# ent

id: cord-286230-0si3pv3e
type: WORK_OF_ART
entity:
  Indoor Ultrafine Particles of Outdoor Origin Importance of Window Opening Area and Fan Operation Condition


id: cord-292045-pnid9dmq
type: ORG
entity:
  SARS CoV 2 Potential Emergence of Antiviral Resistant Pandemic Viruses via Environmental Drug Exposure of Animal Reservoirs Frontier


id: cord-269423-p73bszlq
type: WORK_OF_ART
entity:
  First Reprocessing of Southern Hemisphere ADditional OZonesondes Profile Records 3 Uncertainty in Ozone Profile and Total Column Observations of the vertical distributions


id: cord-269704-ax306loy
type: ORG
entity:
  Health Program Heat Response Plans Summary of Evidence and Strategies for Collaboration and Implementation Climate


id: cord-296661-6ndn2qxc
type: WORK_OF_ART
entity:
  Environmental Surveillance of Norovirus Genogroups I and II for Sensitive Detection of Epidemic Variants


id: cord-296661-6ndn2qxc
type: ORG
entity:
  Survivability Partitioning and Recovery of Enveloped Viruses in Untreated Municipal Wastewater Adsorption


id: cord-265715-u8rc48f4
type: ORG
entity:
  Hydroponically Grown Romaine Lettuce Health Risks of Limited Contact Water Recreation Gastrointestinal Tract Disorders


id: cord-263550-wjdmzmdg
type: ORG
entity:
  Forecastabililty 3 15 2020 Temperature and Latitude Analysis to Predict Potential Spread and Seasonality for COVID 19


id: cord-317042-dll3qt4g
type: DISEASE
entity:
  contamination in personal protective Journal Pre proof J o u r n a l P r e p r o o f equipment In this study the protective mask goggles and outer gloves of operator A


id: cord-312619-7jpf81yz
type: WORK_OF_ART
entity:
  Guidelines for Handling Treatment and Disposal of Waste Generated during Treatment Diagnosis Quarantine of COVID 19 Patients Guidelines for Handling Treatment and Disposal of Waste


id: cord-312619-7jpf81yz
type: ORG
entity:
  Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Establishment of STERILWAVE Apparatus for Treatment of Medical Waste


id: cord-305262-23qylbmg
type: WORK_OF_ART
entity:
  Final Report for the Bioquell Hydrogen Peroxide Vapor HPV Decontamination for Reuse of N95 Respirators


id: cord-305262-23qylbmg
type: WORK_OF_ART
entity:
  Calcivurus Evaluation of Multiple 3 Cycle Decontamination Processing for Filtering Facepiece Respirators Impact of Three Cycles of Decontamination Treatments on Filtering Facepiece Respirator Fit Development


id: cord-304490-q9ab1pji
type: ORG
entity:
  China s Global Interdependence International Reserves Capital Inflows Financial Market Transmission and Exchange Rate Determination


id: cord-318856-f0m3wuyj
type: WORK_OF_ART
entity:
  Humidity and Latitude Analysis to Predict Potential Spread and Seasonality for COVID Absolute Humidity and Pandemic


id: cord-304571-1riprk86
type: ORG
entity:
  Adoption Guidelines for Stormwater Biofiltration Systems Cooperative Research Centre for Water Sensitive Cities Indicator


id: cord-304571-1riprk86
type: CHEMICAL
entity:
  polychlorinated biphenyls polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons halogenated aliphatics halogenated ethers monocyclic aromatics phenols


id: cord-293139-uj1m3t79
type: LAW
entity:
  Action Plan on Prevention and Control of Air Pollution Zhang et al 2016 Joint Prevention and Control of Atmospheric Pollution Coal to Electricity and Coal to Gas


id: cord-327628-fl8dyahe
type: GGP
entity:
  NO x SO 2 CO and During the COVID Lock period the average PM 2 5 10 mass concentrations at the urban site urban industry site


id: cord-325479-2r4oomdp
type: DNA
entity:
  murine norovirus Bacteriophage MS2 NBRC 102619 National Institute of Technology and Evaluation NITE Tokyo Japan


id: cord-325479-2r4oomdp
type: WORK_OF_ART
entity:
  Tap Water and Surface Water by Cross Flow Ultrafiltration Development of Genetic Diagnostic Methods for Novel Coronavirus 2019 nCoV 2019


id: cord-325479-2r4oomdp
type: ORG
entity:
  Clinically Confirmed Cases Survivability Partitioning and Recovery of Enveloped Viruses in Untreated Municipal Wastewater Shotaro Torii Investigation Resources Funding Acquisition Writing


id: cord-333547-88dkh6xd
type: WORK_OF_ART
entity:
  Heat Inactivation of Different Types of SARS CoV 2 Samples What Protocols for Biosafety Molecular Detection and Serological Diagnostics Evaluation


id: cord-333547-88dkh6xd
type: ORG
entity:
  Japan Survivability Partitioning and Recovery of Enveloped Viruses in Untreated Municipal Wastewater


id: cord-347354-1bh6ncls
type: DATE
entity:
  the most recent decades 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019


id: cord-350714-zfprrxt4
type: GGP
entity:
  Meta χ 2 13 53 p 0 0090 with PM 10 in cities outside Hubei blue points r 0 48 p 0 019 and those inside Hubei


id: cord-354254-89vjfkfd
type: GGP
entity:
  sources 1 1 1 1 12 12 12 Reynolds transportation law calculates the source quantity in control volume at time t which


# bib

id: cord-254638-f86irz06
author: Sunday, Michael Oluwatoyin
date: 2020-07-23
txt: ./txt/cord-254638-f86irz06.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-254638-f86irz06.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://api.elsevier.com/content/article/pii/S004896972034715X
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141186
summary:
  title: A simple, inexpensive method for gas-phase singlet oxygen generation from sensitizer-impregnated filters: Potential application to bacteria/virus inactivation and pollutant degradation In this study, we found that commercially available filters typically deployed in air purifier and air conditioning units, impregnated with Rose Bengal (RB) as a 1O2 sensitizer, can be used for heterogeneous gas-phase generation of 1O2. The heterogeneous gas-phase generation of 1O2 can find potential applications in air purifier and air conditioning units for the purpose of bacteria/virus inactivation and/or pollutant degradation thereby improving indoor air quality. Although 1 O 2 was not generated in solution in this experiment, but in the gas-phase from the irradiation of RB-treated filter, the determined photoformation rate (calculated in solution) is indicative of the amount of 1 O 2 arriving in the substrate solution. The 1 O 2 in the oxygen gas stream passing through the filter and arriving in the substrate solution was monitored indirectly by following the peaks of FFA degradation and 6-HP-one formation.

