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Zhang W, Zong Y, Zhang J, Ai J, He H, Li L, Peng S, Zhou H, Wang D, Wang Q. Mechanistic insights into the viral microorganism inactivation during lime stabilization for wastewater sludges. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2025; 485:136884. [PMID: 39689559 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.136884] [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: 08/08/2024] [Revised: 12/02/2024] [Accepted: 12/13/2024] [Indexed: 12/19/2024]
Abstract
The pathogens inactivation in wastewater sludges is vitally important for safely managing solid wastes and protecting public and environmental health especially in the emergency. Reports have shown the effectiveness of lime to kill virus pathogens in sludges, but mechanism of virus inactivation and related human diseases is unclear. This study evaluated representative limes of CaO/CaO2 on actual viral microorganism inactivation by viral metagenomic sequencing technology. As results, the CaO2 treatment enhanced the sludge hydrolysis and enveloped viral pathogens suppression via EPS structure destruction by oxidative radical generations; while CaO suppressed most of none-enveloped plant related viral pathogens. Most of the viromes of plant virus including Virgaviridae and Nodaviridae were inactivated by CaO, but the human virus-Feirsviridae and plant virus-Solemoviridae were occurred after lime stabilization compared to untreated sludge, with abundances of 1 %-37 % and 21 %-32 % in CaO-treated (CaO-T) and CaO2-treated (CaO2-T) samples, respectively. In addition, metatranscriptome analysis revealed distinct gene expression patterns between the CaO-T and CaO2-T sludges, in which lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis (LPS) and aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (ARSs) in CaO-T, the formation of ribosome in CaO2-T were crucial to RNA virus regrowth in sludge. These findings suggested neither of CaO and CaO2 could completely suppress pathogens in sludge, and the effect of representative limes of CaO and CaO2 on the viral pathogen diversity, abundance, and metabolic function of the core microbiome on virus suppression and regrowth were ignored. Therefore, combined processes were recommended to provide possible alternatives for sludge safe management in pandemic emergencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weijun Zhang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Yangtze Catchment Environmental Aquatic Science, School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China; National Engineering Research Center of Industrial Wastewater Detoxication and Resource Recovery, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Yuxi Zong
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Yangtze Catchment Environmental Aquatic Science, School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
| | - Jianbo Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Green Process and Engineering, National Engineering Research Center of Green Recycling for Strategic Metal Resources, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100090, China
| | - Jing Ai
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Yangtze Catchment Environmental Aquatic Science, School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China; National Engineering Research Center of Industrial Wastewater Detoxication and Resource Recovery, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia.
| | - Hang He
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei 430072, China
| | - Lanfeng Li
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Yangtze Catchment Environmental Aquatic Science, School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
| | - Sainan Peng
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Yangtze Catchment Environmental Aquatic Science, School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
| | - Hao Zhou
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Yangtze Catchment Environmental Aquatic Science, School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
| | - Dongsheng Wang
- College of Environmental and Resource Science of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Qilin Wang
- Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia
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2
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Mercier É, D'Aoust PM, Eid W, Hegazy N, Kabir P, Wan S, Pisharody L, Renouf E, Stephenson S, Graber TE, MacKenzie AE, Delatolla R. Sewer transport conditions and their role in the decay of endogenous SARS-CoV-2 and pepper mild mottle virus from source to collection. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2025; 263:114477. [PMID: 39378553 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2024.114477] [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: 05/14/2024] [Revised: 09/06/2024] [Accepted: 10/02/2024] [Indexed: 10/10/2024]
Abstract
This study presents a comprehensive analysis of the decay patterns of endogenous SARS-CoV-2 and Pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV) within wastewaters spiked with stool from infected patients expressing COVID-19 symptoms, and hence explores the decay of endogenous SARS-CoV-2 and PMMoV targets in wastewaters from source to collection of the sample. Stool samples from infected patients were used as endogenous viral material to more accurately mirror real-world decay processes compared to more traditionally used lab-propagated spike-ins. As such, this study includes data on early decay stages of endogenous viral targets in wastewaters that are typically overlooked when performing decay studies on wastewaters harvested from wastewater treatment plants that contain already-degraded endogenous material. The two distinct sewer transport conditions of dynamic suspended sewer transport and bed and near-bed sewer transport were simulated in this study at temperatures of 4 °C, 12 °C and 20 °C to elucidate decay under these two dominant transport conditions within wastewater infrastructure. The dynamic suspended sewer transport was simulated over 