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Dias M, Gomes B, Pena P, Cervantes R, Beswick A, Duchaine C, Kolk A, Madsen AM, Oppliger A, Pogner C, Duquenne P, Wouters IM, Crook B, Viegas C. Filling the knowledge gap: Scoping review regarding sampling methods, assays, and further requirements to assess airborne viruses. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 946:174016. [PMID: 38908595 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2024] [Revised: 06/12/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/24/2024]
Abstract
Assessment of occupational exposure to viruses is crucial to identify virus reservoirs and sources of dissemination at an early stage and to help prevent spread between employees and to the general population. Measuring workers' exposure can facilitate assessment of the effectiveness of protective and mitigation measures in place. The aim of this scoping review is to give an overview of available methods and those already implemented for airborne virus' exposure assessment in different occupational and indoor environments. The results retrieved from the different studies may contribute to the setting of future standards and guidelines to ensure a reliable risk characterization in the occupational environments crucial for the implementation of effective control measures. The search aimed at selecting studies between January 1st 2010 and June 30th 2023 in the selected databases. Fifty papers on virus exposure assessment fitted the eligibility criteria and were selected for data extraction. Overall, this study identified gaps in knowledge regarding virus assessment and pinpointed the needs for further research. Several discrepancies were found (transport temperatures, elution steps, …), as well as a lack of publication of important data related to the exposure conditions (contextual information). With the available information, it is impossible to compare results between studies employing different methods, and even if the same methods are used, different conclusions/recommendations based on the expert judgment have been reported due to the lack of consensus in the contextual information retrieved and/or data interpretation. Future research on the field targeting sampling methods and in the laboratory regarding the assays to employ should be developed bearing in mind the different goals of the assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Dias
- H&TRC - Health & Technology Research Center, ESTeSL - Escola Superior de Tecnologia e Saúde, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, Portugal; NOVA National School of Public Health, Public Health Research Centre, Comprehensive Health Research Center, CHRC, REAL, CCAL, NOVA University Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Bianca Gomes
- H&TRC - Health & Technology Research Center, ESTeSL - Escola Superior de Tecnologia e Saúde, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, Portugal; CE3C-Center for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Change, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Pedro Pena
- H&TRC - Health & Technology Research Center, ESTeSL - Escola Superior de Tecnologia e Saúde, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, Portugal; NOVA National School of Public Health, Public Health Research Centre, Comprehensive Health Research Center, CHRC, REAL, CCAL, NOVA University Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Renata Cervantes
- H&TRC - Health & Technology Research Center, ESTeSL - Escola Superior de Tecnologia e Saúde, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, Portugal; NOVA National School of Public Health, Public Health Research Centre, Comprehensive Health Research Center, CHRC, REAL, CCAL, NOVA University Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Alan Beswick
- Health and Safety Executive Science and Research Centre, Buxton SK17 9JN, UK
| | - Caroline Duchaine
- Département de biochimie, microbiologie et bio-informatique, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Annette Kolk
- Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the German Social Accident Insurance, Alte Heerstraße 111, 53757 Sankt Augustin, Germany
| | - Anne Mette Madsen
- National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Lersø Parkallé 105, 2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
| | | | | | | | - Inge M Wouters
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Brian Crook
- Health and Safety Executive Science and Research Centre, Buxton SK17 9JN, UK
| | - Carla Viegas
- H&TRC - Health & Technology Research Center, ESTeSL - Escola Superior de Tecnologia e Saúde, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, Portugal; NOVA National School of Public Health, Public Health Research Centre, Comprehensive Health Research Center, CHRC, REAL, CCAL, NOVA University Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal.