title:
  A simple, inexpensive method for gas-phase singlet oxygen generation from sensitizer-impregnated filters: Potential application to bacteria/virus inactivation and pollutant degradation

abstract:
  Abstract Airborne infectious diseases such as the new Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pose serious threat to human health. Indoor air pollution is a problem of global environmental concern as well. Singlet oxygen (1O2) is a reactive oxygen species that plays important role in bacteria/virus inactivation and pollutant degradation. In this study, we found that commercially available filters typically deployed in air purifier and air conditioning units, impregnated with Rose Bengal (RB) as a 1O2 sensitizer, can be used for heterogeneous gas-phase generation of 1O2. It was confirmed that irradiation of the RB filter under oxygen gas stream produced 1O2, which was measured using furfuryl alcohol trapping method followed by HPLC analysis. It was also observed that the amount of 1O2 generated increases as the light intensity increased. Similarly, the sensitizer loading also positively influenced the 1O2 generation. The heterogeneous gas-phase generation of 1O2 can find potential applications in air purifier and air conditioning units for the purpose of bacteria/virus inactivation and/or pollutant degradation thereby improving indoor air quality.


id: cord-256112-zg63v8hh
author: Rowan, Neil J.
date: 2020-07-10
url: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969720320453
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138532
title:
  Challenges and solutions for addressing critical shortage of supply chain for personal and protective equipment (PPE) arising from Coronavirus disease (COVID19) pandemic – Case study from the Republic of Ireland

abstract:
  Coronavirus (COVID-19) is highly infectious agent that causes fatal respiratory illnesses, which is of great global public health concern. Currently, there is no effective vaccine for tackling this COVID19 pandemic where disease countermeasures rely upon preventing or slowing person-to-person transmission. Specifically, there is increasing efforts to prevent or reduce transmission to front-line healthcare workers (HCW). However, there is growing international concern regarding the shortage in supply chain of critical one-time-use personal and protective equipment (PPE). PPE are heat sensitive and are not, by their manufacturer's design, intended for reprocessing. Most conventional sterilization technologies used in hospitals, or in terminal medical device sterilization providers, cannot effectively reprocess PPE due to the nature and severity of sterilization modalities. Contingency planning for PPE stock shortage is important. Solutions in the Republic of Ireland include use of smart communication channels to improve supply chain, bespoke production of PPE to meets gaps, along with least preferred option, use of sterilization or high-level disinfection for PPE reprocessing. Reprocessing PPE must consider material composition, functionality post treatment, along with appropriate disinfection. Following original manufacturer of PPE and regulatory guidance is important. Technologies deployed in the US, and for deployment in the Republic of Ireland, are eco-friendly, namely vaporised hydrogen peroxide (VH2O2), such as for filtering facepiece respirators and UV irradiation and High-level liquid disinfection (Actichlor+) is also been pursed in Ireland. Safeguarding supply chain of PPE will sustain vital healthcare provision and will help reduce mortality.


id: cord-258595-bk35vxlr
author: Westhaus, Sandra
date: 2020-08-18
txt: ./txt/cord-258595-bk35vxlr.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-258595-bk35vxlr.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://api.elsevier.com/content/article/pii/S0048969720352797
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141750
summary:
  Inoculation of differentiated Caco-2 cells for ten days with purified and concentrated wastewater (P2, P5, P11, and P12) did not result in the production of infectious SARS-CoV-2 particles (data not shown), which suggests that treated sewage appears to be non-infectious even though viral RNA fragments can be detected. Inter-comparing these nine catchment areas, we plotted the estimated cumulative and the acute prevalence against the measured SARS-CoV-2 load (Figure 8 ), the latter calculated from RT-qPCR measured M-gene copy concentration ( Figure 4 ) and the actual wastewater flow Q actual on the day of sampling (Table 2) . In contrast, plotting the incidence against SARS-CoV-2 concentration did not yield a conclusive correlation (not shown), likely because the precision of the qPCR employed was not sufficient to discriminate relatively minor differences in the incidence prevailing in the studied catchment areas at the time of sampling, ranging from 30 to 174 cases per 100,000 residents (less than an order of magnitude, Figure 8C and D).

title:
  Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in raw and treated wastewater in Germany – Suitability for COVID-19 surveillance and potential transmission risks

abstract:
  Abstract Wastewater-based monitoring of the spread of the new SARS-CoV-2 virus, also referred to as wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE), has been suggested as a tool to support epidemiology. An extensive sampling campaign, including nine municipal wastewater treatment plants, has been conducted in different cities of the Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia (Germany) on the same day in April 2020, close to the first peak of the corona crisis. Samples were processed and analysed for a set of SARS-CoV-2-specific genes, as well as pan-genotypic gene sequences also covering other coronavirus types, using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Additionally, a comprehensive set of chemical reference parameters and bioindicators was analysed to characterize the wastewater quality and composition. Results of the RT-qPCR based gene analysis indicate the presence of SARS-CoV-2 genetic traces in different raw wastewaters. Furthermore, selected samples have been sequenced using Sanger technology to confirm the specificity of the RT-qPCR and the origin of the coronavirus. A comparison of the particle-bound and the dissolved portion of SARS-CoV-2 virus genes shows that quantifications must not neglect the solid-phase reservoir. The infectivity of the raw wastewater has also been assessed by viral outgrowth assay with a potential SARS-CoV2- host cell line in vitro, which were not infected when exposed to the samples. This first evidence suggests that wastewater might be no major route for transmission to humans. Our findings draw attention to the need for further methodological and molecular assay validation for enveloped viruses in wastewater.


