SD = 990,840.9 copies/mL), while for the high altitude group (Oyacachi), the mean viral load was 6,394,789 copies/mL (SD = 32,493,469 copies/mL). We found no statistically significant differences when both results were compared (p = 0.056). We found no significant differences across people living at low or high altitude; however, men and younger populations had higher viral load than women older populations, respectively.
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A Review on Building Design as a Biomedical System for Preventing COVID-19 Pandemic. BUILDINGS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/buildings12050582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Sustainable design methods aim to obtain architectural solutions that assure the coexistence and welfare of human beings, inorganic structures, and living things that constitute ecosystems. The novel coronavirus emergence, inadequate vaccines against the present severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-(SARS-CoV-2), and increases in microbial resistance have made it essential to review the preventative approaches used during pre-antibiotic periods. Apart from low carbon emissions and energy, sustainable architecture for facilities, building designs, and digital modeling should incorporate design approaches to confront the impacts of communicable infections. This review aims to determine how architectural design can protect people and employees from harm; it models viewpoints to highlight the architects’ roles in combating coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and designing guidelines as a biomedical system for policymakers. The goals include exploring the hospital architecture evolution and the connection between architectural space and communicable infections and recommending design and digital modeling strategies to improve infection prevention and controls. Based on a wide-ranging literature review, it was found that design methods have often played important roles in the prevention and control of infectious diseases and could be a solution for combating the wide spread of the novel coronavirus or coronavirus variants or delta.
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Ishmatov A. "SARS-CoV-2 is transmitted by particulate air pollution": Misinterpretations of statistical data, skewed citation practices, and misuse of specific terminology spreading the misconception. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 204:112116. [PMID: 34562486 PMCID: PMC8489301 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.112116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Revised: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
In epidemiology, there are still outdated myths associated with the spread of respiratory infections. Recently, we have witnessed the origination of a new misconception, to the effect that SARS-CoV-2 is transmitted in the open air by way of particulate air pollution (atmospheric particulate matter (PM)). There is no evidence to support the idea behind this misconception. Nevertheless, more and more people are involved in animated debate and the number of studies concerning atmospheric PM as a carrier of SARS-CoV-2 is growing rapidly. In this work, the origin of the misconception was investigated, and the published papers which have contributed to the spread of this myth were analyzed. The results show that the following factors lie behind the origin and spread of the misconception: a) The specific terminology is not always clearly defined or consistently used by scientists. In particular, the terms 'particulate matter', 'atmospheric aerosol particles', 'air pollutants', and 'atmospheric aerosols' need to be clarified, and besides they are often equated to 'infectious aerosols', 'virus-bearing aerosols', 'bio-aerosols', 'virus-laden particles', 'respiratory aerosol/droplets', and 'droplet nuclei'. b) Authors misinterpret statistical data and information from other sources. Interpretation of the correlation between PM levels and the increasing incidence and severity of COVID-19 infection, is often changed from "PM may reflect the indirect action of certain atmospheric conditions that maintain infectious nuclei suspended for prolonged periods, parameters that also act on atmospheric pollutants" to "PM could cause an increase in infectious droplets/aerosols containing SARS-CoV-2." This is a dramatic change to the meaning. Moreover, it is often not taken into account that PM may reflect activities in areas with high population density and this population density at the same time contributes to the spread COVID-19. c) Skewed citation practices. Many authors cite a hypothetical conclusion from an original study, then other authors cite the papers of these authors as primary sources. This practice leads to the effect that there are many witnesses to a 'phenomenon' that did not ever occur. Thus, the terminology used in interdisciplinary communications should be more nuanced and defined precisely. Authors should be more careful when citing unconfirmed data (and hypotheses) as well as in interpreting statistical data so as to avoid confusion and spreading false information. This is especially important now in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Ishmatov
- Research Institute of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Timakova St., Bild. 2., Novosibirsk, 630117, Russian Federation; Kazan Federal University, Kremlyovskaya St. 18, Kazan, 420008, Russian Federation; Togliatti State University, Belorusskaya St. 14, Togliatti, 445020, Russian Federation.