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2
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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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Farkas K, Fletcher J, Oxley J, Ridding N, Williams RC, Woodhall N, Weightman AJ, Cross G, Jones DL. Implications of long-term sample storage on the recovery of viruses from wastewater and biobanking. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 265:122209. [PMID: 39126986 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.122209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2024] [Accepted: 08/01/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024]
Abstract
Wastewater-based monitoring has been widely implemented worldwide for the tracking of SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks and other viral diseases. In many surveillance programmes, unprocessed and processed wastewater samples are often frozen and stored for long periods of time in case the identification and tracing of an emerging health threat becomes necessary. However, extensive sample bioarchives may be difficult to maintain due to limitations in ultra-freezer capacity and associated cost. Furthermore, the stability of viruses in such samples has not been systematically investigated and hence the usefulness of bioarchives is unknown. In this study, we assessed the stability of SARS-CoV-2, influenza viruses, noroviruses and the faecal indicator virus, crAssphage, in raw wastewater and purified nucleic aacid extracts stored at -80 °C for 6-24 months. We found that the isolated viral RNA and DNA showed little signs of degradation in storage over 8-24 months, whereas extensive decay viral and loss of qPCR signal was observed during the storage of raw unprocessed wastewater. The most stable viruses were noroviruses and crAssphage, followed by SARS-CoV-2 and influenza A virus. Based on our findings, we conclude that bioarchives comprised of nucleic acid extracts derived from concentrated wastewater samples may be archived long-term, for at least two years, whereas raw wastewater samples may be discarded after one year.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kata Farkas
- School of Environmental and Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2UW, UK.
| | - Jessica Fletcher
- School of Environmental and Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2UW, UK
| | - James Oxley
- School of Environmental and Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2UW, UK
| | - Nicola Ridding
- School of Environmental and Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2UW, UK
| | - Rachel C Williams
- School of Environmental and Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2UW, UK
| | - Nick Woodhall
- School of Environmental and Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2UW, UK
| | - Andrew J Weightman
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Museum Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3AX, UK
| | - Gareth Cross
- Science Evidence Advice Division, Health and Social Services Group, Welsh Government, Cathays Park, Cardiff, CF10 3NQ, UK
| | - Davey L Jones
- School of Environmental and Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2UW, UK
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Bleotu C, Matei L, Dragu LD, Necula LG, Pitica IM, Chivu-Economescu M, Diaconu CC. Viruses in Wastewater-A Concern for Public Health and the Environment. Microorganisms 2024; 12:1430. [PMID: 39065197 PMCID: PMC11278728 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12071430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2024] [Revised: 07/07/2024] [Accepted: 07/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Wastewater monitoring provides essential information about water quality and the degree of contamination. Monitoring these waters helps identify and manage risks to public health, prevent the spread of disease, and protect the environment. Standardizing the appropriate and most accurate methods for the isolation and identification of viruses in wastewater is necessary. This review aims to present the major classes of viruses in wastewater, as well as the methods of concentration, isolation, and identification of viruses in wastewater to assess public health risks and implement corrective measures to prevent and control viral infections. Last but not least, we propose to evaluate the current strategies in wastewater treatment as well as new alternative methods of water disinfection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Coralia Bleotu
- Stefan S. Nicolau Institute of Virology, Romanian Academy, 030304 Bucharest, Romania; (C.B.); (L.M.); (L.D.D.); (L.G.N.); (I.M.P.); (C.C.D.)
- Research Institute of the University of Bucharest (ICUB), University of Bucharest, 060023 Bucharest, Romania
- The Academy of Romanian Scientist, 050711 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Lilia Matei
- Stefan S. Nicolau Institute of Virology, Romanian Academy, 030304 Bucharest, Romania; (C.B.); (L.M.); (L.D.D.); (L.G.N.); (I.M.P.); (C.C.D.)
| | - Laura Denisa Dragu
- Stefan S. Nicolau Institute of Virology, Romanian Academy, 030304 Bucharest, Romania; (C.B.); (L.M.); (L.D.D.); (L.G.N.); (I.M.P.); (C.C.D.)
| | - Laura Georgiana Necula
- Stefan S. Nicolau Institute of Virology, Romanian Academy, 030304 Bucharest, Romania; (C.B.); (L.M.); (L.D.D.); (L.G.N.); (I.M.P.); (C.C.D.)
| | - Ioana Madalina Pitica
- Stefan S. Nicolau Institute of Virology, Romanian Academy, 030304 Bucharest, Romania; (C.B.); (L.M.); (L.D.D.); (L.G.N.); (I.M.P.); (C.C.D.)
| | - Mihaela Chivu-Economescu
- Stefan S. Nicolau Institute of Virology, Romanian Academy, 030304 Bucharest, Romania; (C.B.); (L.M.); (L.D.D.); (L.G.N.); (I.M.P.); (C.C.D.)
| | - Carmen Cristina Diaconu
- Stefan S. Nicolau Institute of Virology, Romanian Academy, 030304 Bucharest, Romania; (C.B.); (L.M.); (L.D.D.); (L.G.N.); (I.M.P.); (C.C.D.)