id: cord-259325-2yl7kl7b
author: Nakada, Liane Yuri Kondo
date: 2020-04-29
url: https://api.elsevier.com/content/article/pii/S0048969720326048
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139087
title:
  COVID-19 pandemic: Impacts on the air quality during the partial lockdown in São Paulo state, Brazil

abstract:
  Abstract In early March 2020, the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 as a pandemic, and in late March 2020 partial lockdown was ordered by the São Paulo State government. The aim of this study was to assess impacts on air quality in São Paulo – Brazil, during the partial lockdown implemented to provide social distancing required due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We have analyzed data from four air quality stations in São Paulo, Brazil to assess air pollutant concentration variations during the partial lockdown. Data were compared to the five-year monthly mean and to the four-week before the partial lockdown. Overall, drastic reductions on NO (up to −77.3%), NO2 (up to −54.3%), and CO (up to −64.8%) concentrations were observed in the urban area during partial lockdown compared to the five-year monthly mean. By contrast, an increase of approximately 30% in ozone concentrations was observed in urban areas highly influenced by vehicle traffic, probably related to nitrogen monoxide decreases. Although the partial lockdown has contributed to a positive impact on air quality, it is important to take into account the negative impacts on social aspects, considering the deaths caused by COVID-19 and also the dramatic economic effects.


id: cord-261218-tgbw81ua
title: Urban Environmental Health Interventions towards the Sustainable Development Goals
author: Vardoulakis, Sotiris
date: 2020-08-07
txt: ./txt/cord-261218-tgbw81ua.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-261218-tgbw81ua.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://api.elsevier.com/content/article/pii/S0048969720350592
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141530
summary:
  Since the majority of the global population lives in cities, it is crucial to identify, evaluate and implement urban interventions (such as such as zero carbon housing, active transport, better urban connectivity, air pollution control, clean household fuels, and protection from heat and flood events) that will improve health and wellbeing and make our natural and built environment more sustainable. Well-planned, sustainable, changes to urban transport, housing, land use, renewable energy generation, and waste management have the potential to lead to improvements in air and water quality and liveability of urban environments providing multiple benefits including improved public health, reduced inequalities and higher productivity in cities . The Healthy-Polis Consortium for Urban Environmental Health and Sustainability (www.healthy-polis.org) aims to contribute to the implementation of the SDGs by identifying and evaluating specific policy initiatives, case studies, evidence gaps, and opportunities for research and translation into environmental public health practice in cities around the world.

abstract:
  Abstract The aim of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all by 2030. Since the majority of the global population lives in cities, it is crucial to identify, evaluate and implement urban interventions (such as such as zero carbon housing, active transport, better urban connectivity, air pollution control, clean household fuels, and protection from heat and flood events) that will improve health and wellbeing and make our natural and built environment more sustainable. This Virtual Special Issue (VSI) comprises of 14 diverse case studies, methods and tools that provide suggestions and interventions which directly or indirectly support the achievement of the UN SDGs.


id: cord-263550-wjdmzmdg
title: Correlation between climate indicators and COVID-19 pandemic in New York, USA
author: Bashir, Muhammad Farhan
date: 2020-08-01
txt: ./txt/cord-263550-wjdmzmdg.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-263550-wjdmzmdg.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969720323524
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138835
summary:
  This study analyzed the association between COVID-19 and climate indicators in New York City, USA. The climate indicators included in the study are average temperature, minimum temperature, maximum temperature, rainfall, average humidity, wind speed, and air quality. • The study examines the impact of climate indicators on COVID-19 epidemic in New York City. Our findings estimate that minimum temperature and average temperature are correlated with the spread of COVID-19 in New York city. Humidity is another contributor for the spread of COVID-19 as it contributed in the rapid transmission within New York City and empirical estimations of this study will be useful in the outcome of efforts to suppress COVID-19. Other meteorological indicators such as wind speed, air quality, and humidity also affect the spread of infectious diseases. This study finds that average temperature, minimum temperature, and air quality are significant correlated with COVID-19 pandemic and will be useful in suppressing COVID-19.

abstract:
  This study analyzed the association between COVID-19 and climate indicators in New York City, USA. We used secondary published data from New York city health services and National weather service, USA. The climate indicators included in the study are average temperature, minimum temperature, maximum temperature, rainfall, average humidity, wind speed, and air quality. Kendall and Spearman rank correlation tests were chosen for data analysis. We find that average temperature, minimum temperature, and air quality were significantly associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings of this study will help World Health Organization and health regulators such as Center for Disease Control (CDC) to combat COVID-19 in New York and the rest of the world.


id: cord-263801-01goni72
title: Association between climate variables and global transmission oF SARS-CoV-2
author: Sobral, Marcos Felipe Falcão
date: 2020-08-10
txt: ./txt/cord-263801-01goni72.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-263801-01goni72.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138997
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138997
summary:
  In this study, we aimed at analyzing the associations between transmission of and deaths caused by SARS-CoV-2 and meteorological variables, such as average temperature, minimum temperature, maximum temperature, and precipitation. On the basis of the assumption that different climatic conditions play a significant role in the course of COVID-19, it is essential to identify associations between environmental factors, such as average, maximum, and minimum temperatures; precipitation; and demographic density, and SARS-CoV-2 transmission and COVID-19 mortality in humans. Even with the complete specification that includes two binary variables capturing specific effects for the months of the year and controlling for population density, the results suggest that an increase in temperature is associated with a decrease in the number of infections. This study aimed to identify the associations between environmental variables and SARS-CoV-2 transmission/COVID-19 mortality. We examined the associations between climatic variables and SARS-CoV-2 transmission and COVID-19 mortality.

abstract:
  In this study, we aimed at analyzing the associations between transmission of and deaths caused by SARS-CoV-2 and meteorological variables, such as average temperature, minimum temperature, maximum temperature, and precipitation. Two outcome measures were considered, with the first aiming to study SARS-CoV-2 infections and the second aiming to study COVID-19 mortality. Daily data as well as data on SARS-CoV-2 infections and COVID-19 mortality obtained between December 1, 2019 and March 28, 2020 were collected from weather stations around the world. The country's population density and time of exposure to the disease were used as control variables. Finally, a month dummy variable was added. Daily data by country were analyzed using the panel data model. An increase in the average daily temperature by one degree Fahrenheit reduced the number of cases by approximately 6.4 cases/day. There was a negative correlation between the average temperature per country and the number of cases of SARS-CoV-2 infections. This association remained strong even with the incorporation of additional variables and controls (maximum temperature, average temperature, minimum temperature, and precipitation) and fixed country effects. There was a positive correlation between precipitation and SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Countries with higher rainfall measurements showed an increase in disease transmission. For each average inch/day, there was an increase of 56.01 cases/day. COVID-19 mortality showed no significant association with temperature.