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Shamim JA, Hsu WL, Daiguji H. Review of component designs for post-COVID-19 HVAC systems: Possibilities and challenges. Heliyon 2022; 8:e09001. [PMID: 35224237 PMCID: PMC8863315 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e09001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Revised: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
The globally occurring recurrent waves of the COVID-19 pandemic, primarily caused by the transmission of aerosolized droplets from an infected person to a healthy person in the indoor environment, has led to the urgency of designing new modes of indoor ventilation. To prevent cross-contaminations due to airborne viruses, bacteria, and other pollutants in indoor environments, heating ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems need to be redesigned with anti-pandemic components. The three vital anti-pandemic components for the post-COVID-19 HVAC systems, as identified by the authors, are: a biological contaminant inactivation unit, a volatile organic compound decomposition unit, and an advanced air filtration unit. The purpose of the current article is to provide an overview of the latest research outcomes toward designing these anti-pandemic components and pointing out the future promises and challenges. In addition, the role of personalized ventilation in minimizing the risk of indoor cross-contamination by employing various air terminal devices is discussed. The authors believe that this article will encourage HVAC designers to develop effective anti-pandemic components to minimize the indoor airborne transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jubair A Shamim
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | - Wei-Lun Hsu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | - Hirofumi Daiguji
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
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Caetano-Anollés K, Hernandez N, Mughal F, Tomaszewski T, Caetano-Anollés G. The seasonal behaviour of COVID-19 and its galectin-like culprit of the viral spike. METHODS IN MICROBIOLOGY 2021; 50:27-81. [PMID: 38620818 PMCID: PMC8590929 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mim.2021.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Seasonal behaviour is an attribute of many viral diseases. Like other 'winter' RNA viruses, infections caused by the causative agent of COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, appear to exhibit significant seasonal changes. Here we discuss the seasonal behaviour of COVID-19, emerging viral phenotypes, viral evolution, and how the mutational landscape of the virus affects the seasonal attributes of the disease. We propose that the multiple seasonal drivers behind infectious disease spread (and the spread of COVID-19 specifically) are in 'trade-off' relationships and can be better described within a framework of a 'triangle of viral persistence' modulated by the environment, physiology, and behaviour. This 'trade-off' exists as one trait cannot increase without a decrease in another. We also propose that molecular components of the virus can act as sensors of environment and physiology, and could represent molecular culprits of seasonality. We searched for flexible protein structures capable of being modulated by the environment and identified a galectin-like fold within the N-terminal domain of the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 as a potential candidate. Tracking the prevalence of mutations in this structure resulted in the identification of a hemisphere-dependent seasonal pattern driven by mutational bursts. We propose that the galectin-like structure is a frequent target of mutations because it helps the virus evade or modulate the physiological responses of the host to further its spread and survival. The flexible regions of the N-terminal domain should now become a focus for mitigation through vaccines and therapeutics and for prediction and informed public health decision making.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nicolas Hernandez
- Evolutionary Bioinformatics Laboratory, Department of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, United States
| | - Fizza Mughal
- Evolutionary Bioinformatics Laboratory, Department of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, United States
| | - Tre Tomaszewski
- Evolutionary Bioinformatics Laboratory, Department of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, United States
| | - Gustavo Caetano-Anollés
- Evolutionary Bioinformatics Laboratory, Department of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, United States
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15
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Wondrak GT, Jandova J, Williams SJ, Schenten D. Solar simulated ultraviolet radiation inactivates HCoV-NL63 and SARS-CoV-2 coronaviruses at environmentally relevant doses. JOURNAL OF PHOTOCHEMISTRY AND PHOTOBIOLOGY. B, BIOLOGY 2021; 224:112319. [PMID: 34598020 PMCID: PMC8463283 DOI: 10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2021.112319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2021] [Revised: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The germicidal properties of short wavelength ultraviolet C (UVC) light are well established and used to inactivate many viruses and other microbes. However, much less is known about germicidal effects of terrestrial solar UV light, confined exclusively to wavelengths in the UVA and UVB regions. Here, we have explored the sensitivity of the human coronaviruses HCoV-NL63 and SARS-CoV-2 to solar-simulated full spectrum ultraviolet light (sUV) delivered at environmentally relevant doses. First, HCoV-NL63 coronavirus inactivation by sUV-exposure was confirmed employing (i) viral plaque assays, (ii) RT-qPCR detection of viral genome replication, and (iii) infection-induced stress response gene expression array analysis. Next, a detailed dose-response relationship of SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus inactivation by sUV was elucidated, suggesting a half maximal suppression of viral infectivity at low sUV doses. Likewise, extended sUV exposure of SARS-CoV-2 blocked cellular infection as revealed by plaque assay and stress response gene expression array analysis. Moreover, comparative (HCoV-NL63 versus SARS-CoV-2) single gene expression analysis by RT-qPCR confirmed that sUV exposure blocks coronavirus-induced redox, inflammatory, and proteotoxic stress responses. Based on our findings, we estimate that solar ground level full spectrum UV light impairs coronavirus infectivity at environmentally relevant doses. Given the urgency and global scale of the unfolding SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, these prototype data suggest feasibility of solar UV-induced viral inactivation, an observation deserving further molecular exploration in more relevant exposure models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georg T Wondrak
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy and UA Cancer Center, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States of America.
| | - Jana Jandova
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy and UA Cancer Center, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States of America
| | - Spencer J Williams
- Department of Immunobiology, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States of America
| | - Dominik Schenten
- Department of Immunobiology, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States of America.
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16
