The presence of SARS-CoV-2 in raw wastewaters has been demonstrated in many countries affected by this pandemic. Nevertheless, virus presence and infectivity in treated wastewaters, but also in the receiving water bodies are still poorly investigated. In this study, raw and treated samples from three wastewater treatment plants, and three river samples within the Milano Metropolitan Area, Italy, were surveyed for SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection by means of real time RT-PCR and infectivity test on culture cells. SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in raw, but not in treated wastewaters (four and two samples, respectively, sampled in two dates). The isolated virus genome was sequenced, and belonged to the strain most spread in Europe and similar to another found in the same region. RNA presence in raw wastewater samples decreased after eight days, probably following the epidemiological trend estimated for the area. Virus infectivity was always null, indicating the natural decay of viral pathogenicity in time from emission. Samples from receiving rivers (three sites, sampled in the same dates as wastewaters) showed in some cases a positivity to real time RT-PCR, probably due to non-treated, or inefficiently treated discharges, or to the combined sewage overflows. Nevertheless, also for rivers infectivity was null. Risks for public health should be limited, although a precautionary approach to risk assessment is here advocated, giving the preliminary nature of the presented data.

Presence and infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 virus in wastewaters and rivers / S.G. Rimoldi, F. Stefani, A. Gigantiello, S. Polesello, F. Comandatore, D. Mileto, M. Maresca, C. Longobardi, A. Mancon, F. Romeri, C. Pagani, F. Cappelli, C. Roscioli, L. Moja, M.R. Gismondo, F. Salerno. - In: SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT. - ISSN 0048-9697. - 744(2020 Nov 20). [10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140911]

Presence and infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 virus in wastewaters and rivers

S.G. Rimoldi
Primo
;
A. Gigantiello;F. Comandatore;D. Mileto;M. Maresca;A. Mancon;F. Romeri;C. Pagani;L. Moja;M.R. Gismondo
Penultimo
;
2020

Abstract

The presence of SARS-CoV-2 in raw wastewaters has been demonstrated in many countries affected by this pandemic. Nevertheless, virus presence and infectivity in treated wastewaters, but also in the receiving water bodies are still poorly investigated. In this study, raw and treated samples from three wastewater treatment plants, and three river samples within the Milano Metropolitan Area, Italy, were surveyed for SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection by means of real time RT-PCR and infectivity test on culture cells. SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in raw, but not in treated wastewaters (four and two samples, respectively, sampled in two dates). The isolated virus genome was sequenced, and belonged to the strain most spread in Europe and similar to another found in the same region. RNA presence in raw wastewater samples decreased after eight days, probably following the epidemiological trend estimated for the area. Virus infectivity was always null, indicating the natural decay of viral pathogenicity in time from emission. Samples from receiving rivers (three sites, sampled in the same dates as wastewaters) showed in some cases a positivity to real time RT-PCR, probably due to non-treated, or inefficiently treated discharges, or to the combined sewage overflows. Nevertheless, also for rivers infectivity was null. Risks for public health should be limited, although a precautionary approach to risk assessment is here advocated, giving the preliminary nature of the presented data.
Genome; Infectivity; Milano; SARS-CoV-2; Wastewater; Betacoronavirus; Europe; Humans; Italy; Coronavirus Infections; Pandemics; Pneumonia, Viral; Rivers; Waste Water
Settore MED/07 - Microbiologia e Microbiologia Clinica
20-nov-2020
10-lug-2020
Article (author)
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
main.pdf

accesso riservato

Tipologia: Publisher's version/PDF
Dimensione 2.26 MB
Formato Adobe PDF
2.26 MB Adobe PDF   Visualizza/Apri   Richiedi una copia
Pubblicazioni consigliate

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2434/783886
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? 262
  • Scopus 324
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 285
social impact