id: cord-264152-0jr5nlli
author: Bhattacharya, Raj Kumar
date: 2020-05-16
url: https://api.elsevier.com/content/article/pii/S0048969720329910
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139474
title:
  Sub-basin prioritization for assessment of soil erosion susceptibility in Kangsabati, a plateau basin: A comparison between MCDM and SWAT models

abstract:
  Abstract Kangsabati basin located in tropical plateau region faces multiple problems of soil erosion susceptibility (SES), soil fertility deterioration, and sedimentation in reservoirs. Hence, identification of SES zones in thirty-eight sub-basins (SB) for basin prioritization is necessary. The present research addressed the issue by using four multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) models: VlseKriterijumska optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje (VIKOR), technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS), simple additive weighing (SAW), compound factor (CF). To determine the best fitted method from MCDM for erosion susceptibility (ES), a comparison has been made with Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), where fifteen morphometric parameters were considered for MCDM, and meteorological data, soil, slope and land use land cover (LULC) were considered for SWAT model. Two validation indices of percentage change and intensity change were used for evaluation and comparison of MCDM results. With SWAT model performance, SWAT calibration and uncertainty analysis programs (CUP) was used for sensitive analysis of SWAT parameters on flow discharge and sediment load simulation. The results showed that 23, 16, 18 SB have high ES; therefore they were given 1 to 3 ranks, whereas 31, 37, 21SB have low ES, hence given 38 to 36 rank as predicted by MCDM methods and SWAT. MCDM validation results depict that VIKOR and CF methods are more acceptable than TOPSIS and SAW. Calibration (flow discharge R2 0.86, NSE 0.75; sediment load R2 0.87, NSE 0.69) and validation (flow discharge R2 0.79, NSE 0.55; sediment load R2 0.79, NSE 0.76) of SWAT model indicated that simulated results are well fitted with observed data. Therefore, VIKOR reflects the significant role of morphometric parameters on ES, whereas SWAT reflects the significant role of LULC, slope, and soil on ES. However, it could be concluded that VIKOR is more effective MCDM method in comparison to SWAT prediction.


id: cord-265078-u19e9j2w
title: Association between ambient temperature and COVID-19 infection in 122 cities from China
author: Xie, Jingui
date: 2020-07-01
txt: ./txt/cord-265078-u19e9j2w.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-265078-u19e9j2w.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32408450/
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138201
summary:
  A generalized additive model (GAM) was applied to explore the nonlinear relationship between mean temperature and COVID-19 confirmed cases. RESULTS: The exposure-response curves suggested that the relationship between mean temperature and COVID-19 confirmed cases was approximately linear in the range of <3 °C and became flat above 3 °C. To provide useful implications for policymakers and the public, our paper aimed to investigate the relationship between daily mean temperature and newly confirmed COVID-19 cases in 122 cities from China. Therefore, in this study, a GAM with a Gaussian distribution family (Hastie, 2017; Liu et al., 2020) was applied to examine the moving average lag effect (lag0-7, lag0-14, lag0-21) of mean temperature on daily confirmed cases of COVID-19. In this paper, we explored the nonlinear relationship between ambient temperature and COVID-19 confirmed cases by using a generalized additive model.

abstract:
  BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a severe public health problem globally. Both epidemiological and laboratory studies have shown that ambient temperature could affect the transmission and survival of coronaviruses. This study aimed to determine whether the temperature is an essential factor in the infection caused by this novel coronavirus. METHODS: Daily confirmed cases and meteorological factors in 122 cities were collected between January 23, 2020, to February 29, 2020. A generalized additive model (GAM) was applied to explore the nonlinear relationship between mean temperature and COVID-19 confirmed cases. We also used a piecewise linear regression to determine the relationship in detail. RESULTS: The exposure-response curves suggested that the relationship between mean temperature and COVID-19 confirmed cases was approximately linear in the range of <3 °C and became flat above 3 °C. When mean temperature (lag0–14) was below 3 °C, each 1 °C rise was associated with a 4.861% (95% CI: 3.209–6.513) increase in the daily number of COVID-19 confirmed cases. These findings were robust in our sensitivity analyses. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that mean temperature has a positive linear relationship with the number of COVID-19 cases with a threshold of 3 °C. There is no evidence supporting that case counts of COVID-19 could decline when the weather becomes warmer, which provides useful implications for policymakers and the public.


id: cord-265715-u8rc48f4
author: Ishaq, Sadia
date: 2020-07-06
txt: ./txt/cord-265715-u8rc48f4.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-265715-u8rc48f4.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969720343023?v=s5
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140778
summary:
  Although LIDs offer sustainable runoff management, these infrastructures can be considered a risk to public health due to the presence of pathogens in the runoff and human exposure to contaminated water held in and transported by LIDs. The objective of this study is to examine the disease burden from exposure to LIDs at the residential, neighbourhood, and municipal levels. The combinations of keywords used in this search included the following: "runoff"/"rainwater"/"surface water"/"stormwater"/"floods" and "low impact development"/"green infrastructure"/"water sensitive urban design" and "quantitative microbial risk assessment"/"public health risk"/" disease burden". This study establishes the conceptual foundation of the effects of LIDs on public health and presents a wider perspective of the disease burden from exposure to LIDs. The results revealed that the probability of GI illness exceeding the WHO and US EPA guidelines was highest for floodwater, followed by recreation in surface water, and non-potable exposures to harvested rainwater.