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Parsa SM, Momeni S, Hemmat A, Afrand M. Effectiveness of solar water disinfection in the era of COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic for contaminated water/wastewater treatment considering UV effect and temperature. JOURNAL OF WATER PROCESS ENGINEERING 2021; 43:102224. [PMID: 35592836 PMCID: PMC8285244 DOI: 10.1016/j.jwpe.2021.102224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2021] [Revised: 05/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Long is the way and hard, that out of COVID-19 leads up to light. The virus is highly contagious and spread rapidly and the number of infections increases exponentially. The colossal number of infections and presence of the novel coronavirus RNA in human wastes (e.g. Excreta/urine) even after the patients recovered and the RT-PCR tests were negative, results in massive load of the viral in water environments. Numerous studies reported the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater samples. The risk of contaminating water bodies in the regions which suffer from the lack of proper sanitation system and wastewater treatment plants (mostly in developing countries) is higher. Since solar water disinfection (SODIS) is usually used by people in developing countries, there is a concern about using this method during the pandemic. Because the SARS-CoV-2 can be eliminated by high temperature (>56 °C) and UVC wavelength (100-280 nm) while SODIS systems mainly work at lower temperature (<45 °C) and use the available UVA (315-400 nm). Thus, during a situation like the ongoing pandemic using SODIS method for wastewater treatment (or providing drinking water) is not a reliable method. It should be reminded that the main aim of the present study is not just to give insights about the possibilities and risks of using SODIS during the ongoing pandemic but it has broader prospect for any future outbreak/pandemic that results in biological contamination of water bodies. Nevertheless, some experimental studies seem to be necessary by all researchers under conditions similar to developing countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyed Masoud Parsa
- Department of Energy Engineering, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Saba Momeni
- Guilan University of Medical Science, Anzali International Campus, Bandar Anzali, Iran
| | - Ahmadreza Hemmat
- Department of Medicine, Najafabad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Najafabad, Iran
| | - Masoud Afrand
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Najafabad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Najafabad, Iran
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17
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Parsa SM. Reliability of thermal desalination (solar stills) for water/wastewater treatment in light of COVID-19 (novel coronavirus "SARS-CoV-2") pandemic: What should consider? DESALINATION 2021; 512:115106. [PMID: 33967299 PMCID: PMC8096177 DOI: 10.1016/j.desal.2021.115106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Revised: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic disturbed the world from the beginning of 2020. The high excessive number of patients and the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 in human excreta and urine even after the infected person's respiratory tests were negative, results in a heavy load of viral in various water bodies and mostly untreated wastewaters. In the present study, the reliability of using small-scale solar thermal desalination systems (solar stills) during a situation like the COVID-19 pandemic is discussed. Pollution of water bodies through the SARS-CoV-2 via numerous routes increases the risk of contaminating the feed water and subsequently the whole structure of solar stills. Since the transmission of pathogens (particle size: 0.5-3 μm) via droplets of water in solar still is reported before, transmitting of SARS-CoV-2 via droplets of water which multiple times smaller (particle size: 60-140 nm) than those pathogens is a concern. The most important issue which must be highlighted is that solar stills worked at low-temperature while the viability and survival of the SARS-CoV-2 in various water matrices in the temperature range (4-37 °C) for several days is reported. In this regard, using solar stills during the COVID-19 pandemic need further consideration by all researchers and people around the world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyed Masoud Parsa
- Department of Energy Engineering, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
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18
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Fiorino S, Tateo F, Biase DD, Gallo CG, Orlandi PE, Corazza I, Budriesi R, Micucci M, Visani M, Loggi E, Hong W, Pica R, Lari F, Zippi M. SARS-CoV-2: lessons from both the history of medicine and from the biological behavior of other well-known viruses. Future Microbiol 2021; 16:1105-1133. [PMID: 34468163 PMCID: PMC8412036 DOI: 10.2217/fmb-2021-0064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 is the etiological agent of the current pandemic worldwide and its associated disease COVID-19. In this review, we have analyzed SARS-CoV-2 characteristics and those ones of other well-known RNA viruses viz. HIV, HCV and Influenza viruses, collecting their historical data, clinical manifestations and pathogenetic mechanisms. The aim of the work is obtaining useful insights and lessons for a better understanding of SARS-CoV-2. These pathogens present a distinct mode of transmission, as SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza viruses are airborne, whereas HIV and HCV are bloodborne. However, these viruses exhibit some potential similar clinical manifestations and pathogenetic mechanisms and their understanding may contribute to establishing preventive measures and new therapies against SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sirio Fiorino
- Internal Medicine Unit, Budrio Hospital, Budrio (Bologna), Azienda USL, Bologna, 40054, Italy
| | - Fabio Tateo
- Institute of Geosciences & Earth Resources, CNR, c/o Department of Geosciences, Padova University, 35127, Italy
| | - Dario De Biase
- Department of Pharmacy & Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna, 40126, Italy
| | - Claudio G Gallo
- Fisiolaserterapico Emiliano, Castel San Pietro Terme, Bologna, 40024, Italy
| | | | - Ivan Corazza
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic & Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, 40126, Italy
| | - Roberta Budriesi
- Department of Pharmacy & Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Bologna, 40126, Italy
| | - Matteo Micucci
- Department of Pharmacy & Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Bologna, 40126, Italy
| | - Michela Visani
- Department of Pharmacy & Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna, 40126, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Loggi
- Hepatology Unit, Department of Medical & Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, 40126, Italy
| | - Wandong Hong
- Department of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou City, Zhejiang, 325035, PR China
| | - Roberta Pica
- Unit of Gastroenterology & Digestive Endoscopy, Sandro Pertini Hospital, Rome, 00157, Italy
| | - Federico Lari
- Internal Medicine Unit, Budrio Hospital, Budrio (Bologna), Azienda USL, Bologna, 40054, Italy
| | - Maddalena Zippi
- Unit of Gastroenterology & Digestive Endoscopy, Sandro Pertini Hospital, Rome, 00157, Italy
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19
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Djellabi R, Basilico N, Delbue S, D’Alessandro S, Parapini S, Cerrato G, Laurenti E, Falletta E, Bianchi CL. Oxidative Inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 on Photoactive AgNPs@TiO 2 Ceramic Tiles. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22168836. [PMID: 34445543 PMCID: PMC8396237 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22168836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2021] [Revised: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 08/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic causes serious public health, social, and economic issues all over the globe. Surface transmission has been claimed as a possible SARS-CoV-2 infection route, especially in heavy contaminated environmental surfaces, including hospitals and crowded public places. Herein, we studied the deactivation of SARS-CoV-2 on photoactive AgNPs@TiO2 coated on industrial ceramic tiles under dark, UVA, and LED light irradiations. SARS-CoV-2 inactivation is effective under any light/dark conditions. The presence of AgNPs has an important key to limit the survival of SARS-CoV-2 in the dark; moreover, there is a synergistic action when TiO2 is decorated with Ag to enhance the virus photocatalytic inactivation even under LED. The radical oxidation was confirmed as the the central mechanism behind SARS-CoV-2 damage/inactivation by ESR analysis under LED light. Therefore, photoactive AgNPs@TiO2 ceramic tiles could be exploited to fight surface infections, especially during viral severe pandemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ridha Djellabi
- Department of Chemistry, University of Milan, Via Golgi 19, 20133 Milan, Italy;
- Correspondence: (R.D.); (C.L.B.)
| | - Nicoletta Basilico
- Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Milan, Via Carlo Pascal 36, 20133 Milan, Italy; (N.B.); (S.D.)
