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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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He Z, Wang N, Mu L, Wang Z, Su J, Chen Y, Luo M, Wu Y, Lan X, Mao J. Porous polydimethylsiloxane films with specific surface wettability but distinct regular physical structures fabricated by 3D printing. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2023; 11:1272565. [PMID: 37811382 PMCID: PMC10551163 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1272565] [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: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Porous polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) films with special surface wettability have potential applications in the biomedical, environmental, and structural mechanical fields. However, preparing porous PDMS films with a regular surface pattern using conventional methods, such as chemical foaming or physical pore formation, is challenging. In this study, porous PDMS films with a regular surface pattern are designed and prepared using 3D printing to ensure the formation of controllable and regular physical structures. First, the effect of the surface wettability of glass substrates with different surface energies (commercial hydrophilic glass and hydrophobic glass (F-glass) obtained by treating regular glass with 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorooctyl-trichlorosilane) on the structural characteristics of the 3D printed PDMS filaments is investigated systematically. Additionally, the effect of the printing speed and the surface wettability of the glass substrate on the PDMS filament morphology is investigated synchronously. Next, using the F-glass substrate and an optimized printing speed, the effects of the number of printed layers on both the morphologies of the individual PDMS filaments and porous PDMS films, and the surface wettability of the films are studied. This study reveals that regularly patterned porous PDMS films with distinct structural designs but the same controllable surface wettability, such as anisotropic surface wettability and superhydrophobicity, can be easily fabricated through 3D printing. This study provides a new method for fabricating porous PDMS films with a specific surface wettability, which can potentially expand the application of porous PDMS films.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhoukun He
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu, China
- Institute for Advanced Study, Research Center of Composites and Surface and Interface Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu, China
| | - Na Wang
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu, China
- Institute for Advanced Study, Research Center of Composites and Surface and Interface Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu, China
| | - Linpeng Mu
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu, China
- Institute for Advanced Study, Research Center of Composites and Surface and Interface Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu, China
| | - Zhuo Wang
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu, China
- Institute for Advanced Study, Research Center of Composites and Surface and Interface Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jie Su
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu, China
- Institute for Advanced Study, Research Center of Composites and Surface and Interface Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yikun Chen
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu, China
- Institute for Advanced Study, Research Center of Composites and Surface and Interface Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu, China
| | - Mingdong Luo
- Luzhou Key Laboratory of Oral and Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration, The Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Institute of Stomatology, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Ya Wu
- Department of Vascular Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Metabolic Vascular Disease Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Xiaorong Lan
- Luzhou Key Laboratory of Oral and Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration, The Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Institute of Stomatology, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Jiayan Mao
- Department of Nephrology, Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Sichuan Translational Medicine Research Hospital, Chengdu, China
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El-Sayyad GS, Elfadil D, Gaballah MS, El-Sherif DM, Abouzid M, Nada HG, Khalil MS, Ghorab MA. Implication of nanotechnology to reduce the environmental risks of waste associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. RSC Adv 2023; 13:12438-12454. [PMID: 37091621 PMCID: PMC10117286 DOI: 10.1039/d3ra01052j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic is the largest global public health outbreak in the 21st century so far. It has contributed to a significant increase in the generation of waste, particularly personal protective equipment and hazardous medical, as it can contribute to environmental pollution and expose individuals to various hazards. To minimize the risk of infection, the entire surrounding environment should be disinfected or neutralized regularly. Effective medical waste management can add value by reducing the spread of COVID-19 and increasing the recyclability of materials instead of sending them to landfill. Developing an antiviral coating for the surface of objects frequently used by the public could be a practical solution to prevent the spread of virus particles and the inactivation of virus transmission. Relying on an abundance of engineered materials identifiable by their useful physicochemical properties through versatile chemical functionalization, nanotechnology offers a number of approaches to address this emergency. Here, through a multidisciplinary perspective encompassing various fields such as virology, biology, medicine, engineering, chemistry, materials science, and computer science, we describe how nanotechnology-based strategies can support the fight against COVID-19 well as infectious diseases in general, including future pandemics. In this review, the design of the antiviral coating to combat the spread of COVID-19 was discussed, and technological attempts to minimize the coronavirus outbreak were highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gharieb S El-Sayyad