title:
  Investigating the public health risks of low impact development at residential, neighbourhood, and municipal levels

abstract:
  Abstract Low Impact Developments (LIDs) employ a series of vegetative techniques to retain rainfall close to the origin. Although LIDs offer sustainable runoff management, these infrastructures can be considered a risk to public health due to the presence of pathogens in the runoff and human exposure to contaminated water held in and transported by LIDs. The objective of this study is to examine the disease burden from exposure to LIDs at the residential, neighbourhood, and municipal levels. The authors conducted a meta-analysis of literature on three water features: (1) harvested rainwater obtained from LIDs, (2) surface water, and (3) floodwater. A set of 32 studies were systematically selected to collect values of risks of infection and expressed as the disease burden, i.e. disability adjusted life years (DALYs). The results showed that the percentage of GI illness exceeding the health guidelines were high for harvested rainwater, i.e. 22% of annual disease burden exceeded the WHO guidelines (0.001 DALYs/1000 persons), and 2% exceeded the US EPA guidelines (5.75 DALYs/1000 bathers). Among the six exposures for harvested rainwater, exposure to spray irrigation, exceeded US EPA guidelines whereas; five exposures, i.e. flushing, hosing, daily shower, spray irrigation, and children playing, surpassed the WHO guidelines. Considering LID treatment, the values of annual disease burden from all the selected barriers were below US EPA guidelines however, these values exceeded the WHO guidelines for three barriers i.e. water plaza, grass swale, and open storage ponds. These findings provide a broader perspective of the disease burden associated with LIDs and emphasise to consider the type of exposures and required treatment barriers for developing LID infrastructures in urban areas.


id: cord-266052-rcuzi70u
author: Liu, Lilong
date: 2020-10-29
txt: ./txt/cord-266052-rcuzi70u.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-266052-rcuzi70u.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://api.elsevier.com/content/article/pii/S0048969720368145
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143283
summary:
  As pit latrines and the use of untreated excreta as fertilizer were common in rural China, we surveyed 27 villages of Jiangxi and Hubei provinces and found that pit latrines could be a potential source of SARS-CoV-2 water pollution. Another study showed that infectious SARS-CoV-2 virus were successfully isolated from 2 of 3 patients with viral RNA-positive, indicating that infectious virus in feces was a common manifestation of COVID-19 and confirmed the potential of fecal-oral or fecal-respiratory transmission (Xiao et al., 2020b) . Coupled with the fact that villagers usually use untreated excreta as agricultural fertilizer, we believe that the use of pit latrines in rural China and other low-income countries increases the possibility of SARS-CoV-2 contaminating the surrounding natural environment and ultimately harms human health. We proposed this hypothesis to illustrate the mechanism that SARS-COV-2 might spread from the excreta of infected humans in pit latrines to potential animal hosts and then become a sustainable source of infection in rural China and other low-income countries.

title:
  Pit latrines may be a potential risk in rural China and low-income countries when dealing with COVID-19

abstract:
  According to the latest reports, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which caused coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), was successfully isolated from the excreta (stool and urine) of COVID-19 patients, suggesting SARS-CoV-2 could be transmitted through excreta contaminated water. As pit latrines and the use of untreated excreta as fertilizer were common in rural China, we surveyed 27 villages of Jiangxi and Hubei provinces and found that pit latrines could be a potential source of SARS-CoV-2 water pollution. Recently, bats have been widely recognized as the source of SARS-CoV-2. There were many possible intermediate hosts of SARS-CoV-2, including pangolin, snake, bird and fish, but which one was still not clear exactly. Here, we proposed a hypothesis to illustrate the mechanism that SARS-CoV-2 might spread from the excreta of infected humans in pit latrines to potential animal hosts, thus becoming a sustainable source of infection in rural China. Therefore, we believe that abolishing pit latrines and banning the use of untreated excreta as fertilizer can improve the local living environment and effectively prevent COVID-19 and other potential waterborne diseases that could emanate from the excreta of infected persons. Although this study focused on rural areas in China, the results could also be applied to low-income countries, especially in Africa.


id: cord-268278-owmcxq9e
author: Lin, Yu-Kai
date: 2012-06-15
txt: ./txt/cord-268278-owmcxq9e.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-268278-owmcxq9e.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://api.elsevier.com/content/article/pii/S0048969712005712
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2012.04.039
summary:
  However, other weather indicators, such as relative humidity (RH), wind speed (WS), water Science of the Total Environment 427-428 (2012) [41] [42] [43] [44] [45] [46] [47] [48] [49] Abbreviations: AIC, Akaike''s information criterion; AT, apparent temperature; CI, confidence interval; CWB, Central Weather Bureau; DLNM, distributed lag non-linear model; Flu, influenza; HI, heat index; NHRI, National Health Research Institute; PM 10 , particulate matter less than 10 μm in aerodynamic diameter; RR, relative risk; RH, relative humidity; TCDC, Taiwan Centers for Disease Control; THI, temperature humidity index; TEPA, Taiwan Environmental Protection Administration; WBGT, wet-bulb globe temperature; WS, wind speed; WVP, water vapor pressure. For each high-temperature index, data analysis further calculated area-specific cumulative 8-day (from lag 0 to lag 7 days) relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) to determine associations with daily deaths and outpatient visits, using distributed lag nonlinear model (DLNM) (Armstrong, 2006; Gasparrini et al., 2010) .

title:
  High-temperature indices associated with mortality and outpatient visits: Characterizing the association with elevated temperature()()

abstract:
  This study aimed to identify optimal high-temperature indices to predict risks of all-cause mortality and outpatient visits for subtropical islanders in warm seasons (May to October). Eight high-temperature indices, including three single measurements (average, maximum and minimum temperature) and five composite indices (heat index, humidex, temperature humidity index, apparent temperature and wet-bulb globe temperature), and their standardized Z scores, were used in distributed lag non-linear models. Cumulative 8-day (lag zero to seven days) relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals were estimated, 1 and 2 standardized deviations above the medium (i.e., at 84.1th and 97.7th percentile, respectively), by comparing with Z scores for the lowest risks of mortality and outpatient visits as references. Analyses were performed for Taipei in north, Central Taiwan and Southern Taiwan. Results showed that standardized Z-values of high-temperature indices associated with the lowest health risk were approximately 0 in Taipei and Central Taiwan, and − 1 in Southern Taiwan. As the apparent temperature was at Z = 2, the cumulative 8-day mortality risk increased significantly, by 23% in Taipei and 28% in Southern Taiwan, but not in Central Taiwan. The maximum temperature displayed consistently a high correlation with all-cause outpatient visits at Z = 1; with the cumulative 8-day RRs for outpatient visits increased by 7%, 3%, and 4% in the three corresponding areas. In conclusion, this study has demonstrated methods to compare multiple high-temperature indices associated with all-cause mortality and outpatient visits for population residing in a subtropical island. Apparent temperature is an optimal indicator for predicting all-cause mortality risk, and maximum temperature is recommended to associate with outpatient visits. The impact of heat varied with study areas, evaluated health outcomes, and high-temperature indices. The increased extreme heat is associated with stronger risk for all-cause mortality than for outpatient visits.


