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Heida A, Maal-Bared R, Veillette M, Duchaine C, Reynolds KA, Ashraf A, Ogunseye OO, Jung Y, Shulman L, Ikner L, Betancourt W, Hamilton KA, Wilson AM. Quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) tool for modelling pathogen infection risk to wastewater treatment plant workers. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 260:121858. [PMID: 38936269 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Revised: 05/25/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) provide vital services to the public by removing contaminants from wastewater prior to environmental discharge or reuse for beneficial purposes. WWTP workers occupationally exposed to wastewater can be at risk of respiratory or gastrointestinal diseases. The study objectives were to: (1) quantify pathogens and pathogen indicators in wastewater aerosols near different WWTP processes/unit operations, (2) develop a QMRA model for multi-pathogen and multi-exposure pathway risks, and (3) create a web-based application to perform and communicate risk calculations for wastewater workers. Case studies for seven different WWTP job tasks were performed investigating infection risk across nine different enteric and respiratory pathogens. It was observed that the ingestion risk among job tasks was highest for "walking the WWTP," which involved exposure from splashing, bioaerosols, and hand-to-mouth contact from touching contaminated surfaces. There was also a notable difference in exposure risk during peak (5:00am-9:00am) and non-peak hours (9:00am- 5:00am), with risks during the peak flow hours of the early morning assumed to be 5 times greater than non-peak hours. N95 respirator usage reduced median respiratory risks by 77 %. The developed tool performs multiple QMRA calculations to estimate WWTP workers' infection risks from accidental ingestion or inhalation of wastewater from multiple pathogens and exposure scenarios, which can inform risk management strategies to protect occupational health. However, more data are needed to reduce uncertainty in model estimates, including comparative data for pathogen concentrations in wastewater during peak and non-peak hours. QMRA tools will increase accessibility of risk models for utilization in decision-making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley Heida
- School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy, Arizona State University, 502 E Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA; The Biodesign Institute Center for Environmental Health Engineering, Arizona State University, 1001 S. McAllister Ave, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
| | - Rasha Maal-Bared
- Bellevue Research and Testing Laboratory, CDM Smith, 14432 SE Eastgate Way Suite 100, Bellevue, WA 98007, USA
| | - Marc Veillette
- Department of biochemistry, microbiology and bioinformatics, Université Laval, Canada Research Chair on Bioaerosols, Quebec City, Canada
| | - Caroline Duchaine
- Department of biochemistry, microbiology and bioinformatics, Université Laval, Canada Research Chair on Bioaerosols, Quebec City, Canada
| | - Kelly A Reynolds
- Department of Community, Environment, & Policy, Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Ahamed Ashraf
- Department of Community, Environment, & Policy, Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Olusola O Ogunseye
- Department of Community, Environment, & Policy, Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Yoonhee Jung
- Department of Community, Environment, & Policy, Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Lester Shulman
- Central Virology Laboratory, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Ramat Gan 52621, Israel; School of Public Health, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Luisa Ikner
- Department of Environmental Science, College of Agricultre, Life & Environmental Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Walter Betancourt
- Department of Environmental Science, College of Agricultre, Life & Environmental Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Kerry A Hamilton
- The Biodesign Institute Center for Environmental Health Engineering, Arizona State University, 1001 S. McAllister Ave, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA; School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
| | - Amanda M Wilson
- Department of Community, Environment, & Policy, Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
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Schmiege D, Haselhoff T, Thomas A, Kraiselburd I, Meyer F, Moebus S. Small-scale wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) for infectious diseases and antibiotic resistance: A scoping review. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2024; 259:114379. [PMID: 38626689 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2024.114379] [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: 01/12/2024] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/18/2024]
Abstract
Wastewater analysis can serve as a source of public health information. In recent years, wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) has emerged and proven useful for the detection of infectious diseases. However, insights from the wastewater treatment plant do not allow for the small-scale differentiation within the sewer system that is needed to analyze the target population under study in more detail. Small-scale WBE offers several advantages, but there has been no systematic overview of its application. The aim of this scoping review is to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of knowledge on small-scale WBE for infectious diseases, including methodological considerations for its application. A systematic database search was conducted, considering only peer-reviewed articles. Data analyses included quantitative summary and qualitative narrative synthesis. Of 2130 articles, we included 278, most of which were published since 2020. The studies analyzed wastewater at the building level (n = 203), especially healthcare (n = 110) and educational facilities (n = 80), and at the neighborhood scale (n = 