| | - Serena Delbue
- Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Milan, Via Carlo Pascal 36, 20133 Milan, Italy; (N.B.); (S.D.)
| | - Sarah D’Alessandro
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Via Carlo Pascal 36, 20133 Milan, Italy;
| | - Silvia Parapini
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Via Carlo Pascal 36, 20133 Milan, Italy;
| | - Giuseppina Cerrato
- Department of Chemistry, University of Turin, Via Pietro Giuria 7, 10125 Turin, Italy; (G.C.); (E.L.)
| | - Enzo Laurenti
- Department of Chemistry, University of Turin, Via Pietro Giuria 7, 10125 Turin, Italy; (G.C.); (E.L.)
| | - Ermelinda Falletta
- Department of Chemistry, University of Milan, Via Golgi 19, 20133 Milan, Italy;
| | - Claudia Letizia Bianchi
- Department of Chemistry, University of Milan, Via Golgi 19, 20133 Milan, Italy;
- Correspondence: (R.D.); (C.L.B.)
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20
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Borisova T, Komisarenko S. Air pollution particulate matter as a potential carrier of SARS-CoV-2 to the nervous system and/or neurological symptom enhancer: arguments in favor. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 28:40371-40377. [PMID: 33051841 PMCID: PMC7552951 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-11183-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Entry receptor for SARS-CoV-2 is expressed in nasal epithelial cells, and nasal delivery pathway can be a key feature of transmission. Here, a possibility of interaction of SARS-CoV-2 with air pollution particulate matter (PM) was considered. It was shown in our recent studies that water-suspended plastic and wood smoke aerosol PM and carbon-containing nanoparticles from burning organics can interact with the plasma membrane of brain nerve terminals presumably due to their lipid components. COVID-19 patients have neurological symptoms, viral particles were found in the brain, SARS-CoV-2 enters the cells via fusion of lipid viral envelope with the plasma membranes of infected cells, and so viral envelop can contain lipid components of the host neuronal membranes. Therefore, interaction of SARS-CoV-2 envelope with PM is possible in water surrounding. After drying, PM can serve as a carrier for transmission of SARS-CoV-2 immobilized at their surface. Moreover, PM and SARS-CoV-2 per se can enter human organism during nasal inhalation, and they both use the same nose-to-brain delivery pathways moving along axons directly to the brain, influencing the nervous system and exocytosis/endocytosis in nerve cells. Thus, PM can aggravate neurological symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 and vice versa, due to their identical nose-to-brain delivery mechanism and possible interference of neuronal effects. In addition, different types of PM because of their ability to interact with the plasma membranes of nerve cells can facilitate unspecific SARS-CoV-2 entrance to the cells, and can influence envelope features of SARS-CoV-2. Detailed studies are required to analyze interaction of SARS-CoV-2 with PM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana Borisova
- Palladin Institute of Biochemistry, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 9 Leontovicha Street, Kiev, 01054, Ukraine.
| | - Serhiy Komisarenko
- Palladin Institute of Biochemistry, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 9 Leontovicha Street, Kiev, 01054, Ukraine
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21
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Wondrak GT, Jandova J, Williams SJ, Schenten D. Solar simulated ultraviolet radiation inactivates HCoV-NL63 and SARS-CoV-2 coronaviruses at environmentally relevant doses. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2021:2021.06.25.449831. [PMID: 34282415 PMCID: PMC8288145 DOI: 10.1101/2021.06.25.449831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The germicidal properties of short wavelength ultraviolet C (UVC) light are well established and used to inactivate many viruses and other microbes. However, much less is known about germicidal effects of terrestrial solar UV light, confined exclusively to wavelengths in the UVA and UVB regions. Here, we have explored the sensitivity of the human coronaviruses HCoV-NL63 and SARS-CoV-2 to solar-simulated full spectrum ultraviolet light (sUV) delivered at environmentally relevant doses. First, HCoV-NL63 coronavirus inactivation by sUV-exposure was confirmed employing (i) viral plaque assays, (ii) RT-qPCR detection of viral genome replication, and (iii) infection-induced stress response gene expression array analysis. Next, a detailed dose-response relationship of SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus inactivation by sUV was elucidated, suggesting a half maximal suppression of viral infectivity at low sUV doses. Likewise, extended sUV exposure of SARS-CoV-2 blocked cellular infection as revealed by plaque assay and stress response gene expression array analysis. Moreover, comparative (HCoV-NL63 versus SARS-CoV-2) single gene expression analysis by RT-qPCR confirmed that sUV exposure blocks coronavirus-induced redox, inflammatory, and proteotoxic stress responses. Based on our findings, we estimate that solar ground level full spectrum UV light impairs coronavirus infectivity at environmentally relevant doses. Given the urgency and global scale of the unfolding SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, these prototype data suggest feasibility of solar UV-induced viral inactivation, an observation deserving further molecular exploration in more relevant exposure models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georg T. Wondrak
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy and UA Cancer Center, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona
| | - Jana Jandova
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy and UA Cancer Center, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona
| | - Spencer J. Williams
- Department of Immunobiology, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona
| | - Dominik Schenten
- Department of Immunobiology, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona
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22
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Dhama K, Patel SK, Kumar R, Masand R, Rana J, Yatoo MI, Tiwari R, Sharun K, Mohapatra RK, Natesan S, Dhawan M, Ahmad T, Emran TB, Malik YS, Harapan H. The role of disinfectants and sanitizers during COVID-19 pandemic: advantages and deleterious effects on humans and the environment. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 28:34211-34228. [PMID: 33991301 PMCID: PMC8122186 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-14429-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 04/16/2023]
Abstract
Disinfectants and sanitizers are essential preventive agents against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic; however, the pandemic crisis was marred by undue hype, which led to the indiscriminate use of disinfectants and sanitizers. Despite demonstrating a beneficial role in the control and prevention of COVID-19, there are crucial concerns regarding the large-scale use of disinfectants and sanitizers, including the side effects on human and animal health along with harmful impacts exerted on the environment and ecological balance. This article discusses the roles of disinfectants and sanitizers in the control and prevention of the current pandemic and highlights updated disinfection techniques against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This article provides evidence of the deleterious effects of disinfectants and sanitizers exerted on humans, animals, and the environment as well as suggests mitigation strategies to reduce these effects. Additionally, potential technologies and approaches for the reduction of these effects and the development of safe, affordable, and effective disinfectants are discussed, particularly, eco-friendly technologies using nanotechnology and nanomedicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuldeep Dhama
- Division of Pathology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, 243122, India.
