Predicting the dispersal of SARS-CoV-2 RNA from the wastewater treatment plant to the coast
Viral pathogens including SARS-CoV-2 RNA have been detected in wastewater treatment effluent, and untreated sewage overflows, that pose an exposure hazard to humans. We assessed whether SARS-CoV-2 RNA was likely to have been present in detectable quantities in UK rivers and estuaries during the firs...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2022-09-01
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| Series: | Heliyon |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844022018357 |
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| author | Peter E. Robins Neil Dickson Jessica L. Kevill Shelagh K. Malham Andrew C. Singer Richard S. Quilliam Davey L. Jones |
| author_facet | Peter E. Robins Neil Dickson Jessica L. Kevill Shelagh K. Malham Andrew C. Singer Richard S. Quilliam Davey L. Jones |
| author_sort | Peter E. Robins |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Viral pathogens including SARS-CoV-2 RNA have been detected in wastewater treatment effluent, and untreated sewage overflows, that pose an exposure hazard to humans. We assessed whether SARS-CoV-2 RNA was likely to have been present in detectable quantities in UK rivers and estuaries during the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. We simulated realistic viral concentrations parameterised on the Camel and Conwy catchments (UK) and their populations, showing detectable SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentrations for untreated but not for treated loading, but also being contingent on viral decay, hydrology, catchment type/shape, and location. Under mean or low river flow conditions, viral RNA concentrated within the estuaries allowing for viral build-up and caused a lag by up to several weeks between the peak in community infections and the viral peak in the environment. There was an increased hazard posed by SARS-CoV-2 RNA with a T90 decay rate >24 h, as the estuarine build-up effect increased. High discharge events transported the viral RNA downstream and offshore, increasing the exposure risk to coastal bathing waters and shellfisheries – although dilution in this case reduced viral concentrations well below detectable levels. Our results highlight the sensitivity of exposure to viral pathogens downstream of wastewater treatment, across a range of viral loadings and catchment characteristics – with implications to environmental surveillance. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T09:11:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f6c23d17b37643a984bed1137c1ec29e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2405-8440 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T09:11:04Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Heliyon |
| spelling | doaj.art-f6c23d17b37643a984bed1137c1ec29e2022-12-22T04:32:31ZengElsevierHeliyon2405-84402022-09-0189e10547Predicting the dispersal of SARS-CoV-2 RNA from the wastewater treatment plant to the coastPeter E. Robins0Neil Dickson1Jessica L. Kevill2Shelagh K. Malham3Andrew C. Singer4Richard S. Quilliam5Davey L. Jones6School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge, Anglesey LL59 5AB, UK; Corresponding author.School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge, Anglesey LL59 5AB, UKCentre for Environmental Biotechnology, School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2UW, UKSchool of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge, Anglesey LL59 5AB, UKUK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Wallingford OX10 8BB, UKBiological and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UKCentre for Environmental Biotechnology, School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2UW, UK; Food Futures Institute, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, WA 6105, AustraliaViral pathogens including SARS-CoV-2 RNA have been detected in wastewater treatment effluent, and untreated sewage overflows, that pose an exposure hazard to humans. We assessed whether SARS-CoV-2 RNA was likely to have been present in detectable quantities in UK rivers and estuaries during the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. We simulated realistic viral concentrations parameterised on the Camel and Conwy catchments (UK) and their populations, showing detectable SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentrations for untreated but not for treated loading, but also being contingent on viral decay, hydrology, catchment type/shape, and location. Under mean or low river flow conditions, viral RNA concentrated within the estuaries allowing for viral build-up and caused a lag by up to several weeks between the peak in community infections and the viral peak in the environment. There was an increased hazard posed by SARS-CoV-2 RNA with a T90 decay rate >24 h, as the estuarine build-up effect increased. High discharge events transported the viral RNA downstream and offshore, increasing the exposure risk to coastal bathing waters and shellfisheries – although dilution in this case reduced viral concentrations well below detectable levels. Our results highlight the sensitivity of exposure to viral pathogens downstream of wastewater treatment, across a range of viral loadings and catchment characteristics – with implications to environmental surveillance.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844022018357Public health riskSewage dischargeViral surveillanceWater pollutionWastewater-based epidemiology |
| spellingShingle | Peter E. Robins Neil Dickson Jessica L. Kevill Shelagh K. Malham Andrew C. Singer Richard S. Quilliam Davey L. Jones Predicting the dispersal of SARS-CoV-2 RNA from the wastewater treatment plant to the coast Heliyon Public health risk Sewage discharge Viral surveillance Water pollution Wastewater-based epidemiology |
| title | Predicting the dispersal of SARS-CoV-2 RNA from the wastewater treatment plant to the coast |
| title_full | Predicting the dispersal of SARS-CoV-2 RNA from the wastewater treatment plant to the coast |
| title_fullStr | Predicting the dispersal of SARS-CoV-2 RNA from the wastewater treatment plant to the coast |
| title_full_unstemmed | Predicting the dispersal of SARS-CoV-2 RNA from the wastewater treatment plant to the coast |
| title_short | Predicting the dispersal of SARS-CoV-2 RNA from the wastewater treatment plant to the coast |
| title_sort | predicting the dispersal of sars cov 2 rna from the wastewater treatment plant to the coast |
| topic | Public health risk Sewage discharge Viral surveillance Water pollution Wastewater-based epidemiology |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844022018357 |
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