35 h, representing typical flow conditions, whereas bed and near-bed transport extended to 60 days to reflect the prolonged settling of solids in sewer systems during reduced flow periods. In dynamic suspended sewer transport, no decay was observed for SARS-CoV-2, PMMoV, or total RNA over the 35-h period, and temperature ranging from 4 °C to 20 °C had no noticeable effect. Conversely, experiments simulating bed and near-bed transport conditions revealed significant decreases in SARS-CoV-2 and total RNA concentrations by day 2, and PMMoV concentrations by day 3. Only PMMoV exhibited a clear trend of increasing decay constant with higher temperatures, suggesting that while temperature influences decay dynamics, its impact may be less significant than previously assumed, particularly for endogenous RNA that is bound to dissolved organic matter in wastewater. First order decay models were inadequate for accurately fitting decay curves of SARS-CoV-2, PMMoV, and total RNA in bed and near-bed transport conditions. F-tests confirmed the superior fit of the two-phase decay model compared to first order decay models across temperatures of 4 °C-20 °C. Finally, and most importantly, total RNA normalization emerged as an appropriate approach for correcting the time decay of SARS-CoV-2 exposed to bed and near-bed transport conditions. These findings highlight the importance of considering decay from the point of entry in the sewers, sewer transport conditions, and normalization strategies when assessing and modelling the impact of viral decay rates in wastewater systems. This study also emphasizes the need for ongoing research into the diverse and multifaceted factors that influence these decay rates, which is crucial for accurate public health monitoring and response strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Élisabeth Mercier
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Patrick M D'Aoust
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Walaa Eid
- Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, K1H 8L1, Canada
| | - Nada Hegazy
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Pervez Kabir
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Shen Wan
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Lakshmi Pisharody
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Elizabeth Renouf
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Sean Stephenson
- Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, K1H 8L1, Canada
| | - Tyson E Graber
- Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, K1H 8L1, Canada
| | - Alex E MacKenzie
- Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, K1H 8L1, Canada
| | - Robert Delatolla
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, K1N 6N5, Canada.
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3
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Rodrigues ET, Oliveira JM, Carmo A, Pardal MA, Matos AM. Municipal secondary-treated effluent data seem to be a suitable source of information for human viral trends. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2024; 288:117368. [PMID: 39566263 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.117368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2024] [Revised: 11/04/2024] [Accepted: 11/15/2024] [Indexed: 11/22/2024]
Abstract
Employing a long-time series of municipal wastewater samples collected in 2020, the present study aims to confirm whether the appearance of SARS-CoV-2 influences the environmental load and behaviour of both JC Virus and Norovirus, determine the ability of the selected wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) to remove viral genomes, and assess if secondary-treated effluent data is somehow related to the incidence of the viral diseases reported by the local hospital. From the 11 raw influent and 52 secondary-treated effluent samples tested, JC Virus data present an occurrence frequency of 100 %, showing two different abundance patterns along the year, before and after the appearance of SARS-CoV-2. The constant detection of JC nucleic acids in wastewater reinforces the idea that urine is responsible for transmitting this virus. The Norovirus genogroup (G) II was detected more frequently than GI, both in influents and effluents, and their characteristic incidence peaks were not observed in late 2020. Regarding SARS-CoV-2 RNA, it appeared only in 5.8 % of the effluents, possibly due to the iron dosing used by the WWTP to reduce both phosphorus and organic matter concentrations in order to meet the requirements of European legislation, and/or the pre-filtration laboratory step which neglected the possibility of viral association with the solid fraction. The results suggest a poor performance of the WWTP, since Log removal values below 1.8 were determined. We were able to trace the development of local Norovirus outbreaks in the effluent samples to some extent, suggesting that secondary-treated effluents may be used to monitor human viruses by following viral nucleic acid levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elsa T Rodrigues
- Centre for Functional Ecology (CFE), Associate Laboratory TERRA, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, Coimbra 3000-456, Portugal.
| | - Joana M Oliveira
- Centre for Functional Ecology (CFE), Associate Laboratory TERRA, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, Coimbra 3000-456, Portugal; Chemical Engineering and Renewable Resources for Sustainability (CERES), Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Polo III, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, Portugal.
| | - Anália Carmo
- Clinical Pathology Department, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra (CHUC), Coimbra, Portugal.
| | - Miguel A Pardal
- Centre for Functional Ecology (CFE), Associate Laboratory TERRA, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, Coimbra 3000-456, Portugal.
| | - Ana M Matos
- Chemical Engineering and Renewable Resources for Sustainability (CERES), Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Polo III, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, Portugal.