| | - Shailesh Kumar Patel
- Division of Pathology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, 243122, India
| | - Rakesh Kumar
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, Dr. G.C Negi College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, CSK Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University, Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, 176062, India
| | - Rupali Masand
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, Dr. G.C Negi College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, CSK Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University, Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, 176062, India
| | - Jigyasa Rana
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Rajeev Gandhi South Campus, Banaras Hindu University, Barkachha, Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh, 231001, India
| | - Mohd Iqbal Yatoo
- Division of Veterinary Clinical Complex, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Shuhama, Alusteng Srinagar, Sher-E-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, 190006, India
| | - Ruchi Tiwari
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Immunology, College of Veterinary Sciences, Uttar Pradesh Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Pashu Chikitsa Vigyan Vishwavidyalaya Evam Go Anusandhan Sansthan (DUVASU), Mathura, 281001, India
| | - Khan Sharun
- Division of Surgery, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, 243122, India
| | - Ranjan K Mohapatra
- Department of Chemistry, Government College of Engineering, Keonjhar, Odisha, 758002, India
| | - Senthilkumar Natesan
- Indian Institute of Public Health Gandhinagar, Lekawada, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, 382042, India
| | - Manish Dhawan
- Department of Microbiology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 141004, India
- The Trafford Group of Colleges, Manchester, WA14 5PQ, UK
| | - Tauseef Ahmad
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Talha Bin Emran
- Department of Pharmacy, BGC Trust University Bangladesh, Chittagong, 4381, Bangladesh
| | - Yashpal Singh Malik
- Division of Biological Standardization, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, 243122, India
| | - Harapan Harapan
- Medical Research Unit, School of Medicine, Universitas Syiah Kuala, Banda Aceh, 23111, Indonesia.
- Tropical Disease Centre, School of Medicine, Universitas Syiah Kuala, Banda Aceh, 23111, Indonesia.
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Universitas Syiah Kuala, Banda Aceh, 23111, Indonesia.
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23
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Gage A, Brunson K, Morris K, Wallen SL, Dhau J, Gohel H, Kaushik A. Perspectives of Manipulative and High-Performance Nanosystems to Manage Consequences of Emerging New Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Variants. FRONTIERS IN NANOTECHNOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fnano.2021.700888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants made the COVID-19 infection pandemic and/or endemic more severe and life-threatening due to ease of transmission, rapid infection, high mortality, and capacity to neutralize the therapeutic ability of developed vaccines. These consequences raise questions on established COVID-19 infection management strategies based on nano-assisted approaches, including rapid diagnostics, therapeutics, and efficient trapping and virus eradication through stimuli-assisted masks and filters composed of nanosystems. Considering these concerns as motivation, this perspective article highlights the role and aspects of nano-enabled approaches to manage the consequences of the COVID-19 infection pandemic associated with newer SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern and significance generated due to mutations. The controlled high-performance of a nanosystem seems capable of effectively detecting new variables for rapid diagnostics, performing site-specific delivery of a therapeutic agent needed for effective treatment, and developing technologies to purify the air and sanitizing premises. The outcomes of this report project manipulative, multifunctional nanosystems for developing high-performance technologies needed to manage consequences of newer SARS-CoV-2 variants efficiently and effectively through an overall targeted, smart approach.
