It is not clear if COVID-19 can be indirectly transmitted. It is not possible to conclude the role of the environment in transmission of SARS-CoV-2 without studying areas in which people transit in great numbers. In this work we aimed to better understand the role of environment in the spread of COVID-19. We investigated the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in fomites as well as in the air and in the sewage using RT-qPCR. We studied both, a reference market area and a COVID-19 reference hospital at Barreiras city, Brazil. We collected and analyzed a total of 418 samples from mask fronts, cell phones, paper money, card machines, sewage, air and bedding during the ascendant phase of the epidemiological curve of COVID-19 in Barreiras. As a result, we detected the human RNAse P gene in most of samples, which indicates the presence of human cells or their fragments in specimens. However, we did not detect any trace of SARS-CoV-2 in all samples analyzed. We conclude that, so far, the environment and inanimate materials did not have an important role in COVID-19 transmission in Barreiras city. Therefore, similar results can probably be found in other cities, mainly those with COVID-19 epidemiological scenarios similar to that of Barreiras city. Our study is a small piece indicating the possibility that fomites and the environment do not have an important role in COVID-19 transmission. However, further studies are necessary to better understand the world scenario.
It is not clear if COVID-19 can be indirectly transmitted. It is not possible to conclude the role of environment in transmission of SARS-CoV-2 without studying areas in which people transit in great amounts, such as market areas. In this work we aimed to better understand the role of environment in the spread of COVID-19. We investigated the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in inanimate objects as well as in the air and in the sewage using RT-qPCR. We studied both, a reference market area and a COVID-19 reference hospital at Barreiras city, Brazil. We collected and analyzed a total of 268 samples from mask fronts, cell phones, paper moneys, card machines, sewage, air and bedding during the ascendant phase of the epidemiological curve of COVID-19 in Barreiras. As a result, we detected the human RNAse P gene in most of samples, which indicates the presence of human cells in specimens. However, we did not detect any trace of SARS-CoV-2 in all samples analyzed. To rule out the possibility of problems in sampling method we tested detection of SARS-CoV-2 by RT-qPCR in laboratory conditions to reproduce environmental temperature and humidity. As a result, we showed detection of the virus in different conditions. We conclude that our sampling method reliable and that, strikingly, the environment and inanimate materials do not have an important role in COVID-19 transmission.
Ion chromatography (IC) is one of the most used analytical methods for the determination of inorganic cations and anions, as well as organic ions. It is considered a method of separation with simple steps, low cost and with good efficiency in chromatographic separation. In addition, it has good validation metrics such as sensitivity, selectivity, precision, robustness, low detection limit and quantification. IC easily replaces conventional wet chemistry methods, which tend to have more analysis steps. The easy extraction of samples, in most cases, does not require organic solvents, facilitating the disposal of waste. Since its creation, IC has accumulated advantages and good acceptance in the food, pharmaceutical, environmental monitoring industries, in addition to increasing implementation in academic research laboratories.
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