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Franchitti E, Pedullà M, Madsen AM, Traversi D. Effect of anaerobic digestion on pathogens and antimicrobial resistance in the sewage sludge. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 191:108998. [PMID: 39244956 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108998] [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: 05/30/2024] [Revised: 09/02/2024] [Accepted: 09/03/2024] [Indexed: 09/10/2024]
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is recognized as a global threat. AMR bacteria accumulate in sewage sludge however, knowledge on the persistence of human pathogens and AMR in the sludge line of the wastewater treatment is limited. Sludge can be used, with or without additional treatment, as fertilizer in agricultural fields. The aim of this study is to obtain knowledge about presence of human pathogens and AMR in the sewage sludge, before and after the anaerobic digestion (AD) applying innovative combinations of methods. Fifty sludge samples were collected. Cultivation methods combined with matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) and Antibiotic Susceptibility Test (AST) were used obtaining knowledge about the microbial community, pathogens, and antibiotic resistant bacteria while the droplet digital Polymerase Chain Reaction (ddPCR) was performed to detect most common AMR genes. In total, 231 different bacterial species were identified in the samples. The most abundant species were spore-forming facultative anaerobic bacteria belonging to Bacillus and Clostridium genera. The AD causes a shift in the microbial composition of the sludge (p = 0.04). Seven pathogenic bacterial species constituting 188 colonies were isolated and tested for susceptibility to Clindamycin, Meropenem, Norfloxacin, Penicillin G, and Tigecycline. Of the Clostridium perfringens and Bacillus cereus isolates 67 and 50 %, respectively, were resistant to Clindamycin. Two B. cereus and two C. perfringens isolates were also resistant to other antibiotics showing multidrug resistance. ARGs (blaOXA, blaTEM, ermB, qnrB, tet(A)-(W), sulI-II) were present at 7-8 Log gene copies/kg of sludge. AD is the main driver of a reduction of some ARGs (1 Log) but resistant bacteria were still present. The results showed the usefulness of the integration of the proposed analytical methods and suggest a decrease in the risk of presence of cultivable pathogens including resistant isolates after AD but a persistent risk of ARGs' horizontal transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Franchitti
- Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Turin, Piazza Polonia 92, 10126 Torino, Italy
| | - Matilde Pedullà
- Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Turin, Piazza Polonia 92, 10126 Torino, Italy
| | - Anne Mette Madsen
- National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Lersø Parkallé 105, 2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
| | - Deborah Traversi
- Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Turin, Piazza Polonia 92, 10126 Torino, Italy.
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5
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Carine MR, Pagilla KR. A mass balance approach for quantifying the role of natural decay and fate mechanisms on SARS-CoV-2 genetic marker removal during water reclamation. WATER ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH : A RESEARCH PUBLICATION OF THE WATER ENVIRONMENT FEDERATION 2024; 96:e11015. [PMID: 38599573 DOI: 10.1002/wer.11015] [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: 12/08/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
The recent SARS-CoV-2 outbreak yielded substantial data regarding virus fate and prevalence at water reclamation facilities (WRFs), identifying influential factors as natural decay, adsorption, light, pH, salinity, and antagonistic microorganisms. However, no studies have quantified the impact of these factors in full scale WRFs. Utilizing a mass balance approach, we assessed the impact of natural decay and other fate mechanisms on genetic marker removal during water reclamation, through the use of sludge and wastewater genetic marker loading estimates. Results indicated negligible removal of genetic markers during P/PT (primary effluent (PE) p value: 0.267; preliminary and primary treatment (P/PT) accumulation p value: 0.904; and thickened primary sludge (TPS) p value: 0.076) indicating no contribution of natural decay and other fate mechanisms toward removal in P/PT. Comparably, adsorption and decomposition was found to be the dominant pathway for genetic marker removal (thickened waste activated sludge (TWAS) log loading 9.75 log10 GC/day); however, no estimation of log genetic marker accumulation could be carried out due to high detections in TWAS. PRACTITIONER POINTS: The mass balance approach suggested that the contribution of natural decay and other fate mechanisms to virus removal during wastewater treatment are negligible compared with adsorption and decomposition in P/PT (p value: 0.904). During (P/PT), a higher viral load remained in the (PE) (14.16 log10 GC/day) compared with TPS (13.83 log10 GC/day); however, no statistical difference was observed (p value: 0.280) indicting that adsorption/decomposition most probably did not occur. In secondary treatment (ST), viral genetic markers in TWAS were consistently detected (13.41 log10 GC/day) compared with secondary effluent (SE), indicating that longer HRT and the potential presence of extracellular polymeric substance-containing enriched biomass enabled adsorption/decomposition. Estimations of total solids and volatile solids for TPS and TWAS indicated that adsorption affinity was different between solids sampling locations (p value: <0.0001).