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Choi Y, Tuel A, Eltahir EAB. On the Environmental Determinants of COVID-19 Seasonality. GEOHEALTH 2021; 5:e2021GH000413. [PMID: 34095688 PMCID: PMC8166213 DOI: 10.1029/2021gh000413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Revised: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Viral respiratory diseases (VRDs), such as influenza and COVID-19, are thought to spread faster during winter than during summer. It has been previously argued that cold and dry conditions are more conducive to the transmission of VRDs than warm and humid climates, although this relationship appears restricted to temperate regions and the causal relationship is not well understood. The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 causing COVID-19 has emerged as a serious global public health problem after the first COVID-19 reports in Wuhan, China, in late 2019. It is still unclear whether this novel respiratory disease will ultimately prove to be a seasonal endemic disease. Here, we suggest that air drying capacity (ADC; an atmospheric state variable that controls the fate/evolution of the virus-laden droplets) and ultraviolet radiation (UV) are probable environmental determinants in shaping the transmission of COVID-19 at the seasonal time scale. These variables, unlike temperature and humidity, provide a physically based framework consistent with the apparent seasonal variability in COVID-19 and prevalent across a broad range of climates (e.g., Germany and India). Since this disease is known to be influenced by the compounding effect of social, biological, and environmental determinants, this study does not claim that these environmental determinants exclusively shape the seasonality of COVID-19. However, we argue that ADC and UV play a significant role in COVID-19 dynamics at the seasonal scale. These findings could help guide the development of a sound adaptation strategy against the pandemic over the coming seasons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yeon‐Woo Choi
- Ralph M. Parsons LaboratoryMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyCambridgeMAUSA
| | - Alexandre Tuel
- Ralph M. Parsons LaboratoryMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyCambridgeMAUSA
- Now at Oeschger Center for Climate Change ResearchInstitute of GeographyUniversity of BernBernSwitzerland
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Stawarz-Janeczek M, Kryczyk-Poprawa A, Muszyńska B, Opoka W, Pytko-Polończyk J. Disinfectants Used in Stomatology and SARS-CoV-2 Infection. Eur J Dent 2021; 15:388-400. [PMID: 33694135 PMCID: PMC8184310 DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1724154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Effective disinfection is a basic procedure in medical facilities, including those conducting dental surgeries, where treatments for tissue discontinuity are also performed, as it is an important element of infection prevention. Disinfectants used in dentistry and dental and maxillofacial surgery include both inorganic (hydrogen peroxide, sodium chlorite-hypochlorite) and organic compounds (ethanol, isopropanol, peracetic acid, chlorhexidine, eugenol). Various mechanisms of action of disinfectants have been reported, which include destruction of the structure of bacterial and fungal cell membranes; damage of nucleic acids; denaturation of proteins, which in turn causes inhibition of enzyme activity; loss of cell membrane integrity; and decomposition of cell components. This article discusses the most important examples of substances used as disinfectants in dentistry and presents the mechanisms of their action with particular focus on severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The search was conducted in ScienceDirect, PubMed, and Scopus databases. The interest of scientists in the use of disinfectants in dental practice is constantly growing, which results in the increasing number of publications on disinfection, sterilization, and asepsis. Many disinfectants often possess several of the abovementioned mechanisms of action. In addition, disinfectant preparations used in dental practice either contain one compound or are frequently a mixture of active compounds, which increases their range and effectiveness of antimicrobial action. Currently available information on disinfectants that can be used to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection in dental practices was summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Stawarz-Janeczek
- Department of Integrated Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland
| | - Agata Kryczyk-Poprawa
- Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland
| | - Bożena Muszyńska
- Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland
| | - Włodzimierz Opoka
- Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland
| | - Jolanta Pytko-Polończyk
- Department of Integrated Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland
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26
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Carleton T, Cornetet J, Huybers P, Meng KC, Proctor J. Global evidence for ultraviolet radiation decreasing COVID-19 growth rates. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021. [PMID: 33323525 DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.3588601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023] Open
Abstract
With nearly every country combating the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19), there is a need to understand how local environmental conditions may modify transmission. To date, quantifying seasonality of the disease has been limited by scarce data and the difficulty of isolating climatological variables from other drivers of transmission in observational studies. We combine a spatially resolved dataset of confirmed COVID-19 cases, composed of 3,235 regions across 173 countries, with local environmental conditions and a statistical approach developed to quantify causal effects of environmental conditions in observational data settings. We find that ultraviolet (UV) radiation has a statistically significant effect on daily COVID-19 growth rates: a SD increase in UV lowers the daily growth rate of COVID-19 cases by ∼1 percentage point over the subsequent 2.5 wk, relative to an average in-sample growth rate of 13.2%. The time pattern of lagged effects peaks 9 to 11 d after UV exposure, consistent with the combined timescale of incubation, testing, and reporting. Cumulative effects of temperature and humidity are not statistically significant. Simulations illustrate how seasonal changes in UV have influenced regional patterns of COVID-19 growth rates from January to June, indicating that UV has a substantially smaller effect on the spread of the disease than social distancing policies. Furthermore, total COVID-19 seasonality has indeterminate sign for most regions during this period due to uncertain effects of other environmental variables. Our findings indicate UV exposure influences COVID-19 cases, but a comprehensive understanding of seasonality awaits further analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamma Carleton
- Bren School of Environmental Science and Management, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-3151
| | - Jules Cornetet
- Département de Sciences Sociales, École Normale Supérieure Paris-Saclay, 94235 Cachan Cedex, France
| | - Peter Huybers
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138
| | - Kyle C Meng
- Bren School of Environmental Science and Management, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-3151;
- Department of Economics, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-3151
- National Bureau of Economic Research, Cambridge, MA 02138
| | - Jonathan Proctor
- Center for the Environment, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138
- Data Science Initiative, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138
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27
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Neale RE, Barnes PW, Robson TM, Neale PJ, Williamson CE, Zepp RG, Wilson SR, Madronich S, Andrady AL, Heikkilä AM, Bernhard GH, Bais AF, Aucamp PJ, Banaszak AT, Bornman JF, Bruckman LS, Byrne SN, Foereid B, Häder DP, Hollestein LM, Hou WC, Hylander S, Jansen MAK, Klekociuk AR, Liley JB, Longstreth J, Lucas RM, Martinez-Abaigar J, McNeill K, Olsen CM, Pandey KK, Rhodes LE, Robinson SA, Rose KC, Schikowski T, Solomon KR, Sulzberger B, Ukpebor JE, Wang QW, Wängberg SÅ, White CC, Yazar S, Young AR, Young PJ, Zhu L, Zhu M. Environmental effects of stratospheric ozone depletion, UV radiation, and interactions with climate change: UNEP Environmental Effects Assessment Panel, Update 2020. Photochem Photobiol Sci 2021; 20:1-67. [PMID: 33721243 PMCID: PMC7816068 DOI: 10.1007/s43630-020-00001-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2020] [Accepted: 11/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
This assessment by the Environmental Effects Assessment Panel (EEAP) of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) provides the latest scientific update since our most recent comprehensive assessment (Photochemical and Photobiological Sciences, 2019, 18, 595-828). The interactive effects between the stratospheric ozone layer, solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation, and climate change are presented within the framework of the Montreal Protocol and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. We address how these global environmental changes affect the atmosphere and air quality; human health; terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems; biogeochemical cycles; and materials used in outdoor construction, solar energy technologies, and fabrics. In many cases, there is a growing influence from changes in seasonality and extreme events due to climate change. Additionally, we assess the transmission and environmental effects of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which is responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, in the context of linkages with solar UV radiation and the Montreal Protocol.