86). The main analytical parameters were viruses (n = 178), notably SARS-CoV-2 (n = 161), and antibiotic resistance (ABR) biomarkers (n = 99), often analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), with DNA sequencing techniques being less common. In terms of sampling techniques, active sampling dominated. The frequent lack of detailed information on the specification of selection criteria and the characterization of the small-scale sampling sites was identified as a concern. In conclusion, based on the large number of studies, we identified several methodological considerations and overarching strategic aspects for small-scale WBE. An enabling environment for small-scale WBE requires inter- and transdisciplinary knowledge sharing across countries. Promoting the adoption of small-scale WBE will benefit from a common international conceptualization of the approach, including standardized and internationally accepted terminology. In particular, the development of good WBE practices for different aspects of small-scale WBE is warranted. This includes the establishment of guidelines for a comprehensive characterization of the local sewer system and its sub-sewersheds, and transparent reporting to ensure comparability of small-scale WBE results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dennis Schmiege
- Institute for Urban Public Health (InUPH), University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45130, Essen, Germany.
| | - Timo Haselhoff
- Institute for Urban Public Health (InUPH), University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45130, Essen, Germany
| | - Alexander Thomas
- Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine (IKIM), University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45131, Essen, Germany
| | - Ivana Kraiselburd
- Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine (IKIM), University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45131, Essen, Germany
| | - Folker Meyer
- Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine (IKIM), University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45131, Essen, Germany
| | - Susanne Moebus
- Institute for Urban Public Health (InUPH), University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45130, Essen, Germany
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Pasha ABT, Kotlarz N, Holcomb D, Reckling S, Kays J, Bailey E, Guidry V, Christensen A, Berkowitz S, Engel LS, de Los Reyes F, Harris A. Monitoring SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater from a shared septic system and sub-sewershed sites to expand COVID-19 disease surveillance. JOURNAL OF WATER AND HEALTH 2024; 22:978-992. [PMID: 38935450 DOI: 10.2166/wh.2024.303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
Wastewater-based epidemiology has expanded as a tool for collecting COVID-19 surveillance data, but there is limited information on the feasibility of this form of surveillance within decentralized wastewater systems (e.g., septic systems). This study assessed SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentrations in wastewater samples from a septic system servicing a mobile home park (66 households) and from two pumping stations serving a similarly sized (71 households) and a larger (1,000 households) neighborhood within a nearby sewershed over 35 weeks in 2020. Also, raw wastewater from a hospital in the same sewershed was sampled. The mobile home park samples had the highest detection frequency (39/39 days) and mean concentration of SARS-CoV-2 RNA (2.7 × 107 gene copies/person/day for the N1) among the four sampling sites. N1 gene and N2 gene copies were highly correlated across mobile home park samples (Pearson's r = 0.93, p < 0.0001). In the larger neighborhood, new COVID-19 cases were reported every week during the sampling period; however, we detected SARS-CoV-2 RNA in 12% of the corresponding wastewater samples. The results of this study suggest that sampling from decentralized wastewater infrastructure can be used for continuous monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- A B Tanvir Pasha
- Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, North Carolina State University (NC State), 915 Partners Way, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA
| | - Nadine Kotlarz
- Center for Human Health and the Environment, NC State, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - David Holcomb
- Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Stacie Reckling
- Division of Public Health, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Judith Kays
- Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, North Carolina State University (NC State), 915 Partners Way, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA
| | | | - Virginia Guidry
- Division of Public Health, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Ariel Christensen
- Division of Public Health, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Steven Berkowitz
- Division of Public Health, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Lawrence S Engel
- Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Francis de Los Reyes
- Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, North Carolina State University (NC State), 915 Partners Way, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA
| | - Angela Harris
- Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, North Carolina State University (NC State), 915 Partners Way, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA E-mail:
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Leisman KP, Owen C, Warns MM, Tiwari A, Bian GZ, Owens SM, Catlett C, Shrestha A, Poretsky R, Packman AI, Mangan NM. A modeling pipeline to relate municipal wastewater surveillance and regional public health data. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 252:121178. [PMID: 38309063 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121178] [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: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024]
Abstract
