Summary: Researchers have called for more research to determine the best ways to keep SARS-CoV-19 out of the water cycle. They also suggest that developed nations should finance water treatment systems in the developing world to help prevent future COVID-19 pandemics. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Two researchers, Haizhou Liu, an associate professor of chemical and \nenvironmental engineering at the University of California, Riverside; \nand Professor Vincenzo Naddeo, director of the Sanitary Environmental \nEngineering Division at the University of Salerno, have called for more \ntesting to determine whether water treatment methods are effective in \nkilling SARS-CoV-19 and coronaviruses in general.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The virus can be transported in microscopic water droplets, or \naerosols, which enter the air through evaporation or spray, the \nresearchers wrote in an editorial for Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology<\/em>, a leading environmental journal of the Royal Society of Chemistry in the United Kingdom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic highlights the urgent need for a \ncareful evaluation of the fate and control of this contagious virus in \nthe environment,” Liu said. “Environmental engineers like us are well \npositioned to apply our expertise to address these needs with \ninternational collaborations to protect public health.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n During a 2003 SARS outbreak in Hong Kong, a sewage leak caused a \ncluster of cases through aerosolization. Though no known cases of \nCOVID-19 have been caused by sewage leaks, the novel coronavirus is \nclosely related to the one that causes SARS, and infection via this \nroute could be possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The novel coronavirus could also colonize biofilms that line drinking\n water systems, making showerheads a possible source of aerosolized \ntransmission. This transmission pathway is thought to be a major source \nof exposure to the bacteria that causes Legionnaire’s disease, for \nexample.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fortunately, most water treatment routines are thought to kill or \nremove coronaviruses effectively in both drinking and wastewater. \nOxidation with hypochlorous acid or peracetic acid, and inactivation by \nultraviolet irradiation, as well as chlorine, are thought to kill \ncoronaviruses. In wastewater treatment plants that use membrane \nbioreactors, the synergistic effects of beneficial microorganisms and \nthe physical separation of suspended solids filter out viruses \nconcentrated in the sewage sludge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Liu and Naddeo caution, however, that most of these methods have not \nbeen studied for effectiveness specifically on SARS-CoV-19 and other \ncoronaviruses, and they have called for additional research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They also suggest upgrading existing water and wastewater treatment \ninfrastructure in outbreak hot spots, which possibly receive coronavirus\n from places such as hospitals, community clinics, and nursing homes. \nFor example, energy-efficient, light-emitting, diode-based, ultraviolet \npoint-of-use systems could disinfect water before it enters the public \ntreatment system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Potable water-reuse systems, which purify wastewater back into tap \nwater, also need thorough investigation for coronavirus removal, and \npossibly new regulatory standards for disinfection, the researchers \nwrote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The extent to which viruses can colonize biofilms is also not yet \nknown. Biofilms are thin, slimy bacterial growths that line the pipes of\n many aging drinking water systems. Better monitoring of coronaviruses \nin biofilms might be necessary to prevent outbreaks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The surge in household use of bactericides, virucides and \ndisinfectants will probably cause an increase of antibiotic-resistant \nbacteria in the environment. Treated wastewater discharged into natural \nwaterways demands careful monitoring through the entire water cycle. Liu\n and Naddeo call on chemists, environmental engineers, microbiologists, \nand public health specialists to develop multidisciplinary and practical\n solutions for safe drinking water and healthy aquatic environments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lastly, developing countries and some regions within highly developed\n nations, such as rural and impoverished communities, which lack the \nbasic infrastructure to remove other common contaminants might not be \nable to remove SARS-CoV-19 either. These places might experience \nfrequent COVID-19 outbreaks that spread easily through globalized trade \nand travel. Liu and Naddeo suggest governments of developed countries \nmust support and finance water and sanitation systems wherever they are \nneeded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “It is now clear to all that globalization also introduces new health\n risks. Where water and sanitation systems are not adequate, the risk of\n finding novel viruses is very high,” Naddeo said. “In a responsible and\n ideal scenario, the governments of developed countries must support and\n finance water and sanitation systems in developing countries, in order \nto also protect the citizens of their own countries.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n Story Source:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Materials<\/a> provided by University of California – Riverside<\/strong><\/a>. Original written by Holly Ober. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Date: April 3, 2020 Source 1: University of California – Riverside Source 2: www.sciencedaily.com Summary: Researchers have called for more research to determine the best ways to keep SARS-CoV-19 out of the water cycle. They also suggest that developed nations should finance water treatment systems in the developing world to help prevent future COVID-19 pandemics. 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Scientists know that coronaviruses, including the SARS-CoV-19 virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, can remain infectious for days — or even longer — in sewage and drinking water. <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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