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Itarte M, Calvo M, Martínez-Frago L, Mejías-Molina C, Martínez-Puchol S, Girones R, Medema G, Bofill-Mas S, Rusiñol M. Assessing environmental exposure to viruses in wastewater treatment plant and swine farm scenarios with next-generation sequencing and occupational risk approaches. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2024; 259:114360. [PMID: 38555823 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2024.114360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
Occupational exposure to pathogens can pose health risks. This study investigates the viral exposure of workers in a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) and a swine farm by analyzing aerosol and surfaces samples. Viral contamination was evaluated using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assays, and target enrichment sequencing (TES) was performed to identify the vertebrate viruses to which workers might be exposed. Additionally, Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment (QMRA) was conducted to estimate the occupational risk associated with viral exposure for WWTP workers, choosing Human Adenovirus (HAdV) as the reference pathogen. In the swine farm, QMRA was performed as an extrapolation, considering a hypothetical zoonotic virus with characteristics similar to Porcine Adenovirus (PAdV). The modelled exposure routes included aerosol inhalation and oral ingestion through contaminated surfaces and hand-to-mouth contact. HAdV and PAdV were widespread viruses in the WWTP and the swine farm, respectively, by qPCR assays. TES identified human and other vertebrate viruses WWTP samples, including viruses from families such as Adenoviridae, Circoviridae, Orthoherpesviridae, Papillomaviridae, and Parvoviridae. In the swine farm, most of the identified vertebrate viruses were porcine viruses belonging to Adenoviridae, Astroviridae, Circoviridae, Herpesviridae, Papillomaviridae, Parvoviridae, Picornaviridae, and Retroviridae. QMRA analysis revealed noteworthy risks of viral infections for WWTP workers if safety measures are not taken. The probability of illness due to HAdV inhalation was higher in summer compared to winter, while the greatest risk from oral ingestion was observed in workspaces during winter. Swine farm QMRA simulation suggested a potential occupational risk in the case of exposure to a hypothetical zoonotic virus. This study provides valuable insights into WWTP and swine farm worker's occupational exposure to human and other vertebrate viruses. QMRA and NGS analyses conducted in this study will assist managers in making evidence-based decisions, facilitating the implementation of protection measures, and risk mitigation practices for workers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Itarte
- Laboratory of Viruses Contaminants of Water and Food, Secció de Microbiologia, Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain; Institut de Recerca de l'Aigua (IdRA), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Miquel Calvo
- Secció d'Estadística, Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Lola Martínez-Frago
- Laboratory of Viruses Contaminants of Water and Food, Secció de Microbiologia, Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Cristina Mejías-Molina
- Laboratory of Viruses Contaminants of Water and Food, Secció de Microbiologia, Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain; Institut de Recerca de l'Aigua (IdRA), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sandra Martínez-Puchol
- Laboratory of Viruses Contaminants of Water and Food, Secció de Microbiologia, Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rosina Girones
- Laboratory of Viruses Contaminants of Water and Food, Secció de Microbiologia, Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain; Institut de Recerca de l'Aigua (IdRA), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Sílvia Bofill-Mas
- Laboratory of Viruses Contaminants of Water and Food, Secció de Microbiologia, Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain; Institut de Recerca de l'Aigua (IdRA), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marta Rusiñol
- Laboratory of Viruses Contaminants of Water and Food, Secció de Microbiologia, Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain; Institut de Recerca de l'Aigua (IdRA), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain
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6
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Puchades-Colera P, Díaz-Reolid A, Girón-Guzmán I, Cuevas-Ferrando E, Pérez-Cataluña A, Sánchez G. Capsid Integrity Detection of Enteric Viruses in Reclaimed Waters. Viruses 2024; 16:816. [PMID: 38932109 PMCID: PMC11209584 DOI: 10.3390/v16060816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2024] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Climate change, unpredictable weather patterns, and droughts are depleting water resources in some parts of the globe, where recycling and reusing wastewater is a strategy for different purposes. To counteract this, the EU regulation for water reuse sets minimum requirements for the use of reclaimed water for agricultural irrigation, including a reduction in human enteric viruses. In the present study, the occurrence of several human enteric viruses, including the human norovirus genogroup I (HuNoV GI), HuNoV GII, and rotavirus (RV), along with viral fecal contamination indicator crAssphage was monitored by using (RT)-qPCR methods on influent wastewater and reclaimed water samples. Moreover, the level of somatic coliphages was also determined as a culturable viral indicator. To assess the potential viral infectivity, an optimization of a capsid integrity PMAxx-RT-qPCR method was performed on sewage samples. Somatic coliphages were present in 60% of the reclaimed water samples, indicating inefficient virus inactivation. Following PMAxx-RT-qPCR optimization, 66% of the samples tested positive for at least one of the analyzed enteric viruses, with concentrations ranging from 2.79 to 7.30 Log10 genome copies (gc)/L. Overall, most of the analyzed reclaimed water samples did not comply with current EU legislation and contained potential infectious viral particles.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Gloria Sánchez
- VISAFELab, Department of Preservation and Food Safety Technologies, Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology, IATA-CSIC, Av. Agustín Escardino 7, 46980 Valencia, Spain; (P.P.-C.); (A.D.-R.); (A.P.-C.)