id: cord-269423-p73bszlq
author: Zhao, Fei
date: 2020-10-13
txt: ./txt/cord-269423-p73bszlq.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-269423-p73bszlq.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://api.elsevier.com/content/article/pii/S0048969720364160
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142886
summary:
  This paper presents ozone profiles and tropospheric ozone columns from ultraviolet radiances detected by TROPOospheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) onboard Sentinel 5 Precursor (S5P) satellite based on the principle of optimal estimation method. The purpose of this paper is to describe the inversion algorithm of TROPOMI ozone profile and validate the results using various in-situ measurements as well as satellite data, which is further used to evaluate the variation of tropospheric ozone in different regions in China. This paper proceeds as follows: section 2 introduces the retrieval algorithm and TROPOMI L1b data, description of the forward model, retrieval scheme and examination of different slit function impacts on the reduction of fitting residuals and radiometric calibration and evaluate the effect of soft calibration by comparison of spectral fitting residuals with and without correction at all latitudes.

title:
  Ozone profile retrievals from TROPOMI: Implication for the variation of tropospheric ozone during the outbreak of COVID-19 in China

abstract:
  During the outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in China in January and February 2020, production and living activities were drastically reduced to impede the spread of the virus, which also caused a strong reduction of the emission of primary pollutants. However, as a major species of secondary air pollutant, tropospheric ozone did not reduce synchronously, but instead rose in some region. Furthermore, higher concentrations of ozone may potentially promote the rates of COVID-19 infections, causing extra risk to human health. Thus, the variation of ozone should be evaluated widely. This paper presents ozone profiles and tropospheric ozone columns from ultraviolet radiances detected by TROPOospheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) onboard Sentinel 5 Precursor (S5P) satellite based on the principle of optimal estimation method. We compare our TROPOMI retrievals with global ozonesonde observations, Fourier Transform Spectrometry (FTS) observation at Hefei (117.17°E, 31.7°N) and Global Positioning System (GPS) ozonesonde sensor (GPSO3) ozonesonde profiles at Beijing (116.46°E, 39.80°N). The integrated Tropospheric Ozone Column (TOC) and Stratospheric Ozone Column (SOC) show excellent agreement with validation data. We use the retrieved TOC combining with tropospheric vertical column density (TVCD) of NO2 and HCHO from TROPOMI to assess the changes of tropospheric ozone during the outbreak of COVID-19 in China. Although NO2 TVCD decreased by 63%, the retrieved TOC over east China increase by 10% from the 20-day averaged before the lockdown on January 23, 2020 to 20-day averaged after it. Because the production of ozone in winter is controlled by volatile organic compounds (VOCs) indicated by monitored HCHO, which did not present evident change during the lockdown, the production of ozone did not decrease significantly. Besides, the decrease of NOx emission weakened the titration of ozone, causing an increase of ozone.


id: cord-269704-ax306loy
title: Electric fans: A potential stay-at-home cooling strategy during the COVID-19 pandemic this summer?
author: Hospers, Lily
date: 2020-07-25
txt: ./txt/cord-269704-ax306loy.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-269704-ax306loy.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141180
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141180
summary:
  Here we examine the environmental limits of electric fan-use in the context of the United States summer as a potential stay-at-home cooling strategy that aligns with existing efforts to mitigate the spread of SARS-COV-2. The present analysis indicates that electric fan-use with light water-spraying potentially offers a feasible stay-at-home cooling strategy during heat extremes for large parts of the US historically experiencing hot-humid summer conditions. Importantly though, fan use during heat extremes in the home prevents people seeking cooling in public places among individuals whose virus status is less likely to be known than cohabitants, thus limiting personal risk of transmission and further spread in the community. The present model was created based around an elderly adult (+65 y), with a body mass of 70 kg, a height of 1.73 m, and a calculated body surface area (BSA) (30) of 1.83 m 2 , seated at rest, in light clothing, while wetting their skin either with or without the use of an electric fan in a variety of heatwave conditions.

abstract:
  Abstract Current public health guidance designed to protect individuals against extreme heat and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is seemingly discordant, yet during the northern hemisphere summer, we are faced with the imminent threat of their simultaneous existence. Here we examine the environmental limits of electric fan-use in the context of the United States summer as a potential stay-at-home cooling strategy that aligns with existing efforts to mitigate the spread of SARS-COV-2.


id: cord-275424-u4doukk7
author: Ogen, Yaron
date: 2020-07-15
txt: ./txt/cord-275424-u4doukk7.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-275424-u4doukk7.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32302812/
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138605
summary:
  These results indicate that the long-term exposure to this pollutant may be one of the most important contributors to fatality caused by the COVID-19 virus in these regions and maybe across the whole world. Many studies have shown that the incidence of these diseases can also be caused by a long exposure to air pollution, especially nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ), a toxic component. In this study, the concentrations of the tropospheric NO 2 which were extracted from the Sentinel-5P satellite were used in order to explain the spatial variation of fatality cases in 66 administrative regions in four European countries. Clinical Characteristics and Risk Factors for Fatal Outcome in Patients With 2019-Coronavirus Infected Disease (COVID-19) in Wuhan Chronic disease associated with long-term concentrations of nitrogen dioxide Association of long-term exposure to community noise and traffic-related air pollution with coronary heart disease mortality

title:
  Assessing nitrogen dioxide (NO(2)) levels as a contributing factor to coronavirus (COVID-19) fatality

abstract:
  Nitrogen dioxide (NO(2)) is an ambient trace-gas result of both natural and anthropogenic processes. Long-term exposure to NO(2) may cause a wide spectrum of severe health problems such as hypertension, diabetes, heart and cardiovascular diseases and even death. The objective of this study is to examine the relationship between long-term exposure to NO(2) and coronavirus fatality. The Sentinel-5P is used for mapping the tropospheric NO(2) distribution and the NCEP/NCAR reanalysis for evaluating the atmospheric capability to disperse the pollution. The spatial analysis has been conducted on a regional scale and combined with the number of death cases taken from 66 administrative regions in Italy, Spain, France and Germany. Results show that out of the 4443 fatality cases, 3487 (78%) were in five regions located in north Italy and central Spain. Additionally, the same five regions show the highest NO(2) concentrations combined with downwards airflow which prevent an efficient dispersion of air pollution. These results indicate that the long-term exposure to this pollutant may be one of the most important contributors to fatality caused by the COVID-19 virus in these regions and maybe across the whole world.