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Affiliation(s)
- Madeline R Carine
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada, USA
| | - Krishna R Pagilla
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada, USA
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Bhatt A, Sahu N, Dada AC, Kumar Prajapati S, Arora P. Assessing sustainability of microalgae-based wastewater treatment: Environmental considerations and impacts on human health. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 354:120435. [PMID: 38402790 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.120435] [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: 12/28/2023] [Revised: 02/11/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
An integrated life cycle assessment (LCA) and quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) were conducted to assess microalgae-mediated wastewater disinfection (M-WWD). M-WWD was achieved by replacing ultraviolet disinfection with a microalgal open raceway pond in an existing sewage treatment plant (STP) in India. Regarding impacts on human health, both M-WWD and STP yielded comparable life cycle impacts, around 0.01 disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) per person per year. However, QMRA impacts for M-WWD (0.053 DALYs per person per year) were slightly lower than that for STP while considering exposure to E. coli O157:H7 and adenovirus. Additionally, a comparative LCA resolved the dilemma about the appropriate utilization of microalgal biomass. Among biodiesel, biocrude, and biogas production, the lowest impacts of 0.015 DALYs per person per year were obtained for biocrude for 1 m3 water treated by M-WWD. Electricity consumption in microalgae cultivation was a major environmental hotspot. Overall, M-WWD, followed by production of microalgal biocrude, emerged as a sustainable alternative from environmental and public health perspectives. These findings set the foundation for pilot-scale M-WWD system development, testing, and economic evaluation. Such comprehensive investigations, encompassing LCA, QMRA, and resource recovery scenarios, offer crucial insights for stakeholders and decision-makers in wastewater treatment and environmental management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ankita Bhatt
- Department of Hydro and Renewable Energy, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Nitin Sahu
- Department of Hydro and Renewable Energy, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, Uttarakhand, India
| | | | - Sanjeev Kumar Prajapati
- Department of Hydro and Renewable Energy, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Pratham Arora
- Department of Hydro and Renewable Energy, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, Uttarakhand, India.
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Torres-Franco AF, Leroy-Freitas D, Martinez-Fraile C, Rodríguez E, García-Encina PA, Muñoz R. Partitioning and inactivation of enveloped and nonenveloped viruses in activated sludge, anaerobic and microalgae-based wastewater treatment systems. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 248:120834. [PMID: 37984037 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
Anaerobic and microalgae-based technologies for municipal wastewater treatment have emerged as sustainable alternatives to activated sludge systems. However, viruses are a major sanitary concern for reuse applications of liquid and solid byproducts from these technologies. To assess their capacity to reduce viruses during secondary wastewater treatment, enveloped Phi6 and nonenveloped MS2 bacteriophages, typically used as surrogates of several types of wastewater viruses, were spiked into batch bioreactors treating synthetic municipal wastewater (SMWW). The decay of Phi6 and MS2 in anaerobic and microalgae-based reactors was compared with the decay in activated sludge batch reactors for 96 h (Phi6) and 144 h (MS2). In each reactor, bacteriophages in the soluble and solids fractions were titered, allowing the assessment of virus partitioning to biomass over time. Moreover, the influence of abiotic conditions such as agitation, oxygen absence and light excess in activated sludge, anaerobic and microalgae reactors, respectively, was assessed using dedicated SMWW control reactors. All technologies showed Phi6 and MS2 reductions. Phi6 was reduced in at least 4.7 to 6.5 log10 units, with 0 h concentrations ranging from 5.0 to 6.5 log10 PFU mL-1. Similarly, reductions achieved for MS2 were of at least 3.9 to 7.2 log10 units, from starting concentrations of 8.0 to 8.6 log10 PFU mL-1. Log-logistic models adjusted to bacteriophages' decay indicated T90 values in activated sludge and microalgae reactors of 2.2 and 7.9 h for Phi6 and of 1.0 and 11.5 h for MS2, respectively, all within typical hydraulic retention times (HRT) of full-scale operation. In the case of the microalgae technology, T99 values for Phi6 and MS2 of 12.7 h and 13.6 h were also lower than typical operating HRTs (2-10 d), while activated sludge and anaerobic treatment achieved less than 99 % of Phi6 and 50 % of MS2 inactivation within 12 h of typical HRT, respectively. Thus, the microalgae-based treatment exhibited a higher potential to reduce the disinfection requirements of treated wastewater.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrés F Torres-Franco
- Institute of Sustainable Processes, Dr. Mergelina, s/n, 47011 Valladolid, Spain; Department of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology, School of Industrial Engineering, University of Valladolid, Dr. Mergelina. s/n, 47011 Valladolid, Spain.
