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Risk Assessment of Airborne Coronavirus-2 in Wastewater Treatment Plant: Comparing Two Different Wastewater Aeration Systems Publisher



Abdolahnejad A1 ; Zoroufchi Benis K2 ; Mohammadi F3 ; Gholami M4, 5 ; Raeghi S6 ; Rostami R7 ; Ranjbar D8 ; Behnami A1, 5
Authors
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Authors Affiliations
  1. 1. Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Maragheh University of Medical Sciences, Maragheh, Iran
  2. 2. Department of Process Engineering and Applied Science, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
  3. 3. Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
  4. 4. Research Center for Environmental Health Technology, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  5. 5. Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Shahid Hemmat Highway, Tehran, 1449614535, Iran
  6. 6. Department of Laboratory Sciences, Maragheh University of Medical Sciences, Maragheh, Iran
  7. 7. Maragheh University of Medical Sciences, Maragheh, Iran
  8. 8. Maragheh Water and Wastewater Company, Maragheh, Iran

Source: International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology Published:2024


Abstract

Numerous global studies have explored the fate of Coronavirus-2 within wastewater treatment plants. While research has confirmed virus transmission through aerosols generated in these facilities, the effect of different aeration methods on the potential transmission of this virus and other pathogens remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to examine the occurrence of Coronavirus-2 in air samples collected from two wastewater treatment plants employing diffused and surface aeration. Totally, 48 air samples (passive/active) were collected from 1.5, 10, and 50 m distances from both sequencing batch reactor and conventional activated sludge systems. Subsequently, a quantitative microbial risk assessment model was applied to evaluate the risk of Coronavirus-2 infection for staff. Results showed that all samples from the conventional activated sludge, and only 5% of samples from the sequencing batch reactor, were positive for Coronavirus-2 when tested at a 1.5-m distance from the aeration tanks. Quantification results revealed that the concentration of Coronavirus-2 in positive air samples from the CAS system, targeting the RdRp and N genes, varied from 15 to 239 and 15 to 119 genomic copies per liter, respectively. Quantitative microbial risk assessment revealed an annual infection risk of 3.6 × 10–1 (95% CI 1.8 × 10–7–1)/person/year for staff, which was 2–4 times higher than the suggested values by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (10–4/person/year). According to the results of this study, the diffused aeration system can be considered as a safer option due to the very low spread of pathogens. © The Author(s) under exclusive licence to Iranian Society of Environmentalists (IRSEN) and Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University 2024.
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