Municipal secondary-treated effluent data seem to be a suitable source of information for human viral trends
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 (WWT...
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Elsevier
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651324014441 |
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| author | Elsa T. Rodrigues Joana M. Oliveira Anália Carmo Miguel A. Pardal Ana M. Matos |
| author_facet | Elsa T. Rodrigues Joana M. Oliveira Anália Carmo Miguel A. Pardal Ana M. Matos |
| author_sort | Elsa T. Rodrigues |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4d19fe0b27034265b2faeadcb27277c7 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 0147-6513 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
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| series | Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety |
| spelling | doaj-art-4d19fe0b27034265b2faeadcb27277c72025-08-20T02:37:28ZengElsevierEcotoxicology and Environmental Safety0147-65132024-12-0128811736810.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.117368Municipal secondary-treated effluent data seem to be a suitable source of information for human viral trendsElsa T. Rodrigues0Joana M. Oliveira1Anália Carmo2Miguel A. Pardal3Ana M. Matos4Centre for Functional Ecology (CFE), Associate Laboratory TERRA, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, Coimbra 3000-456, Portugal; Corresponding author.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, PortugalClinical Pathology Department, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra (CHUC), Coimbra, PortugalCentre for Functional Ecology (CFE), Associate Laboratory TERRA, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, Coimbra 3000-456, PortugalChemical Engineering and Renewable Resources for Sustainability (CERES), Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Polo III, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, PortugalEmploying 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.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651324014441VirusesWastewater-based monitoringTrend analysisViral outbreak surveillancePublic health control |
| spellingShingle | Elsa T. Rodrigues Joana M. Oliveira Anália Carmo Miguel A. Pardal Ana M. Matos Municipal secondary-treated effluent data seem to be a suitable source of information for human viral trends Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety Viruses Wastewater-based monitoring Trend analysis Viral outbreak surveillance Public health control |
| title | Municipal secondary-treated effluent data seem to be a suitable source of information for human viral trends |
| title_full | Municipal secondary-treated effluent data seem to be a suitable source of information for human viral trends |
| title_fullStr | Municipal secondary-treated effluent data seem to be a suitable source of information for human viral trends |
| title_full_unstemmed | Municipal secondary-treated effluent data seem to be a suitable source of information for human viral trends |
| title_short | Municipal secondary-treated effluent data seem to be a suitable source of information for human viral trends |
| title_sort | municipal secondary treated effluent data seem to be a suitable source of information for human viral trends |
| topic | Viruses Wastewater-based monitoring Trend analysis Viral outbreak surveillance Public health control |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651324014441 |
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