id: cord-275565-xerr4vki
author: Kumar, Manish
date: 2020-09-15
txt: ./txt/cord-275565-xerr4vki.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-275565-xerr4vki.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://api.elsevier.com/content/article/pii/S0048969720358587
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142329
summary:
  For the first time, we present, i) an account of decay in the genetic material loading of SARS-CoV-2 during Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) treatment of wastewater, and ii) comparative evaluation of polyethylene glycol (PEG), and filtration as virus concentration methods from wastewater for the quantification of SARS-CoV-2 genes. Thus, there still remains questions pertaining to: i) capability of conventional WWTPs to reduce the abundance of SARS-CoV-2 RNA, ii) better understanding of the protocol, virus J o u r n a l P r e -p r o o f Journal Pre-proof precipitation through PEG and filtration which one is better methods for concentrating the samples before RNA isolation. Appraising the genetic loading reduction through Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) systems, and iii) Comparing the performances between PEG and filtration as virus concentration methods in terms of SARS-CoV-2 RNA sensitivity and inhibition removal.

title:
  Decay of SARS-CoV-2 RNA along the wastewater treatment outfitted with Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) system evaluated through two sample concentration techniques

abstract:
  For the first time, we present, i) an account of decay in the genetic material loading of SARS-CoV-2 during Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) treatment of wastewater, and ii) comparative evaluation of polyethylene glycol (PEG), and filtration as virus concentration methods from wastewater for the quantification of SARS-CoV-2 genes. The objectives were achieved through tracking of SARS-CoV-2 genetic loadings i.e. ORF1ab, N and S protein genes on 8th and 27th May 2020 along the wastewater treatment plant (106 million liters per day) equipped with UASB system in Ahmedabad, India. PEG method performed better in removing materials inhibiting RT-qPCR for SARS-CoV-2 gene detection from the samples, as evident from constant and lower CT values of control (MS2). Using the PEG method, we found a reduction >1.3 log10 in SARS-CoV-2 RNA abundance during UASB treatment, and the RNA was not detected at all in the final effluent. The study implies that i) conventional wastewater treatment systems is effective in SARS-CoV-2 RNA removal, and ii) UASB system significantly reduces SARS-CoV-2 genetic loadings. Finally, PEG method is recommended for better sensitivity and inhibition removal during SARS-CoV-2 RNA quantification in wastewater.


id: cord-276392-m1bbt8bo
author: Asyary, Al
date: 2020-04-27
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32361458/
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139016
title:
  Sunlight exposure increased Covid-19 recovery rates: A study in the central pandemic area of Indonesia

abstract:
  Abstract This study aims to present the correlation between sunlight exposure and Covid-19 statuses in Jakarta, Indonesia. The secondary data analysis was derived from surveillance data for Covid-19 from government authorities, including the Ministry of Health, the Meteorological, Climatological, and Geophysical Agency, and the local government of Jakarta. Three statuses related to Covid-19 were examined in the study: incidence, death, and recovered. Meanwhile, sunlight exposure was presented as daily duration of it. Only the number of recovered patients correlated significantly with sunlight exposure (p-value = .025; r = 0.350). This study's findings showed that sunlight exposure was associated with recovery from Covid-19.


id: cord-277490-xrgnt6l5
title: Optimal temperature zone for the dispersal of COVID-19
author: Huang, Zhongwei
date: 2020-05-16
txt: ./txt/cord-277490-xrgnt6l5.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-277490-xrgnt6l5.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://api.elsevier.com/content/article/pii/S0048969720330047
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139487
summary:
  Abstract It is essential to know the environmental parameters within which the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) can survive to understand its global dispersal pattern. Our findings suggest that there is an optimal climatic zone in which the concentration of SARS-CoV-2 markedly increases in the ambient environment (including the surfaces of objects). The aerodynamic characteristics and propagation of SARS-CoV-2 in aerosols have been reported (Liu et al., 2020) . Therefore, it is essential to understand the survival of SARS-CoV-2 in the ambient environment to prevent COVID-19. Transmission of a 2009 Pandemic Influenza Virus Shows a Sensitivity to Temperature and Humidity Similar to That of an H3N2 Seasonal Strain Evidence that higher temperatures are associated with lower incidence of COVID-19 in pandemic state, cumulative cases reported up to Association between ambient temperature and COVID-19 infection in 122 cities from China

abstract:
  Abstract It is essential to know the environmental parameters within which the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) can survive to understand its global dispersal pattern. We found that 60.0% of the confirmed cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) occurred in places where the air temperature ranged from 5 °C to 15 °C, with a peak in cases at 11.54 °C. Moreover, approximately 73.8% of the confirmed cases were concentrated in regions with absolute humidity of 3 g/m3 to 10 g/m3. SARS-CoV-2 appears to be spreading toward higher latitudes. Our findings suggest that there is an optimal climatic zone in which the concentration of SARS-CoV-2 markedly increases in the ambient environment (including the surfaces of objects). These results strongly imply that the COVID-19 pandemic may spread cyclically and outbreaks may recur in large cities in the mid-latitudes in autumn 2020.