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Affiliation(s)
- R E Neale
- Population Health Department, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia
| | - P W Barnes
- Biological Sciences and Environmental Program, Loyola University New Orleans, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - T M Robson
- Organismal and Evolutionary Biology (OEB), Viikki Plant Sciences Centre (ViPS), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - P J Neale
- Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, Maryland, USA
| | - C E Williamson
- Department of Biology, Miami University, Oxford, OH, USA
| | - R G Zepp
- ORD/CEMM, US Environmental Protection Agency, Athens, GA, USA
| | - S R Wilson
- School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia
| | - S Madronich
- Atmospheric Chemistry Observations and Modeling Laboratory, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - A L Andrady
- Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - A M Heikkilä
- Finnish Meteorological Institute, Helsinki, Finland
| | - G H Bernhard
- Biospherical Instruments Inc, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - A F Bais
- Department of Physics, Laboratory of Atmospheric Physics, Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - P J Aucamp
- Ptersa Environmental Consultants, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - A T Banaszak
- Unidad Académica de Sistemas Arrecifales, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto Morelos, México
| | - J F Bornman
- Food Futures Institute, Murdoch University, Perth, Australia.
| | - L S Bruckman
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - S N Byrne
- The University of Sydney, School of Medical Sciences, Discipline of Applied Medical Science, Sydney, Australia
| | - B Foereid
- Environment and Natural Resources, Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research, Ås, Norway
| | - D-P Häder
- Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander University, Möhrendorf, Germany
| | - L M Hollestein
- Department of Dermatology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - W-C Hou
- Department of Environmental Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - S Hylander
- Centre for Ecology and Evolution in Microbial model Systems-EEMiS, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden.
| | - M A K Jansen
- School of BEES, Environmental Research Institute, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - A R Klekociuk
- Antarctic Climate Program, Australian Antarctic Division, Kingston, Australia
| | - J B Liley
- National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, Lauder, New Zealand
| | - J Longstreth
- The Institute for Global Risk Research, LLC, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - R M Lucas
- National Centre of Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - J Martinez-Abaigar
- Faculty of Science and Technology, University of La Rioja, Logroño, Spain
| | | | - C M Olsen
- Cancer Control Group, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia
| | - K K Pandey
- Department of Wood Properties and Uses, Institute of Wood Science and Technology, Bangalore, India
| | - L E Rhodes
- Photobiology Unit, Dermatology Research Centre, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - S A Robinson
- Securing Antarctica's Environmental Future, Global Challenges Program and School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia
| | - K C Rose
- Department of Biological Sciences, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, USA
| | - T Schikowski
- IUF-Leibniz Institute of Environmental Medicine, Dusseldorf, Germany
| | - K R Solomon
- Centre for Toxicology, School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada
| | - B Sulzberger
- Academic Guest Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Duebendorf, Switzerland
| | - J E Ukpebor
- Chemistry Department, Faculty of Physical Sciences, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria
| | - Q-W Wang
- Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Shenyang, China
| | - S-Å Wängberg
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - C C White
- Bee America, 5409 Mohican Rd, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - S Yazar
- Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, Australia
| | - A R Young
- St John's Institute of Dermatology, King's College London, London, UK
| | - P J Young
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
| | - L Zhu
- Center for Advanced Low-Dimension Materials, Donghua University, Shanghai, China
| | - M Zhu
- State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, Donghua University, Shanghai, China
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Abstract
There is interest in whether COVID-19 cases respond to environmental conditions. If an effect is present, seasonal changes in local environmental conditions could alter the global spatial pattern of COVID-19 and inform local public health responses. Using a comprehensive global dataset of daily COVID-19 cases and local environmental conditions, we find that increased daily ultraviolet (UV) radiation lowers the cumulative daily growth rate of COVID-19 cases over the subsequent 2.5 wk. Although statistically significant, the implied influence of UV seasonality is modest relative to social distancing policies. Temperature and specific humidity cumulative effects are not statistically significant, and total COVID-19 seasonality remains to be established because of uncertainty in the net effects from seasonally varying environmental variables. With nearly every country combating the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19), there is a need to understand how local environmental conditions may modify transmission. To date, quantifying seasonality of the disease has been limited by scarce data and the difficulty of isolating climatological variables from other drivers of transmission in observational studies. We combine a spatially resolved dataset of confirmed COVID-19 cases, composed of 3,235 regions across 173 countries, with local environmental conditions and a statistical approach developed to quantify causal effects of environmental conditions in observational data settings. We find that ultraviolet (UV) radiation has a statistically significant effect on daily COVID-19 growth rates: a SD increase in UV lowers the daily growth rate of COVID-19 cases by ∼1 percentage point over the subsequent 2.5 wk, relative to an average in-sample growth rate of 13.2%. The time pattern of lagged effects peaks 9 to 11 d after UV exposure, consistent with the combined timescale of incubation, testing, and reporting. Cumulative effects of temperature and humidity are not statistically significant. Simulations illustrate how seasonal changes in UV have influenced regional patterns of COVID-19 growth rates from January to June, indicating that UV has a substantially smaller effect on the spread of the disease than social distancing policies. Furthermore, total COVID-19 seasonality has indeterminate sign for most regions during this period due to uncertain effects of other environmental variables. Our findings indicate UV exposure influences COVID-19 cases, but a comprehensive understanding of seasonality awaits further analysis.