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Purhonen R, Atanasova NS, Salokas J, Duplissy J, Loikkanen E, Maunula L. A Pilot Study of Aerosolization of Infectious Murine Norovirus in an Experimental Setup. FOOD AND ENVIRONMENTAL VIROLOGY 2024:10.1007/s12560-024-09595-2. [PMID: 38698288 DOI: 10.1007/s12560-024-09595-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024]
Abstract
Human norovirus is transmitted mainly via the faecal-oral route, but norovirus disease outbreaks have been reported in which airborne transmission has been suggested as the only explanation. We used murine norovirus (MNV) as a surrogate for human norovirus to determine the aerosolization of infectious norovirus in an experimental setup. A 3-l air chamber system was used for aerosolization of MNV. Virus in solution (6 log10 TCID50/ml) was introduced into the nebulizer for generating aerosols and a RAW 264.7 cell dish without a lid was placed in the air chamber. Cell culture medium samples were taken from the dishes after the aerosol exposure time of 30 or 90 min, and the dishes were placed in a 37 °C, 5% CO2 incubator and inspected with a light microscope for viral cytopathic effects (CPEs). We determined both the infectious MNV TCID50 titre and used an RT-qPCR assay. During the experiments, virus infectivity remained stable for 30 and 90 min in the MNV solution in the nebulizer. Infectious MNV TCID50 values/ml of 2.89 ± 0.29 and 3.20 ± 0.49 log10 were measured in the chamber in RAW 264.7 cell dish media after the 30-min and 90-min exposure, respectively. The MNV RNA loads were 6.20 ± 0.24 and 6.93 ± 1.02 log10 genome copies/ml, respectively. Later, a typical MNV CPE appeared in the aerosol-exposed RAW cell dishes. We demonstrated that MNV was aerosolized and that it remained infectious in the experimental setup used. Further studies required for understanding the behaviour of MNV in aerosols can thus be performed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roderik Purhonen
- Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Nina S Atanasova
- Molecular and Integrative Biosciences Research Programme, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Atmospheric Composition Unit, Finnish Meteorological Institute, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Julija Salokas
- Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Molecular and Integrative Biosciences Research Programme, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jonathan Duplissy
- Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research (INAR), Faculty of Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Emil Loikkanen
- Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Leena Maunula
- Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
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8
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Kevill JL, Farkas K, Ridding N, Woodhall N, Malham SK, Jones DL. Use of Capsid Integrity-qPCR for Detecting Viral Capsid Integrity in Wastewater. Viruses 2023; 16:40. [PMID: 38257740 PMCID: PMC10819219 DOI: 10.3390/v16010040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Quantifying viruses in wastewater via RT-qPCR provides total genomic data but does not indicate the virus capsid integrity or the potential risk for human infection. Assessing virus capsid integrity in sewage is important for wastewater-based surveillance, since discharged effluent may pose a public health hazard. While integrity assays using cell cultures can provide this information, they require specialised laboratories and expertise. One solution to overcome this limitation is the use of photo-reactive monoazide dyes (e.g., propidium monoazide [PMAxx]) in a capsid integrity-RT-qPCR assay (ci-RT-qPCR). In this study, we tested the efficiency of PMAxx dye at 50 μM and 100 μM concentrations on live and heat-inactivated model viruses commonly detected in wastewater, including adenovirus (AdV), hepatitis A (HAV), influenza A virus (IAV), and norovirus GI (NoV GI). The 100 μM PMAxx dye concentration effectively differentiated live from heat-inactivated viruses for all targets in buffer solution. This method was then applied to wastewater samples (n = 19) for the detection of encapsulated AdV, enterovirus (EV), HAV, IAV, influenza B virus (IBV), NoV GI, NoV GII, and SARS-CoV-2. Samples were negative for AdV, HAV, IAV, and IBV but positive for EV, NoV GI, NoV GII, and SARS-CoV-2. In the PMAxx-treated samples, EV, NoV GI, and NoV GII showed -0.52-1.15, 0.9-1.51, and 0.31-1.69 log reductions in capsid integrity, indicating a high degree of potentially infectious virus in wastewater. In contrast, SARS-CoV-2 was only detected using RT-qPCR but not after PMAxx treatment, indicating the absence of encapsulated and potentially infectious virus. In conclusion, this study demonstrates the utility of PMAxx dyes to evaluate capsid integrity across a diverse range of viruses commonly monitored in wastewater.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica L. Kevill
- School of Environmental and Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2UW, UK; (K.F.); (N.R.); (N.W.); or (D.L.J.)