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ahram Canadian University (ACU) Giza Egypt
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Galala University New Galala City Suez Egypt
- Drug Microbiology Laboratory, Drug Radiation Research Department, National Center for Radiation Research and Technology (NCRRT), Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority (EAEA) Cairo Egypt
| | - Dounia Elfadil
- Biology and Chemistry Department, Hassan II University of Casablanca Morocco
| | - Mohamed S Gaballah
- College of Engineering (Key Laboratory for Clean Renewable Energy Utilization Technology, Ministry of Agriculture), China Agricultural University Beijing 100083 PR China
- Department of Physical Pharmacy and Pharmacokinetics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Poznan University of Medical Sciences Rokietnicka 3 St. 60-806 Poznan Poland
| | - Dina M El-Sherif
- National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries (NIOF) Cairo Egypt
| | - Mohamed Abouzid
- Department of Physical Pharmacy and Pharmacokinetics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Poznan University of Medical Sciences Rokietnicka 3 St. 60-806 Poznan Poland
- Doctoral School, Poznan University of Medical Sciences 60-812 Poznan Poland
| | - Hanady G Nada
- Drug Microbiology Laboratory, Drug Radiation Research Department, National Center for Radiation Research and Technology (NCRRT), Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority (EAEA) Cairo Egypt
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University Cairo Egypt
| | - Mohamed S Khalil
- Agricultural Research Center, Central Agricultural Pesticides Laboratory Alexandria Egypt
| | - Mohamed A Ghorab
- Wildlife Toxicology Laboratory, Department of Animal Science, Institute for Integrative Toxicology (IIT), Michigan State University East Lansing MI 48824 USA
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The Use of Polymer Membranes for the Recovery of Copper, Zinc and Nickel from Model Solutions and Jewellery Waste. Polymers (Basel) 2023; 15:polym15051149. [PMID: 36904389 PMCID: PMC10007522 DOI: 10.3390/polym15051149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023] Open
Abstract
A polymeric inclusion membrane (PIM) consisting of matrix CTA (cellulose triacetate), ONPPE (o-nitrophenyl pentyl ether) and phosphonium salts (Cyphos 101, Cyphos 104) was used for separation of Cu(II), Zn(II) and Ni(II) ions. Optimum conditions for metal separation were determined, i.e., the optimal concentration of phosphonium salts in the membrane, as well as the optimal concentration of chloride ions in the feeding phase. On the basis of analytical determinations, the values of parameters characterizing transport were calculated. The tested membranes most effectively transported Cu(II) and Zn(II) ions. The highest recovery coefficients (RF) were found for PIMs with Cyphos IL 101. For Cu(II) and Zn(II), they are 92% and 51%, respectively. Ni(II) ions practically remain in the feed phase because they do not form anionic complexes with chloride ions. The obtained results suggest that there is a possibility of using these membranes for separation of Cu(II) over Zn(II) and Ni(II) from acidic chloride solutions. The PIM with Cyphos IL 101 can be used to recover copper and zinc from jewellery waste. The PIMs were characterized by AFM and SEM microscopy. The calculated values of the diffusion coefficient indicate that the boundary stage of the process is the diffusion of the complex salt of the metal ion with the carrier through the membrane.
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Klatt M, Beyer F, Einfeldt J. Hospital wastewater treatment and the role of membrane filtration - removal of micropollutants and pathogens: A review. WATER SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY : A JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION ON WATER POLLUTION RESEARCH 2022; 86:2213-2232. [PMID: 36378176 DOI: 10.2166/wst.2022.321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Dissemination of multiresistant bacteria and high concentrations of micropollutants by hospitals and other medical facilities can be significantly reduced by a wide variety of on-site treatment approaches. Membrane filtration technologies, ranging from microfiltration to reverse osmosis, have been adapted in many studies and offer multiple purposes in advanced wastewater treatment configurations. While the direct rejection of pharmaceutical compounds and pathogens can only be achieved with nanofiltration and reverse osmosis processes, porous membranes are known for their pathogen removal capabilities and can be used in combination with other advanced treatment approaches, such as oxidation and adsorption processes. This review was conducted to systematically assess studies with membrane filtration technologies that are used as either stand-alone or hybrid systems for the treatment of hospital wastewater. In this review, four different databases were screened with a pre-set of search strings to thoroughly investigate the application of membrane filtration technology in hospital wastewater treatment. Hybrid systems that combine multiple treatment technologies seem to be the most promising way of consistently removing micropollutants and pathogens from hospital wastewater, but additional economic assessments are needed for an extensive evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marten Klatt
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, Hamburg, Germany E-mail: ; ; Institute of Wastewater Management and Water Protection, Hamburg University of Technology, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Falk Beyer
- Department of Process Engineering, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jörn Einfeldt
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, Hamburg, Germany E-mail: ;