As COVID-19 becomes endemic, public health departments benefit from improved passive indicators, which are independent of voluntary testing data, to estimate the prevalence of COVID-19 in local communities. Quantification of SARS-CoV-2 RNA from wastewater has the potential to be a powerful passive indicator. However, connecting measured SARS-CoV-2 RNA to community prevalence is challenging due to the high noise typical of environmental samples. We have developed a generalized pipeline using in- and out-of-sample model selection to test the ability of different correction models to reduce the variance in wastewater measurements and applied it to data collected from treatment plants in the Chicago area. We built and compared a set of multi-linear regression models, which incorporate pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV) as a population biomarker, Bovine coronavirus (BCoV) as a recovery control, and wastewater system flow rate into a corrected estimate for SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentration. For our data, models with BCoV performed better than those with PMMoV, but the pipeline should be used to reevaluate any new data set as the sources of variance may change across locations, lab methods, and disease states. Using our best-fit model, we investigated the utility of RNA measurements in wastewater as a leading indicator of COVID-19 trends. We did this in a rolling manner for corrected wastewater data and for other prevalence indicators and statistically compared the temporal relationship between new increases in the wastewater data and those in other prevalence indicators. We found that wastewater trends often lead other COVID-19 indicators in predicting new surges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katelyn Plaisier Leisman
- Department of Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Christopher Owen
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Maria M Warns
- Department of Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Anuj Tiwari
- Discovery Partners Institute, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - George Zhixin Bian
- Department of Computer Science, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Sarah M Owens
- Biosciences, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL, USA
| | - Charlie Catlett
- Discovery Partners Institute, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA; Computing, Environment, and Life Sciences, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL, USA
| | - Abhilasha Shrestha
- Division of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Rachel Poretsky
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Aaron I Packman
- Center for Water Research, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Niall M Mangan
- Department of Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA; Center for Water Research, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA.
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Valdivia-Carrera CA, Ho-Palma AC, Munguia-Mercado A, Gonzalez-Pizarro K, Ibacache-Quiroga C, Dinamarca A, Stehlík M, Rusiñol M, Girones R, Lopez-Urbina MT, Basaldua Galarza A, Gonzales-Gustavson E. Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2, rotavirus, norovirus genogroup II, and human adenovirus in wastewater as an epidemiological tool to anticipate outbreaks of COVID-19 and acute gastroenteritis in a city without a wastewater treatment plant in the Peruvian Highlands. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 905:167161. [PMID: 37730068 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167161] [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: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has demonstrated that Wastewater Based Epidemiology is a fast and economical alternative for monitoring severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) at the community level in high-income countries. In the present study, wastewater from a city in the Peruvian Highlands, which lacks a wastewater treatment plant, was monitored for one year to assess the relationship between the concentration of SARS-CoV-2 and the reported cases of COVID-19 in the community. Additionally, we compared the relationship between rotavirus (RV), norovirus genogroup II (NoV GGII), and human adenovirus (HAdV) with the number of reported cases of acute gastroenteritis. Before commencing the analysis of the samples, the viral recovery efficacy of three processing methods was determined in spiked wastewater with SARS-CoV-2. This evaluation demonstrated the highest recovery rate with direct analysis (72.2 %), as compared to ultrafiltration (50.8 %) and skimmed milk flocculation (5.6 %). Wastewater monitoring revealed that 72 % (36/50) of the samples tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, with direct analysis yielding the highest detection frequency and quantification of SARS-CoV-2. Furthermore, a strong correlation was observed between the concentration of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater and the reported cases of COVID-19, mainly when we shift the concentration of SARS-CoV-2 by two weeks, which allows us to anticipate the onset of the fourth and fifth waves of the pandemic in Peru up to two weeks in advance. All samples processed using the skimmed milk flocculation method tested positive and showed high concentrations of RV, NoV GGII, and HAdV. In fact, the highest RV concentrations were detected up to four weeks before outbreaks of acute gastroenteritis reported in children under four years of age. In conclusion, the results of this study suggest that periodic wastewater monitoring is an excellent epidemiological tool for surveillance and can anticipate outbreaks of infectious diseases, such as COVID-19, in low- and middle-income countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cesar A Valdivia-Carrera
- Tropical and Highlands Veterinary Research Institute, School of Veterinary Medicine, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Jr. 28 de Julio s/n, Km 34, margen izquierda, Carretera Central, El Mantaro, Jauja, Junin, Peru; Department of Animal Health and Public Health, School of Veterinary Medicine, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Av. Circunvalacion 2800, San Borja, Lima, Peru.
