Existence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA on ambient particulate matter samples: A nationwide study in Turkey

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus and has been affecting the world since the end of 2019. The disease led to significant mortality and morbidity in Turkey, since the first case was reported on March 11 th , 2020. Studies suggest a positive association between air pollution and SARS-CoV-2 infection. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of ambient particulate matters (PM), as potential carriers for SARS-CoV-2. Ambient PM samples in various size ranges were collected from 13 sites including urban and urban-background locations and hospital gardens in 10 cities across Turkey between 13th of May and 14th of June 2020 to investigate the possible presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA on ambient PM. A total of 203 daily samples (TSP, n=80; PM 2.5 n=33; PM 2.5-10 , n=23; PM 10 μm, n=19; and 6 size segregated PM, n=48) were collected using various samplers. The N1 gene and RdRP gene expressions were analyzed for the presence of SARS-CoV-2, as suggested by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). According to real time (RT)-PCR and three-dimensional digital (3D-d) PCR analysis, dual RdRP and N1 gene positivity were detected in 20 (9.8 %) samples. Ambient PM-bound SARS-CoV-2 was analyzed quantitatively and the air concentrations of the virus ranged from 0.1 copies/m 3 to 23 copies/m 3 . The highest percentages of virus detection on PM samples were from hospital gardens in Tekirdağ, Zonguldak, and Istanbul, especially in PM 2.5 mode. Findings of this study have suggested that SARS-CoV-2 may be transported by ambient particles, especially at sites close to the infection hot-spots. However, whether this has an impact on the spread of the virus infection remains to be determined.

Positive association between outdoor air pollution and the incidence and severity of COVID-19. A review of the recent scientific evidences

“…Air pollution could also mean a possible dangerous synergy with COVID-19 for semen quality and male fertility ( Montano et al, 2021a , b ). Positive results on the influence of PM on SARS-CoV-2 transmission have been reported by Setti et al (2020a , b) and Tung et al (2021) for PM 2.5 and PM 10 , and by Kayalar et al (2021) and Nor et al (2021) for PM 2.5 . Nevertheless, there is no specific reports on the potential influence of NO 2 , SO 2 and CO, while for O 3 only To et al (2021) have found a positive result.…”

“…Statistically significant nationwide associations were found between these air pollutants in 279 Israeli cities and towns, and COVID-19 morbidity rates. In Turkey, Kayalar et al (2021) recently reported the results of a study aimed at investigating the role of ambient PM as potential carriers for SARS-CoV-2. PM samples -within various size-ranges- were collected from 13 locations within 10 cities in western Turkey between May 13, 2020 and June 14, 2020.…”

“SARS-CoV-2 is transmitted by particulate air pollution”: Misinterpretations of statistical data, skewed citation practices, and misuse of specific terminology spreading the misconception

“…However, in a recent study, Kayalar et al (May 2021), inspired by the study of Setti et al (2020a) , collected 203 ambient PM samples from 13 sites across Turkey between May 13th and June 14th, 2020, and found that dual RdRP and N1 gene positivity were detected in 20 (9.8%) samples. Based on these results Kayalar et al (2021) concluded: “We demonstrated that SARS-CoV-2 RNA can be present on ambient PM suggesting that the virus may be transported via PM pollution … It is likely that the liquid-like organic layer and surface of particles can provide a medium for the interaction between virus-containing particles and PM, and that the virus may also be transferred from a respiratory droplet to PM.” The methodological part of this work is similar to the study by Setti et al (2020a) ; thus, the authors had no grounds for reaching such premature conclusions.…”

“…One of the main goals of the Commission's research concerns the preliminary evidence of PM as a “carrier” for the viral droplet nuclei (all data and references to the Commission have been deleted and are not available in the Web). As a result, the debate widened, and a cascade of works emerged to address the question of virus transmission by PM ( Barakat et al, 2020 ; Borak, 2020 ; Bontempi, 2020a , b ; Bontempi et al, 2020 ; Comunian et al, 2020 ; Domingo and Rovira, 2020 ; Milton, 2020 ; Sanità di Toppi et al, 2020 ; Tang et al, 2020 ; The Guardian, 2020 ; Coccia, 2020a , b ; Wang et al, 2020a ; Anand et al, 2021a ; Al Huraimel et al, 2021; Belosi et al, 2021 ; Chirumbolo, 2021 ; Kayalar et al, 2021 ; Kumar et al, 2021 ; Maleki et al, 2021 ; Martelletti and Martelletti, 2020 ; Mehmood et al, 2021 ; Mukherjee et al, 2021 ; Nor et al, 2021 ; Pivato et al, 2021 ; Shao et al, 2021 ; Tung et al, 2021 ).…”

“…Furthermore, increasing numbers of people, including scientists, are becoming involved in an animated debate about how SARS-CoV-2 is transmitted in the open air via particle pollution (atmospheric PM). The number of studies concerning particle pollution (or atmospheric PM (PM10 or PM2.5)) as a carrier of SARS-CoV-2 is growing rapidly ( Setti et al, 2020a -e; Coccia, 2020a , b ; Anand et al, 2021a ; Al Huraimel et al, 2021; Barakat et al, 2020 ; Belosi et al, 2021 ; Bontempi, 2020a , b ; Bontempi et al, 2020 ; Borak, 2020 ; Comunian et al, 2020 ; Domingo and Rovira, 2020 ; Kayalar et al, 2021 ; Milton, 2020 ; Sanità di Toppi et al, 2020 ; Tang et al, 2020 ; The Guardian, 2020 ; Wang et al, 2020a ; Chirumbolo, 2021 ; Kumar et al, 2021 ; Maleki et al, 2021 ; Martelletti and Martelletti, 2020 ; Mehmood et al, 2021 ; Mukherjee et al, 2021 ; Nor et al, 2021 ; Pivato et al, 2021 ; Shao et al, 2021 ; Tung et al, 2021 ).…”