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Mousazadeh M, Kabdaşlı I, Khademi S, Sandoval MA, Moussavi SP, Malekdar F, Gilhotra V, Hashemi M, Dehghani MH. A critical review on the existing wastewater treatment methods in the COVID-19 era: What is the potential of advanced oxidation processes in combatting viral especially SARS-CoV-2? JOURNAL OF WATER PROCESS ENGINEERING 2022; 49:103077. [PMID: 35990175 PMCID: PMC9381433 DOI: 10.1016/j.jwpe.2022.103077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 epidemic has put the risk of virus contamination in water bodies on the horizon of health authorities. Hence, finding effective ways to remove the virus, especially SARS-CoV-2, from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) has emerged as a hot issue in the last few years. Herein, this study first deals with the fate of SARS-CoV-2 genetic material in WWTPs, then critically reviews and compares different wastewater treatment methods for combatting COVID-19 as well as to increase the water quality. This critical review sheds light the efficiency of advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) to inactivate virus, specially SARS-CoV-2 RNA. Although several physicochemical treatment processes (e.g. activated sludge) are commonly used to eliminate pathogens, AOPs are the most versatile and effective virus inactivation methods. For instance, TiO2 is the most known and widely studied photo-catalyst innocuously utilized to degrade pollutants as well as to photo-induce bacterial and virus disinfection due to its high chemical resistance and efficient photo-activity. When ozone is dissolved in water and wastewater, it generates a wide spectrum of the reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are responsible to degrade materials in virus membranes resulting in destroying the cell wall. Furthermore, electrochemical advanced oxidation processes act through direct oxidation when pathogens react at the anode surface or by indirect oxidation through oxidizing species produced in the bulk solution. Consequently, they represent a feasible choice for the inactivation of a wide range of pathogens. Nonetheless, there are some challenges with AOPs which should be addressed for application at industrial-scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milad Mousazadeh
- Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Research Institute for Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
| | - Işık Kabdaşlı
- İstanbul Technical University, Civil Engineering Faculty, Environmental Engineering Department, Ayazağa Campus, 34469 Maslak, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Sara Khademi
- Health, Safety, and Environment Specialist, North Drilling Company, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Miguel Angel Sandoval
- Universidad de Santiago de Chile USACH, Facultad de Química y Biología, Departamento de Química de los Materiales, Laboratorio de Electroquímica Medio Ambiental, LEQMA, Casilla 40, Correo 33, Santiago, Chile
- Universidad de Guanajuato, División de Ciencias Naturales y Exactas, Departamento de Ingeniería Química, Noria Alta S/N, 36050, Guanajuato, Guanajuato, Mexico
| | | | - Fatemeh Malekdar
- Department of Foot and Mouth Disease Vaccine Production, Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Karaj, Iran
| | - Vishakha Gilhotra
- Department of Botanical and Environmental Sciences, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, India
| | - Marjan Hashemi
- Environmental and Occupational Hazards Control Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Hadi Dehghani
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Institute for Environmental Research, Center for Solid Waste Research, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Attitudes toward Receiving COVID-19 Booster Dose in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region: A Cross-Sectional Study of 3041 Fully Vaccinated Participants. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:vaccines10081270. [PMID: 36016158 PMCID: PMC9414713 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10081270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Revised: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
COVID-19 vaccines are crucial to control the pandemic and avoid COVID-19 severe infections. The rapid evolution of COVID-19 variants such as B.1.1.529 is alarming, especially with the gradual decrease in serum antibody levels in vaccinated individuals. Middle Eastern countries were less likely to accept the initial doses of vaccines. This study was directed to determine COVID-19 vaccine booster acceptance and its associated factors in the general population in the MENA region to attain public herd immunity. We conducted an online survey in five countries (Egypt, Iraq, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, and Sudan) in November and December 2021. The questionnaire included self-reported information about the vaccine type, side effects, fear level, and several demographic factors. Kruskal−Wallis ANOVA was used to associate the fear level with the type of COVID-19 vaccine. Logistic regression was performed to confirm the results and reported as odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals. The final analysis included 3041 fully vaccinated participants. Overall, 60.2% of the respondents reported willingness to receive the COVID-19 booster dose, while 20.4% were hesitant. Safety uncertainties and opinions that the booster dose is not necessary were the primary reasons for refusing the booster dose. The willingness to receive the booster dose was in a triangular relationship with the side effects of first and second doses and the fear (p < 0.0001). Females, individuals with normal body mass index, history of COVID-19 infection, and influenza-unvaccinated individuals were significantly associated with declining the booster dose. Higher fear levels were observed in females, rural citizens, and chronic and immunosuppressed patients. Our results suggest that vaccine hesitancy and fear in several highlighted groups continue to be challenges for healthcare providers, necessitating public health intervention, prioritizing the need for targeted awareness campaigns, and facilitating the spread of evidence-based scientific communication.