| | - Deborah Leroy-Freitas
- Institute of Sustainable Processes, Dr. Mergelina, s/n, 47011 Valladolid, Spain; Department of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology, School of Industrial Engineering, University of Valladolid, Dr. Mergelina. s/n, 47011 Valladolid, Spain
| | - Cristina Martinez-Fraile
- Institute of Sustainable Processes, Dr. Mergelina, s/n, 47011 Valladolid, Spain; Department of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology, School of Industrial Engineering, University of Valladolid, Dr. Mergelina. s/n, 47011 Valladolid, Spain
| | - Elisa Rodríguez
- Institute of Sustainable Processes, Dr. Mergelina, s/n, 47011 Valladolid, Spain; Department of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology, School of Industrial Engineering, University of Valladolid, Dr. Mergelina. s/n, 47011 Valladolid, Spain
| | - Pedro A García-Encina
- Institute of Sustainable Processes, Dr. Mergelina, s/n, 47011 Valladolid, Spain; Department of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology, School of Industrial Engineering, University of Valladolid, Dr. Mergelina. s/n, 47011 Valladolid, Spain
| | - Raúl Muñoz
- Institute of Sustainable Processes, Dr. Mergelina, s/n, 47011 Valladolid, Spain; Department of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology, School of Industrial Engineering, University of Valladolid, Dr. Mergelina. s/n, 47011 Valladolid, Spain.
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8
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Cutrupi F, Cadonna M, Postinghel M, Foladori P. SARS-CoV-2 removal in municipal wastewater treatment plants: Focus on conventional activated sludge, membrane bioreactor and anaerobic digestion. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 906:167434. [PMID: 37774861 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/01/2023]
Abstract
This work focuses on the removal of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the various stages of a full-scale municipal WWTP characterised by two biological processes in parallel: (i) conventional activated sludge (CAS) and (ii) membrane bioreactor (MBR). The monitoring was carried out during the Omicron wave in 2022, a period characterised by a high concentration of SARS-CoV-2 in influent wastewater. The average concentration of SARS-CoV-2 in influent wastewater was 3.7 × 104 GU/L. In the primary sedimentation, the removal of SARS-CoV-2 was not appreciable. The largest log removal value of SARs-CoV-2 occurred in the biological stages, with 1.8 ± 0.9 and 2.2 ± 0.7 logs in CAS and MBR systems. The mean concentrations of SARS-CoV-2 in the CAS and MBR effluents were 6.8 × 102 GU/L and 6.4 × 102 GU/L, respectively. The MBR effluent showed more negative samples, because small particles are retained by membrane and cake layer. The analysis of the different types of sludge confirmed the accumulation of SARS-CoV-2 in primary (5.2 × 104 GU/L) and secondary sludge (3.5 × 104 GU/L), due to the affinity of enveloped viruses towards biosolids. A SARS-CoV-2 concentration in the digested sludge equal to 4.8 × 104 GU/L denotes a negligible reduction in the mesophilic anaerobic digester at temperature of 31-33 °C.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Cutrupi
- Center Agriculture Food Environment (C3A) - University of Trento, via Edmund Mach 1, 38098 San Michele all' Adige, TN, Italy
| | - Maria Cadonna
- ADEP - Agenzia per la Depurazione, Autonomous Province of Trento, via Gilli, n. 3, 38121 Trento, Italy
| | - Mattia Postinghel
- ADEP - Agenzia per la Depurazione, Autonomous Province of Trento, via Gilli, n. 3, 38121 Trento, Italy
| | - Paola Foladori
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering (DICAM) - University of Trento, via Mesiano, n. 77, 38123 Trento, Italy.
