COVID-19 infection risk from exposure to aerosols of wastewater treatment plants. (June 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gholipour, Sahar; Mohammadi, Farzaneh; Nikaeen, Mahnaz; Shamsizadeh, Zahra; Khazeni, Atefeh; Sahbaei, Zohreh; Mousavi, Seyed Mohammad; Ghobadian, Mojtaba; Mirhendi, Hossein
• Is Part Of: Chemosphere. Volume 273(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-06
• Subjects: SARS-CoV-2 -- Wastewater workers -- QMRA -- Bioaerosol -- Transmission; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Physiological effect -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Periodicals; Atmospheric chemistry -- Periodicals; 551.511
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.129701
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0045-6535

Abstract

Abstract: Fecal shedding of SARS-CoV-2 from COVID-19 patients and presence of the viral RNA in wastewater have extensively been reported. Some wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) processes generate aerosols which have the potential to transmit pathogenic microorganisms and present a health risk for exposed individuals. We analyzed the presence of viral RNA of SARS-CoV-2 in raw wastewater and air samples of WWTPs. The risk that may arise from exposure to virus-contaminated aerosols of wastewater was estimated by developing a quantitative microbial risk analysis (QMRA) method. SARS-CoV-2 was detected in 9 of 24 (37.5%) wastewater samples with a concentration about 10 4 genomic copies L −1 . The viral RNA was also detected in 40% (6/15) of air samples. QMRA analysis showed a relatively high risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection for wastewater workers via exposure to the viral aerosols. The estimated annual infection risk ranged from 1.1 × 10 −2 to 2.3 × 10 −2 per person per year (PPPY) for wastewater workers which was higher than the reference level recommended by WHO (10 −3 pppy). However, due to the lack of data on survival of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater and its fate in aerosolized state, more research is needed to determine the importance of wastewater in transmission of COVID-19. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: SARS-CoV-2 presence in wastewater raises the question regarding the transmission via wastewater. SARS-CoV-2 was detected in wastewater aerosols at pumping station and activated sludge plants. There was a relatively high risk of COVID-19 for wastewater workers through wastewater aerosols. Role of wastewater in SARS-CoV-2 transmission is limited by knowledge gaps about its viability. Molecular detection along with cell culture is needed to validate infectivity of the SARS-CoV-2.