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El-Sherif DM, Abouzid M, Elzarif MT, Ahmed AA, Albakri A, Alshehri MM. Telehealth and Artificial Intelligence Insights into Healthcare during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Healthcare (Basel) 2022; 10:385. [PMID: 35206998 PMCID: PMC8871559 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare10020385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Soon after the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic was proclaimed, digital health services were widely adopted to respond to this public health emergency, including comprehensive monitoring technologies, telehealth, creative diagnostic, and therapeutic decision-making methods. The World Health Organization suggested that artificial intelligence might be a valuable way of dealing with the crisis. Artificial intelligence is an essential technology of the fourth industrial revolution that is a critical nonmedical intervention for overcoming the present global health crisis, developing next-generation pandemic preparation, and regaining resilience. While artificial intelligence has much potential, it raises fundamental privacy, transparency, and safety concerns. This study seeks to address these issues and looks forward to an intelligent healthcare future based on best practices and lessons learned by employing telehealth and artificial intelligence during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dina M. El-Sherif
- National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries (NIOF), Cairo 11516, Egypt
| | - Mohamed Abouzid
- Department of Physical Pharmacy and Pharmacokinetics, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-781 Poznan, Poland;
- Doctoral School, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-781 Poznan, Poland;
| | - Mohamed Tarek Elzarif
- Independent Digital Health Researcher and Entrepreneur, CEO Doctor Live Company, Cairo 12655, Egypt;
| | - Alhassan Ali Ahmed
- Doctoral School, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-781 Poznan, Poland;
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-781 Poznan, Poland
| | - Ashwag Albakri
- Collage of Computer Science and Information Technology, Jazan University, Jizan 45142, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Mohammed M. Alshehri
- Medical Research Center, Jazan University, Jizan 45142, Saudi Arabia;
- Physical Therapy Department, Jazan University, Jizan 82412, Saudi Arabia
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Abouzid M, El-Sherif DM, Al Naggar Y, Alshehri MM, Alothman S, El-Seedi HR, Trabelsi R, Ibrahim OM, Temraz EH, Buimsaedah A, Aziz IA, Alwan M, Al Hasan NHJ, Ragab HN, Koraiem AM, Ahmed MH, Temraz HH, Madeeh AK, Alshareif MO, Elkhafeefi FS, Badis IE, Abdelslam AE, Ali AAM, Kotni NEI, Amer T. Investigating the current environmental situation in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region during the third wave of COVID-19 pandemic: urban vs. rural context. BMC Public Health 2022; 22:177. [PMID: 35081927 PMCID: PMC8790551 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-021-12313-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic led to a massive global socio-economic tragedy that has impacted the ecosystem. This paper aims to contextualize urban and rural environmental situations during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region. RESULTS An online survey was conducted, 6770 participants were included in the final analysis, and 64% were females. The majority of the participants were urban citizens (74%). Over 50% of the urban residents significantly (p < 0.001) reported a reduction in noise, gathering in tourist areas, and gathering in malls and restaurants. Concerning the pollutants, most urban and rural areas have reported an increase in masks thrown in streets (69.49% vs. 73.22%, resp.; p = 0.003). Plastic bags and hospital waste also increased significantly with the same p-value of < 0.001 in urban areas compared with rural ones. The multifactorial logistic model for urban resident predictors achieved acceptable discrimination (AUROC = 0.633) according to age, crowdedness, noise and few pollutants. CONCLUSION The COVID-19 pandemic had a beneficial impact on the environment and at the same time, various challenges regarding plastic and medical wastes are rising which requires environmental interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed Abouzid
- Department of Physical Pharmacy and Pharmacokinetics, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 6 Święcickiego Street, 60-781 Poznan, Poland
| | - Dina M. El-Sherif
- National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, NIOF, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Yahya Al Naggar
- Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta, 31527 Egypt
- General Zoology, Institute for Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Hoher weg 8, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Mohammed M. Alshehri
- Physical Therapy Department, Jazan University, Jazan, Southern Region Saudi Arabia
| | - Shaima Alothman
- Lifestyle and Health Research Center, Health Science Research Center, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hesham R. El-Seedi
- International Research Center for Food Nutrition and Safety, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013 China
- Pharmacognosy Group, Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, BMC, Uppsala University, Box 591, 751 24 Uppsala, SE Sweden
- International Joint Research Laboratory of Intelligent Agriculture and Agri-products Processing, Jiangsu Education Department, Jiangsu University, Jiangsu, China
| | | | - Osama Mohamed Ibrahim
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
- College of Pharmacy, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, UAE
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Mareb H. Ahmed
- Mosul Medical College, University of Mosul, Mosul, Iraq
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Nour El Imene Kotni
- School of Medicine and Health Care, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oran, Oran City, Algeria
| | - Thuraya Amer
- Radiography Techniques Department, Al-Turath University College, Baghdad, Iraq
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