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9
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Hegazy N, Tian X, D'Aoust PM, Pisharody L, Towhid ST, Mercier É, Zhang Z, Wan S, Thakali O, Kabir MP, Fang W, Nguyen TB, Ramsay NT, MacKenzie AE, Graber TE, Guilherme S, Delatolla R. Impact of coagulation on SARS-CoV-2 and PMMoV viral signal in wastewater solids. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:5242-5253. [PMID: 38112868 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-31444-1] [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: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
Wastewater surveillance (WWS) of SARS-CoV-2 has become a crucial tool for monitoring COVID-19 cases and outbreaks. Previous studies have indicated that SARS-CoV-2 RNA measurement from testing solid-rich primary sludge yields better sensitivity compared to testing wastewater influent. Furthermore, measurement of pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV) signal in wastewater allows for precise normalization of SARS-CoV-2 viral signal based on solid content, enhancing disease prevalence tracking. However, despite the widespread adoption of WWS, a knowledge gap remains regarding the impact of ferric sulfate coagulation, commonly used in enhanced primary clarification, the initial stage of wastewater treatment where solids are sedimented and removed, on SARS-CoV-2 and PMMoV quantification in wastewater-based epidemiology. This study examines the effects of ferric sulfate addition, along with the associated pH reduction, on the measurement of SARS-CoV-2 and PMMoV viral measurements in wastewater primary clarified sludge through jar testing. Results show that the addition of Fe3+ concentrations in the conventional 0 to 60 mg/L range caused no effect on SARS-CoV-2 N1 and N2 gene region measurements in wastewater solids. However, elevated Fe3+ concentrations were shown to be associated with a statistically significant increase in PMMoV viral measurements in wastewater solids, which consequently resulted in the underestimation of PMMoV-normalized SARS-CoV-2 viral signal measurements (N1 and N2 copies/copies of PMMoV). The observed pH reduction from coagulant addition did not contribute to the increased PMMoV measurements, suggesting that this phenomenon arises from the partitioning of PMMoV viral particles into wastewater solids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nada Hegazy
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Xin Tian
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Patrick M D'Aoust
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Lakshmi Pisharody
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | | | - Élisabeth Mercier
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Zhihao Zhang
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Shen Wan
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Ocean Thakali
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Md Pervez Kabir
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Wanting Fang
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Tram B Nguyen
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Nathan T Ramsay
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Alex E MacKenzie
- Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Tyson E Graber
- Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | | | - Robert Delatolla
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
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10
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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] [Grants] [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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11
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Alamin M, Hara-Yamamura H, Hata A, Zhao B, Ihara M, Tanaka H, Watanabe T, Honda R. Reduction of SARS-CoV-2 by biological nutrient removal and disinfection processes in full-scale wastewater treatment plants. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 895:165097. [PMID: 37356766 PMCID: PMC10290167 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165097] [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: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/27/2023]
Abstract
Detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater poses people's concerns regarding the potential risk in water bodies receiving wastewater treatment effluent, despite the infectious risk of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater being speculated to be low. Unlike well-studied nonenveloped viruses, SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater is present abundantly in both solid and liquid fractions of wastewater. Reduction of SARS-CoV-2 in past studies were likely underestimated, as SARS-CoV-2 in influent wastewater were quantified in either solid or liquid fraction only. The objectives of this study were (i) to clarify the reduction in SARS-CoV-2 RNA during biological nutrient removal and disinfection processes in full-scale WWTPs, considering the SARS-CoV-2 present in both solid and liquid fractions of wastewater, and (ii) to evaluate applicability of pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV) as a performance indicator for reduction of SARS-CoV-2 in WWTPs. Accordingly, large amount of SARS-CoV-2 RNA were partitioned in the solid fraction of influent wastewater for composite sampling than grab sampling. When SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the both solid and liquid fractions were considered, log reduction values (LRVs) of SARS-CoV-2 during step-feed multistage biological nitrogen removal (SM-BNR) and enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) processes ranged between>2.1-4.4 log and did not differ significantly from those in conventional activated sludge (CAS). The LRVs of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in disinfection processes by ozonation and chlorination did not differ significantly. PMMoV is a promising performance indicator to secure reduction of SARS-CoV-2 in WWTPs, because of its higher persistence in wastewater treatment processes and abundance at a detectable concentration even in the final effluent after disinfection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Alamin
- Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Kanazawa University, Japan
| | | | - Akihiko Hata
- Department of Environmental and Civil Engineering, Toyama Prefectural University, Japan
| | - Bo Zhao
- Research Center for Environmental Quality Management, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Japan; College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
| | - Masaru Ihara
- Research Center for Environmental Quality Management, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Japan; Faculty of Agriculture and Marine Science, Kochi University, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Tanaka
- Research Center for Environmental Quality Management, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Japan
| | | | - Ryo Honda
- Faculty of Geosciences and Civil Engineering, Kanazawa University, Japan; Research Center for Environmental Quality Management, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Japan.