| | - Kata Farkas
- School of Environmental and Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2UW, UK; (K.F.); (N.R.); (N.W.); or (D.L.J.)
| | - Nicola Ridding
- School of Environmental and Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2UW, UK; (K.F.); (N.R.); (N.W.); or (D.L.J.)
| | - Nicholas Woodhall
- School of Environmental and Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2UW, UK; (K.F.); (N.R.); (N.W.); or (D.L.J.)
| | - Shelagh K. Malham
- School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge, Anglesey LL59 5AB, UK;
| | - Davey L. Jones
- School of Environmental and Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2UW, UK; (K.F.); (N.R.); (N.W.); or (D.L.J.)
- Centre for Sustainable Farming Systems, Food Futures Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia
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Li J, Xi B, Zhu G, Yuan Y, Liu W, Gong Y, Tan W. A critical review of the occurrence, fate and treatment of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in landfills. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 218:114980. [PMID: 36460077 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.114980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this critical review is i) to summarize the occurrence of Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in landfills; ii) to outline the environmental fate and transport of PFASs in landfills; iii) to compare the treatment technologies of PFASs in landfill leachate and remediation methods of PFASs in surrounding groundwater; iv) to identify the research gaps and suggest future research directions. In recent years, PFASs have been detected in landfills around the world, among which Perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) especially Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) are mostly studied due to their long-term stability. Short-chain PFASs (<8 carbons) are more common than long-chain PFASs (≧8 carbons) in landfill leachate. PFASs in landfill leachate are eventually transported to the surrounding groundwater, surface water and soil. Some PFASs evaporate from landfills to the ambient air. To avoid the environmental and health risks of PFASs in landfills, new technologies and combined use of existing technologies have been implemented to treat PFASs in landfill leachate. Integrated remediation methods are applied to control the diffusion of PFASs in groundwater surrounding landfills. In future, the mechanisms of PFAAs precursors degradation, the correlation among PFASs in different environmental media around landfills, as well as the environmental behavior and toxic effect of combined pollutants together with PFASs in landfill leachate and surrounding groundwater should be studied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Li
- School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing 100083, China; Technical Centre for Soil, Agriculture and Rural Ecology and Environment, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Beijing 100012, China; State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, China
| | - Beidou Xi
- School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing 100083, China; State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, China
| | - Ganghui Zhu
- Technical Centre for Soil, Agriculture and Rural Ecology and Environment, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Ying Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, China.
| | - Weijiang Liu
- Technical Centre for Soil, Agriculture and Rural Ecology and Environment, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Beijing 100012, China.