| | - Ana C Ho-Palma
- Department of Human Medicine, School of Human Medicine, Universidad Nacional del Centro del Peru, Av. Mariscal Castilla 3909, Huancayo, Peru.
| | - Astrid Munguia-Mercado
- Tropical and Highlands Veterinary Research Institute, School of Veterinary Medicine, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Jr. 28 de Julio s/n, Km 34, margen izquierda, Carretera Central, El Mantaro, Jauja, Junin, Peru.
| | - Karoll Gonzalez-Pizarro
- Centro de Micro-Bioinnovación, Universidad de Valparaíso, Av. Gran Bretaña 1093, Valparaíso, Chile.
| | - Claudia Ibacache-Quiroga
- Centro de Micro-Bioinnovación, Universidad de Valparaíso, Av. Gran Bretaña 1093, Valparaíso, Chile; Escuela de Nutrición y Dietética, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Valparaíso, Av. Gran Bretaña 1093, Valparaíso, Chile.
| | - Alejandro Dinamarca
- Centro de Micro-Bioinnovación, Universidad de Valparaíso, Av. Gran Bretaña 1093, Valparaíso, Chile; Escuela de Nutrición y Dietética, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Valparaíso, Av. Gran Bretaña 1093, Valparaíso, Chile.
| | - Milan Stehlík
- Institute of Statistics, Universidad de Valparaiso, Av. Gran Bretana 1111, Valparaiso, Chile; Linz Institute of Technology & Department of Applied Statistics, Johannes Kepler University in Linz, Altenberger Straße 69, 4040 Linz, Austria.
| | - Marta Rusiñol
- Laboratory of Virus Contaminants of Water and Food, Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Avinguda Diagonal 643, 08028 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
| | - Rosina Girones
- Laboratory of Virus Contaminants of Water and Food, Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Avinguda Diagonal 643, 08028 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
| | - Maria T Lopez-Urbina
- Laboratory of Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics, School of Veterinary Medicine, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Av. Circunvalacion 2800, San Borja, Lima, Peru.
| | - Anani Basaldua Galarza
- Department of Human Medicine, School of Human Medicine, Universidad Nacional del Centro del Peru, Av. Mariscal Castilla 3909, Huancayo, Peru; Dirección Ejecutiva de Epidemiología, Dirección Regional de Salud, Jr. Julio Cesar Tello 488, Huancayo 12004, Junin, Peru.
| | - Eloy Gonzales-Gustavson
- Tropical and Highlands Veterinary Research Institute, School of Veterinary Medicine, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Jr. 28 de Julio s/n, Km 34, margen izquierda, Carretera Central, El Mantaro, Jauja, Junin, Peru; Department of Animal Health and Public Health, School of Veterinary Medicine, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Av. Circunvalacion 2800, San Borja, Lima, Peru.