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12
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Câmara AB, Bonfante J, da Penha MG, Cassini STA, de Pinho Keller R. Detecting SARS-CoV-2 in sludge samples: A systematic review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 859:160012. [PMID: 36368397 PMCID: PMC9643039 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2022] [Revised: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
AIMS This paper aims to review the main sludge concentration methods used for SARS-CoV-2 detection in sewage sludge samples, discussing the main methods and sample volume related to increased viral load. In addition, we aim to evaluate the countries associated with increased positivity rates for SARS-CoV-2 in sludge samples. METHODS This systematic methodology was registered in PROSPERO and followed the PRISMA guidelines. The search was carried out in the SciELO, PubMed/MEDLINE, Lilacs, and Google Scholar databases in January-March 2022. Quantitative studies with conclusive results were included in this review. Concentration methods (polyethylene glycol (PEG), PEG + NaCl, gravity thickening, skimmed milk flocculation, ultrafiltration, filtration using charged filters, primary sedimentation, and anaerobic digestion), as well as detection methods (RTqPCR and reverse transcription droplet digital PCR assay) were evaluated in this review. The SPSS v23 software program was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS PEG (with or without NaCl addition) and gravity thickening were the most used sludge concentration methods to detect SARS-CoV-2. The main method associated with increased viral load (>2,02 × 10^4 copies/mL) was PEG + NaCl (p < 0.05, Mann-Whitney test). The average positivity rate for SARS-CoV-2 in sludge samples was 61 %, and a correlation was found between the sludge volume and the viral load (ro 0.559, p = 0.03, Spearman correlation). CONCLUSION The sludge volume may influence the SARS-CoV-2 load since the virus can adhere to solid particles in these samples. Other factors may be associated with SARS-CoV-2 load, including the methods used; especially PEG + NaCl may result in a high viral load detected in sludge, and may provide a suitable pH for SARS-CoV-2 recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Barros Câmara
- Sanitation Laboratory, Department of Environmental Engineering, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Ave. Fernando Ferrari, 515, Goiabeiras, 29075051 Vitória, ES, Brazil.
| | - Júlia Bonfante
- Sanitation Laboratory, Department of Environmental Engineering, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Ave. Fernando Ferrari, 515, Goiabeiras, 29075051 Vitória, ES, Brazil
| | - Marília Gueler da Penha
- Sanitation Laboratory, Department of Environmental Engineering, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Ave. Fernando Ferrari, 515, Goiabeiras, 29075051 Vitória, ES, Brazil
| | - Sérvio Túlio Alves Cassini
- Sanitation Laboratory, Department of Environmental Engineering, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Ave. Fernando Ferrari, 515, Goiabeiras, 29075051 Vitória, ES, Brazil
| | - Regina de Pinho Keller
- Sanitation Laboratory, Department of Environmental Engineering, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Ave. Fernando Ferrari, 515, Goiabeiras, 29075051 Vitória, ES, Brazil
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13
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Wang Y, Fang W, Wang X, Zhou L, Zheng G. Spatial distribution of fecal pollution indicators in sewage sludge flocs and their removal and inactivation as revealed by qPCR/viability-qPCR during potassium ferrate treatment. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 443:130262. [PMID: 36327846 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.130262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Sludge reuse and utilization is one of important routines of disseminating fecal pollution to surface water and groundwater. However, it remains unclear the spatial distribution of fecal pollution indicators in sludge flocs and their reductions during sludge treatment processes. In this study, the abundances of fecal pollution indicators including cross-assembly phage (crAssphage), JC and BK polyomavirus (JCPyV, BKPyV), human adenovirus (HAdV), the human-specific HF183 Bacteroides (HF183) and Escherichia coli (EC) in soluble extracellular polymeric substances (S-EPS), loosely-bound EPS (LB-EPS), tightly-bound EPS (TB-EPS), and pellets of sludge flocs were determined, and the effect of potassium ferrate (PF) treatment on their removal and inactivation was investigated by using both qPCR and viability-qPCR. Results showed that all investigated indicators were detected in each fraction of sludge flocs. The PF treatment led to a great migration of indicators from sludge pellets to sludge EPS and some extent of their inactivation in each fraction of sludge flocs. The overall reductions of human fecal indicators in sludge determined by qPCR were 0-1.30 logs, which were 0-2 orders of magnitude lower than those of 0.69-2.39 logs detected by viability-qPCR, implying their inactivation by PF treatment to potentially alleviate the associated human health risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuhang Wang
- Department of Environmental Engineering, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China; College of Materials and Chemical Engineering, Pingxiang University, Pingxiang 337055, China
| | - Wenhao Fang
- Department of Environmental Engineering, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Xinxin Wang
- Department of Environmental Engineering, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Lixiang Zhou
- Department of Environmental Engineering, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China; Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Waste Resource Utilization, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Guanyu Zheng
- Department of Environmental Engineering, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China; Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Waste Resource Utilization, Nanjing 210095, China.