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29
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Emmanuel U, Osondu ED, Kalu KC. Architectural design strategies for infection prevention and control (IPC) in health-care facilities: towards curbing the spread of Covid-19. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCE & ENGINEERING 2020; 18:1699-1707. [PMID: 33145025 PMCID: PMC7596836 DOI: 10.1007/s40201-020-00580-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/24/2020] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Background Sustainable design strategies are targeted at finding architectural solutions that reassure the well-being and coexistence of inorganic features, living organisms, and humans that make up the ecosystem. The emergence of the novel coronavirus, an increase in microbial resistance, and lack of a vaccine for the present pandemic have made it imperative to appraise the preventive strategies employed during the pre-antibiotic period. Sustainable architecture for children's hospital design and childcare facilities, apart from low energy and carbon emission, must integrate design strategies to confront the impact of infectious diseases. Aim The aim of the paper is to identify how the space patients and health-care workers0 occupy can be made safer from an architectural design perspective with the view of developing guidelines for policymakers and highlighting the architect's role in combating the pandemic. Objectives The objectives include; to examine the evolution of medical architecture and the nexus between infectious diseases and architectural space and suggest a design approach that enhances infection prevention and control (IPC). Method The paper relied on existing literature, interviews, and interactions with healthcare workers. Results/Conclusion The findings showed that design strategies have always played a significant role in infection prevention and control (IPC) and could as well be a panacea for curbing the spread of Covid -19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Udomiaye Emmanuel
- Department of Architectural Technology, Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Uwana, Nigeria
| | - Eze Desy Osondu
- Department of Architectural Technology, Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Uwana, Nigeria
| | - Kalu Cheche Kalu
- Department of Architectural Technology, Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Uwana, Nigeria
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30
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Abstract
At present, humanity is confronting with a novel life-threatening challenge from the COVID-19 pandemic infectious disease caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. To date, the various transmission modes of SARS-CoV-2 have not been completely determined. Food products might be carriers for SARS-CoV-2. The COVID-19 pandemic not only can spread through the respiratory tract like SARS and MERS but also the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 RNA in feces of several patients, shows the possibility of their fecal-oral route spread. Besides, people with gastric problems, including gastric intestinal metaplasia and atrophic gastritis, may be susceptible to this kind of COVID-19 infection. Accordingly, food may act as a potential vehicle of SARS-CoV-2 due to whether carry-through or carry-over contaminations. Considering carry-over, SARS-CoV-2 spread from personnel to food products or food surfaces is feasible. Beyond that, some shreds of evidence showed that pigs and rabbits can be infected by SARS-CoV-2. Thus, viral transmission through meat products may be conceivable, indicating carry-through contamination. As the spread rate of SARS-CoV-2 is high and its stability in different environments, especially food processing surfaces, is also remarkable, it may enter foods in whether industrialized processing or the traditional one. Therefore, established precautious acts is suggested to be applied in food processing units. The present review elucidates the risk of various staple food products, including meat and meat products, dairy products, bread, fruits, vegetables, and ready-to-eat foods as potential carriers for transmission of SARS-CoV-2.
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31
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Carlson CJ, Gomez ACR, Bansal S, Ryan SJ. Misconceptions about weather and seasonality must not misguide COVID-19 response. Nat Commun 2020; 11:4312. [PMID: 32855406 PMCID: PMC7452887 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-18150-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2020] [Accepted: 08/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Weather may marginally affect COVID-19 dynamics, but misconceptions about the way that climate and weather drive exposure and transmission have adversely shaped risk perceptions for both policymakers and citizens. Future scientific work on this politically-fraught topic needs a more careful approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin J Carlson
- Center for Global Health Science and Security, Georgetown University Medical Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, 20007, USA.
| | - Ana C R Gomez
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90024, USA
| | - Shweta Bansal
- Department of Biology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, 20007, USA
| | - Sadie J Ryan
- Quantitative Disease Ecology and Conservation (QDEC) Lab, Department of Geography and the Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
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32
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Ahmed MK, Afifi M, Uskoković V. Protecting healthcare workers during COVID-19 pandemic with nanotechnology: A protocol for a new device from Egypt. J Infect Public Health 2020; 13:1243-1246. [PMID: 32798183 PMCID: PMC7396966 DOI: 10.1016/j.jiph.2020.07.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Revised: 07/09/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is thought to have occurred first in Wuhan, China in December 2019, before spreading to over 120 countries in the months that followed. It was declared a “public health emergency of international concern” by the World Health Organization on January 31, 2020 and recognized as a pandemic on March 11, 2020. The primary route of SARS-CoV-2 transmission from human to human is through inhalation of respiratory droplets. Devising protective technologies for stopping the spread of the droplets of aerosol containing the viral particles is a vital requirement to curb the ongoing outbreak. However, the current generations of protective respirator masks in use are noted for their imperfect design and there is a need to develop their more advanced analogues, with higher blockage efficiency and the ability to deactivate the trapped bacteria and viruses. It is likely that one such design will be inspired by nanotechnologies. Here we describe a new design from Egypt, utilizing a reusable, recyclable, customizable, antimicrobial and antiviral respirator facial mask feasible for mass production. The novel design is based on the filtration system composed of a nanofibrous matrix of polylactic acid and cellulose acetate containing copper oxide nanoparticles and graphene oxide nanosheets and produced using the electrospinning technique. Simultaneously, the flat pattern fabricated from a thermoplastic composite material is used to provide a solid fit with the facial anatomy. This design illustrates an effort made in a developing setting to provide innovative solutions for combating the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic of potentially global significance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed K Ahmed
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Suez University, Suez, Egypt.
| | - Mohamed Afifi
- Ultrasonic Laboratory, National Institute of Standards, Giza, Egypt.
| | - Vuk Uskoković
- TardigradeNano, 7 Park Vista, Irvine, CA 92604, USA.
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