Tracing surface and airborne SARS-CoV-2 RNA inside public buses and subway trains

Moreno, Teresa; Pintó, Rosa M.; Bosch, Albert; Moreno, Natàlia; Alastuey, Andrés; Minguillón, María Cruz; Anfruns-Estrada, Eduard; Guix, Susana; Fuentes, Cristina; Buonanno, Giorgio; Stabile, Luca; Morawska, Lidia; Querol, Xavier

doi:10.1016/j.envint.2020.106326

Cited by 140 publications

(150 citation statements)

References 49 publications

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“…It is clear that in general the proportion of positive samples in a setting was similar for both air and surfaces. There are five outlier studies: four where positive samples were detected on surfaces but not in the air 7,15,11 16 17 and one study where a relatively high proportion of the air samples were positive but the surface samples were below the limit of detection (LoD) 18 ; note this study collected less than 10 samples.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…All but three of the studies were carried out in hospitals, mostly in intensive care settings or isolation wards with Covid-19 patients (75% of the healthcare studies). The three non-healthcare papers describe measurements made on public transportation (buses in Northern Italy 6 and buses and subway trains in Spain 7 ) and various workplaces in Greece (a ferryboat and a nursing home – this paper also included data for three COVID-19 isolation hospital wards and a long-term care facility where 30 asymptomatic COVID-19 cases were located 8 ). Most of the studies (77%) aimed to describe the contamination present in the setting investigated and the remainder aimed to investigate the extent of contamination in relation to patient viral load or some other patient-related factors.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Twenty-nine papers contained data from surface sampling: 12 followed the general approach set out by the WHO and 13 used an alternative pre-moistened swab but with, for example, water, saline or phosphate buffer solution in place of VTM. The remaining studies either used dry swabs that were then transported in VTM 11 12,7 or did not clearly specify the sampling approach used 13 .…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Only two studies reported viral loading on surfaces in terms of RNA copies per unit area swabbed 20,7 ; where copies were reported otherwise they were expressed per sample collected. Ma and colleagues 20 collected 242 surface swabs in two hospitals in Beijing and found 4% were positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Contamination of air and surfaces in workplaces with SARS-CoV-2 virus: a systematic review

Cherrie

Davis

et al. 2021

Preprint

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ObjectivesThis systematic review aimed to evaluate the evidence for air and surface contamination of workplace environments with SARS-CoV-2 RNA and the quality of the methods used to identify actions necessary to improve the quality of the data.MethodsWe searched Web of Science and Google Scholar until 24th December 2020 for relevant articles and extracted data on methodology and results.ResultsThe vast majority of data come from healthcare settings, with typically around 6 % of samples having detectable concentrations of SARS-CoV-2 RNA and almost none of the samples collected had viable virus. There were a wide variety of methods used to measure airborne virus, although surface sampling was generally undertaken using nylon flocked swabs. Overall, the quality of the measurements was poor. Only a small number of studies reported the airborne concentration of SARS-CoV-2 virus RNA, mostly just reporting the detectable concentration values without reference to the detection limit. Imputing the geometric mean air concentration assuming the limit of detection was the lowest reported value, suggests typical concentrations in health care settings may be around 0.01 SARS-CoV-2 virus RNA copies/m3. Data on surface virus loading per unit area were mostly unavailable.ConclusionThe reliability of the reported data is uncertain. The methods used for measuring SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses in work environments should be standardised to facilitate more consistent interpretation of contamination and to help reliably estimate worker exposure.Key messagesWhat is already known about this subject?Low level contamination of air and surfaces in hospitals with SARS-CoV-2 RNA have been reported during the Covid-19 pandemic.Limited data have published from non-healthcare settings.What are the new findings?Typically, around 6% of air and surface samples in hospitals were positive for SARS-COV-2 RNA, although there is very limited data for non-healthcare settings.The quality of the available measurement studies is generally poor, with little consistency in the sampling and analytical methods used.Few studies report the concentration of SARS-CoV-2 in air or as surface loading of virus RNA, and very few studies have reported culture of the virus.The best estimate of typical air concentrations in health care settings is around 0.01 SARS-CoV-2 virus RNA copies/m3How might this impact on policy or clinical practice in the foreseeable future?There should be concerted efforts to standardise the methods used for measuring SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses in work environments.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 96%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Contamination of air and surfaces in workplaces with SARS-CoV-2 virus: a systematic review