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14
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Iwamoto R, Yamaguchi K, Arakawa C, Ando H, Haramoto E, Setsukinai KI, Katayama K, Yamagishi T, Sorano S, Murakami M, Kyuwa S, Kobayashi H, Okabe S, Imoto S, Kitajima M. The detectability and removal efficiency of SARS-CoV-2 in a large-scale septic tank of a COVID-19 quarantine facility in Japan. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 849:157869. [PMID: 35944642 PMCID: PMC9356757 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Revised: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is known to be present in sewage, and wastewater-based epidemiology has attracted much attention. However, the physical partitioning of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater and the removal efficiency of treatment systems require further investigation. This study aimed to investigate the detectability and physical partitioning of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater and assess its removal in a large-scale septic tank employing anaerobic, anoxic, and oxic processes in a sequential batch reactor, which was installed in a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) quarantine facility. The amount of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater was determined with polyethylene glycol (PEG) precipitation followed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), and the association of SARS-CoV-2 with wastewater solids was evaluated by the effect of filtration prior to PEG precipitation (pre-filtration). The amount of SARS-CoV-2 RNA detected from pre-filtered samples was substantially lower than that of samples without pre-filtration. These results suggest that most SARS-CoV-2 particles in wastewater are associated with the suspended solids excluded by pre-filtration. The removal efficiency of SARS-CoV-2 in the septic tank was evaluated based on the SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentrations in untreated and treated wastewater, which was determined by the detection method optimized in this study. Escherichia coli and pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV) were also quantified to validate the wastewater treatment system's performance. The mean log10 reduction values of SARS-CoV-2, E. coli, and PMMoV were 2.47 (range, 2.25-2.68), 2.81 (range, 2.45-3.18), and 0.66 (range, 0.61-0.70), respectively, demonstrating that SARS-CoV-2 removal by the wastewater treatment system was comparable to or better than the removal of fecal indicators. These results suggest that SARS-CoV-2 can be readily removed by the septic tank. This is the first study to determine the removal efficiency of SARS-CoV-2 in a facility-level sequencing batch activated sludge system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryo Iwamoto
- Shionogi & Co., Ltd., 1-8 Doshomachi 3-Chome, Chuo-ku, Osaka, Osaka 541-0045, Japan; AdvanSentinel Inc., 1-8 Doshomachi 3-Chome, Chuo-ku, Osaka, Osaka 541-0045, Japan
| | - Kiyoshi Yamaguchi
- Division of Clinical Genome Research, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Shirokanedai, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
| | - Chisato Arakawa
- Division of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido University, North 13 West 8, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-8628, Japan
| | - Hiroki Ando
- Division of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido University, North 13 West 8, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-8628, Japan
| | - Eiji Haramoto
- Interdisciplinary Center for River Basin Environment, Graduate Faculty of Interdisciplinary Research, University of Yamanashi, 4-3-11 Takeda, Kofu, Yamanashi 400-8511, Japan
| | - Ken-Ichi Setsukinai
- Shionogi & Co., Ltd., 1-8 Doshomachi 3-Chome, Chuo-ku, Osaka, Osaka 541-0045, Japan
| | - Kotoe Katayama
- Human Genome Center, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Shirokanedai, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
| | - Takuya Yamagishi
- Antimicrobial Resistance Research Center, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1-23-1 Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8640, Japan
| | - Sumire Sorano
- Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Disease, The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel St., London WC1E 7HT, UK; School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, 1-14 Bunkyomachi, Nagasaki, Nagasaki 852-8521, Japan
| | - Michio Murakami
- Center for Infectious Disease Education and Research, Osaka University, 2-8 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Shigeru Kyuwa
- Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Kobayashi
- Shionogi & Co., Ltd., 1-8 Doshomachi 3-Chome, Chuo-ku, Osaka, Osaka 541-0045, Japan
| | - Satoshi Okabe
- Division of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido University, North 13 West 8, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-8628, Japan
| | - Seiya Imoto
- Human Genome Center, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Shirokanedai, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
| | - Masaaki Kitajima
- Division of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido University, North 13 West 8, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-8628, Japan.
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15
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Acute Hepatitis of Unknown Origin in Children; Lessons Learned from the COVID-19 Pandemic. HEPATITIS MONTHLY 2022. [DOI: 10.5812/hepatmon-128796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/13/2023]
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