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Dhiyebi HA, Abu Farah J, Ikert H, Srikanthan N, Hayat S, Bragg LM, Qasim A, Payne M, Kaleis L, Paget C, Celmer-Repin D, Folkema A, Drew S, Delatolla R, Giesy JP, Servos MR. Assessment of seasonality and normalization techniques for wastewater-based surveillance in Ontario, Canada. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1186525. [PMID: 37711234 PMCID: PMC10499178 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1186525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Wastewater-based surveillance is at the forefront of monitoring for community prevalence of COVID-19, however, continued uncertainty exists regarding the use of fecal indicators for normalization of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in wastewater. Using three communities in Ontario, sampled from 2021-2023, the seasonality of a viral fecal indicator (pepper mild mottle virus, PMMoV) and the utility of normalization of data to improve correlations with clinical cases was examined. Methods Wastewater samples from Warden, the Humber Air Management Facility (AMF), and Kitchener were analyzed for SARS-CoV-2, PMMoV, and crAssphage. The seasonality of PMMoV and flow rates were examined and compared by Season-Trend-Loess decomposition analysis. The effects of normalization using PMMoV, crAssphage, and flow rates were analyzed by comparing the correlations to clinical cases by episode date (CBED) during 2021. Results Seasonal analysis demonstrated that PMMoV had similar trends at Humber AMF and Kitchener with peaks in January and April 2022 and low concentrations (troughs) in the summer months. Warden had similar trends but was more sporadic between the peaks and troughs for PMMoV concentrations. Flow demonstrated similar trends but was not correlated to PMMoV concentrations at Humber AMF and was very weak at Kitchener (r = 0.12). Despite the differences among the sewersheds, unnormalized SARS-CoV-2 (raw N1-N2) concentration in wastewater (n = 99-191) was strongly correlated to the CBED in the communities (r = 0.620-0.854) during 2021. Additionally, normalization with PMMoV did not improve the correlations at Warden and significantly reduced the correlations at Humber AMF and Kitchener. Flow normalization (n = 99-191) at Humber AMF and Kitchener and crAssphage normalization (n = 29-57) correlations at all three sites were not significantly different from raw N1-N2 correlations with CBED. Discussion Differences in seasonal trends in viral biomarkers caused by differences in sewershed characteristics (flow, input, etc.) may play a role in determining how effective normalization may be for improving correlations (or not). This study highlights the importance of assessing the influence of viral fecal indicators on normalized SARS-CoV-2 or other viruses of concern. Fecal indicators used to normalize the target of interest may help or hinder establishing trends with clinical outcomes of interest in wastewater-based surveillance and needs to be considered carefully across seasons and sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hadi A. Dhiyebi
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | - Joud Abu Farah
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | - Heather Ikert
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | | | - Samina Hayat
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | - Leslie M. Bragg
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | - Asim Qasim
- Regional Municipality of York, Newmarket, ON, Canada
| | - Mark Payne
- Regional Municipality of York, Newmarket, ON, Canada
| | - Linda Kaleis
- Regional Municipality of York, Newmarket, ON, Canada
| | - Caitlyn Paget
- Regional Municipality of York, Newmarket, ON, Canada
| | | | | | - Stephen Drew
- Regional Municipality of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | - Robert Delatolla
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - John P. Giesy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
- Department of Environmental Science, Baylor University, Waco, TX, United States
| | - Mark R. Servos
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
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Saingam P, Li B, Nguyen Quoc B, Jain T, Bryan A, Winkler MKH. Wastewater surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 at intra-city level demonstrated high resolution in tracking COVID-19 and calibration using chemical indicators. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 866:161467. [PMID: 36626989 PMCID: PMC9825140 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.161467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2022] [Revised: 12/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Wastewater-based epidemiology has proven to be a supportive tool to better comprehend the dynamics of the COVID-19 pandemic. As the disease moves into endemic stage, the surveillance at wastewater sub-catchments such as pump station and manholes is providing a novel mechanism to examine the reemergence and to take measures that can prevent the spread. However, there is still a lack of understanding when it comes to wastewater-based epidemiology implementation at the smaller intra-city level for better granularity in data, and dilution effect of rain precipitation at pump stations. For this study, grab samples were collected from six areas of Seattle between March-October 2021. These sampling sites comprised five manholes and one pump station with population ranging from 2580 to 39,502 per manhole/pump station. The wastewater samples were analyzed for SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentrations, and we also obtained the daily COVID-19 cases (from individual clinical testing) for each corresponding sewershed, which ranged from 1 to 12 and the daily incidence varied between 3 and 64 per 100,000 of population. Rain precipitation lowered viral RNA levels and sensitivity of viral detection but wastewater total ammonia (NH4+-N) and phosphate (PO43--P) were shown as potential chemical indicators to calibrate/level out the dilution effect. These chemicals showed the potential in improving the wastewater surveillance capacity of COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prakit Saingam
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
| | - Bo Li
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Bao Nguyen Quoc
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Tanisha Jain
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Andrew Bryan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Mari K H Winkler
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
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