Challenges to detect SARS-CoV-2 on environmental media, the need and strategies to implement the detection methodologies in wastewaters

Abstract

Understanding risks, putting in place preventative methods to seamlessly continue daily activities are essential tools to fight a pandemic. All social, commercial and leisure human activities have an impact on the environmental media. Therefore, to accurately predict the fate and behavior of viruses in the environment, it is necessary to well understand and analyze available detection methods, possible transmission pathways and preventative techniques. The aim of this review is to critically analyze and summarize the research done regarding SARS-COV-2 virus detection, focusing on sampling and laboratory detection methods in environmental media. A special attention will be given to wastewater and sewage sludge. This review has summarized the survival of the virus on surfaces to estimate the risk carried by different environmental media (water, wastewater, air and soil) in order to explain which communities are under higher risk. The critical analysis concludes that the detection of SARS-CoV-2 with current technologies and sampling strategies would reveal the presence of the virus. This information could be used to design systematic sampling points throughout the sewage systems when available, taking into account peak flows and more importantly economic factors on when to sample. Such approaches will be able to provide clues for potential future viral outbreak, saving financial resources by reducing testing necessities for viral detection, hence contributing for more appropriate confinement policies by governments and could be further used to define more precisely post-pandemic or second wave measures if/ when needed.

Epidemiological profiling of SARS-CoV-2 with focus on one-health approaches in mitigating COVID-19 pandemic

“…To mitigate the negative repercussions of any possible disease outbreak, it is critical to understand environmental variables which play vital roles in the spread of the disease. Innovative technology developments alongside current technologies, as well as forecasting hazards due to environmental interaction, can be employed to reduce the delirious consequences of environmental factors (Sanchez-Galan et al 2021, Benkeblia et al 2021. Moreover, government policies such as strict social distancing, import and export of goods can be adjusted in response to environmental conditions, which can aid in the preparation for post-pandemic concerns (Hawryluck et al 2004, Nez-Delgado A.…”