| | - Yi Gong
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, China
| | - Wenbing Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, China
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Dumke R, Geissler M, Skupin A, Helm B, Mayer R, Schubert S, Oertel R, Renner B, Dalpke AH. Simultaneous Detection of SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza Virus in Wastewater of Two Cities in Southeastern Germany, January to May 2022. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph192013374. [PMID: 36293955 PMCID: PMC9603229 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192013374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Revised: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Dependent on the excretion pattern, wastewater monitoring of viruses can be a valuable approach to characterizing their circulation in the human population. Using polyethylene glycol precipitation and reverse transcription-quantitative PCR, the occurrence of RNA of SARS-CoV-2 and influenza viruses A/B in the raw wastewater of two treatment plants in Germany between January and May 2022 was investigated. Due to the relatively high incidence in both exposal areas (plant 1 and plant 2), SARS-CoV-2-specific RNA was determined in all 273 composite samples analyzed (concentration of E gene: 1.3 × 104 to 3.2 × 106 gc/L). Despite a nation-wide low number of confirmed infections, influenza virus A was demonstrated in 5.2% (concentration: 9.8 × 102 to 8.4 × 104 gc/L; plant 1) and in 41.6% (3.6 × 103 to 3.0 × 105 gc/L; plant 2) of samples. Influenza virus B was detected in 36.0% (7.2 × 102 to 8.5 × 106 gc/L; plant 1) and 57.7% (9.6 × 103 to 2.1 × 107 gc/L; plant 2) of wastewater samples. The results of the study demonstrate the frequent detection of two primary respiratory viruses in wastewater and offer the possibility to track the epidemiology of influenza by wastewater-based monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roger Dumke
- Institute of Medical Microbiology und Virology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
- Correspondence:
| | - Michael Geissler
- Institute of Medical Microbiology und Virology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Annett Skupin
- Institute of Medical Microbiology und Virology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Björn Helm
- Institute of Urban and Industrial Water Management, Technische Universität Dresden, 01069 Dresden, Germany
| | - Robin Mayer
- Institute of Urban and Industrial Water Management, Technische Universität Dresden, 01069 Dresden, Germany
| | - Sara Schubert
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Technische Universität Dresden, 01217 Dresden, Germany
| | - Reinhard Oertel
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Bertold Renner
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Alexander H. Dalpke
- Institute of Medical Microbiology und Virology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University Hospital Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
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11
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Lin H, Lao JY, Wang Q, Ruan Y, He Y, Lee PKH, Leung KMY, Lam PKS. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in the atmosphere of waste management infrastructures: Uncovering secondary fluorotelomer alcohols, particle size distribution, and human inhalation exposure. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 167:107434. [PMID: 35914336 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Revised: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been applied in numerous industrial and consumer products, the majority of which flow into waste management infrastructures (WMIs) at the end of their life cycles, but little is known about atmospheric releases of PFAS from these facilities. In this study, we addressed this key issue by investigating 49 PFAS, including 23 ionic and 26 neutral and precursor PFAS, in the potential sources (n = 4; within or adjacent to WMIs) and reference sites (n = 2; coastal and natural reserve sites) in urban and rural areas of Hong Kong, China. Duplicate samples of air and size-segregated particulate matter were collected for 48 h continuously using a 11-stage Micro-Orifice Uniform Deposit Impactor (MOUDI). In general, fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs) and perfluoroalkane sulfonamides were the predominant PFAS classes found across sampling sites. We also demonstrated the release of several less frequently observed semivolatile intermediate products (e.g., secondary FTOHs) during waste treatment. Except for perfluorooctane sulfonate, the size-segregated distributions of particulate PFAS exhibited heterogeneity across sampling sites, particularly in the WMIs, implying combined effects of sorption affinity and emission sources. A preliminary daily air emission estimation revealed that landfill was a relatively important source of PFAS relative to the wastewater treatment plant. A simplified International Commission on Radiological Protection model was used to estimate lung depositional fluxes, and the results showed that inhaled particulate PFAS were mainly deposited in the head airway while fine and ultrafine particles carried PFAS deeper into the lung alveoli. The cumulative daily inhalation dose of gaseous and particulate PFAS ranged from 81.9 to 265 pg/kg/d. In-depth research is required to understand the health effect of airborne PFAS on workers at WMIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huiju Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Jia-Yong Lao
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Qi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Yuefei Ruan
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Research Centre for the Oceans and Human Health, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen 518057, China.
| | - Yuhe He
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Research Centre for the Oceans and Human Health, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen 518057, China; School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Patrick K H Lee
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Kenneth M Y Leung
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Research Centre for the Oceans and Human Health, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen 518057, China
| | - Paul K S Lam
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Office of the President, Hong Kong Metropolitan University, Hong Kong SAR, China.
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