Cherrie

Davis

et al. 2021

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The presence of SARS-CoV-2 in aerosols was also monitored in the hospital environment, which accounted for 285–1130 RNA copies/m 3 ( Zhang et al, 2020 ). The viruses have also been detected in the samples collected on the surface and in the air of buses and subway trains ( Moreno et al, 2020 ), and on the surface of an ICU ventilator ( Ong et al, 2020 ).…”

Section: Influence Of Human-exhaled Aerosol On the Transmission Of Comentioning

confidence: 99%

Multiple relationships between aerosol and COVID-19: A framework for global studies

et al. 2021

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COVID-19 (Corona Virus Disease 2019) is a severe respiratory syndrome currently causing a human global pandemic. The original virus, along with newer variants, is highly transmissible. Aerosol is a multiphase system consisting of the atmosphere with suspended solid and liquid particles, which can carry toxic and harmful substances; especially the liquid components. The degree to which aerosol can carry the virus and cause COVID-19 disease is of significant research importance. In this study, we have discussed the aerosol transmission as the pathway of SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2), and the aerosol pollution reduction as a consequence of the COVID-19 lockdown. The aerosol transmission routes of the SARS-CoV-2 can be further subdivided into proximal human-exhaled aerosol transmission and potentially more distal ambient aerosol transmission. The human-exhaled aerosol transmission is a direct dispersion of the SARS-CoV-2. The ambient aerosol transmission is an indirect dispersion of the SARS-CoV-2 in which the aerosol act as a carrier to spread the virus. This indirect dispersion can also stimulate the up-regulation of the expression of SARS-CoV-2 receptor ACE-2 (Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2) and protease TMPRSS2 (Transmembrane Serine Protease 2), thereby increasing the incidence and mortality of COVID-19. From the aerosol quality data around the world, it can be seen that often atmospheric pollution has significantly decreased due to factors such as the reduction of traffic, industry, cooking and coal-burning emissions during the COVID-19 lockdown. The airborne transmission potential of SARS-CoV-2, the infectivity of the virus in ambient aerosols, and the reduction of aerosol pollution levels due to the lockdowns are crucial research subjects.

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Stability and transmissibility of SARS‐CoV‐2 in the environment

Geng

Wang

2022

Journal of Medical Virology

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Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2), the virus causing the ongoing global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic, is believed to be transmitted primarily through respiratory droplets and aerosols. However, reports are increasing regarding the contamination of environmental surfaces, shared objects, and cold‐chain foods with SARS‐CoV‐2 RNA and the possibility of environmental fomite transmission of the virus raises much concern and debate. This study summarizes the current knowledge regarding potential mechanisms of environmental transmission of SARS‐CoV‐2, including the prevalence of surface contamination in various settings, the viability and stability of the virus on surfaces or fomites, as well as environmental factors affecting virus viability and survival such as temperature and relative humidity. Instances of fomite transmission, including cold‐chain food transmission, and the importance of fomite transmission in epidemics, are discussed. The knowledge gaps regarding fomite transmission of SARS‐CoV‐2 are also briefly analyzed.

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Tracing surface and airborne SARS-CoV-2 RNA inside public buses and subway trains

Cited by 140 publications

References 49 publications

Contamination of air and surfaces in workplaces with SARS-CoV-2 virus: a systematic review

Contamination of air and surfaces in workplaces with SARS-CoV-2 virus: a systematic review

Multiple relationships between aerosol and COVID-19: A framework for global studies

Stability and transmissibility of SARS‐CoV‐2 in the environment

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