id: cord-279942-y5io9qzl
title: Ambient PM2.5 exposure and rapid spread of COVID-19 in the United States
author: Chakrabarty, Rajan K.
date: 2020-11-09
url: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969720369229?v=s5
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143391
abstract:
  It has been posited that populations being exposed to long-term air pollution are more susceptible to COVID-19. Evidence is emerging that long-term exposure to ambient PM2.5 (particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter 2.5 μm or less) associates with higher COVID-19 mortality rates, but whether it also associates with the speed at which the disease is capable of spreading in a population is unknown. Here, we establish the association between long-term exposure to ambient PM2.5 in the United States (US) and COVID-19 basic reproduction ratio R 0– a dimensionless epidemic measure of the rapidity of disease spread through a population. We inferred state-level R 0 values using a state-of-the-art susceptible, exposed, infected, and recovered (SEIR) model initialized with COVID-19 epidemiological data corresponding to the period March 2–April 30. This period was characterized by a rapid surge in COVID-19 cases across the US states, implementation of strict social distancing measures, and a significant drop in outdoor air pollution. We find that an increase of 1 μg/m3 in PM2.5 levels below current national ambient air quality standards associates with an increase of 0.25 in R 0 (95% CI: 0.048–0.447). A 10% increase in secondary inorganic composition, sulfate-nitrate-ammonium, in PM2.5 associates with ≈10% increase in R 0 by 0.22 (95% CI: 0.083–0.352), and presence of black carbon (soot) in the ambient moderates this relationship. We considered several potential confounding factors in our analysis including gaseous air pollutants, and socio-economical and meteorological conditions. Our results underscore two policy implications – first, regulatory standards need to be better guided by exploring the concentration-response relationships near the lower end of the PM2.5 air quality distribution; and second, pollution regulations need to be continually enforced for combustion emissions that largely determine secondary inorganic aerosol formation.


id: cord-282268-f7mbdfr6
author: Cartenì, Armando
date: 2020-06-24
txt: ./txt/cord-282268-f7mbdfr6.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-282268-f7mbdfr6.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://api.elsevier.com/content/article/pii/S0048969720340110
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140489
summary:
  By contrast, the hypothesis discussed in this research is that the time period (days) in which a new positive case of coronavirus is identified and certified, which could be called a sort of a positivity detection time, is longer than the incubation time because of possible delays between contagion and detection caused, for example, by the significant percentage of tests that prove false negative to COVID-19, or by the fraction of people who, although infected, are asymptomatic and/or initially show only mild symptoms, and therefore do not resort to health care. Estimates were made through a multiple linear regression model linking the number of certified daily cases (day-to-day) to socio-economic indices (e.g. number of residents; population density), environmental variables (e.g. temperature, PM pollution), health care indicators (e.g. number of swabs taken daily) and mobility habits (e.g. number people who performed trips several days before).

title:
  How mobility habits influenced the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic: Results from the Italian case study

abstract:
  Abstract Starting from December 2019 the world has faced an unprecedented health crisis caused by the new Coronavirus (COVID-19) due to the SARS-CoV-2 pathogen. Within this topic, the aim of the paper was to quantify the effect of mobility habits in the spread of the Coronavirus in Italy through a multiple linear regression model. Estimation results showed that mobility habits represent one of the variables that explains the number of COVID-19 infections jointly with the number of tests/day and some environmental variables (i.e. PM pollution and temperature). Nevertheless, a proximity variable to the first outbreak was also significant, meaning that the areas close to the outbreak had a higher risk of contagion, especially in the initial stage of infection (time-decay phenomena). Furthermore, the number of daily new cases was related to the trips performed three weeks before. This threshold of 21 days could be considered as a sort of positivity detection time, meaning that the mobility restrictions quarantine commonly set at 14 days, defined only according to incubation-based epidemiological considerations, is underestimated (possible delays between contagion and detection) as a containment policy and may not always contribute to effectively slowing down the spread of virus worldwide. This result is original and, if confirmed in other studies, will lay the groundwork for more effective containment of COVID-19 in countries that are still in the health emergency, as well as for possible future returns of the virus.


id: cord-282964-dmc8mlxu
author: Wathore, Roshan
date: 2020-08-04
txt: ./txt/cord-282964-dmc8mlxu.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-282964-dmc8mlxu.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://api.elsevier.com/content/article/pii/S0048969720350154
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141486
summary:
  This has spurred efforts to characterize the coronavirus and understand the factors impacting its transmission and survival such as aerosols, air quality, meteorology, chemical compositions and characteristics of particles and surfaces, which are directly or indirectly associated with coronaviruses infection spread. Nonetheless, many peer-reviewed articles have studied these aspects but mostly in isolation; a complete array of coronavirus survival and transmission from an infected individual through airand water-borne channels and its subsequent intractions with environmental factors, surfaces, particulates and chemicals is not comprehensively explored. Finally, this study outlines probable air and water borne routes and suggest a way forward highlighting the need for investigating the effect of particulate matter characteristics on survival and transmission of SARS-CoV-2 due to the prominent presence of PM in ambient, spaces, and on the surfaces.

title:
  Understanding air and water borne transmission and survival of coronavirus: Insights and way forward for SARS-CoV-2

abstract:
  Abstract The ongoing pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has resulted in unprecedented disease burden, healthcare costs, and economic impacts worldwide. Despite several measures, SARS-CoV-2 has been extremely impactful due to its extraordinary infection potential mainly through coronavirus-borne saliva respiratory and droplet nuclei of an infected person and its considerable stability on surfaces. Although the disease has affected over 180 countries, its extent and control are significantly different across the globe, making it a strong case for exploration of its behavior and dependence across various environmental pathways and its interactions with the virus. This has spurred efforts to characterize the coronavirus and understand the factors impacting its transmission and survival such as aerosols, air quality, meteorology, chemical compositions and characteristics of particles and surfaces, which are directly or indirectly associated with coronaviruses infection spread. Nonetheless, many peer-reviewed articles have studied these aspects but mostly in isolation; a complete array of coronavirus survival and transmission from an infected individual through air- and water-borne channels and its subsequent intractions with environmental factors, surfaces, particulates and chemicals is not comprehensively explored. Particulate matter (PM) is omnipresent with variable concentrations, structures and composition, while most of the surfaces are also covered by PM of different characteristics. Learning from the earlier coronavirus studies, including SARS and MERS, an attempt has been made to understand the survival of SARS-CoV-2 outside of the host body and discuss the probable air and water-borne transmission routes and its interactions with the outside environment. The present work 1) Helps appreciate the role of PM, its chemical constituents and surface characteristics and 2) Further identifies gaps in this field and suggests possible domains to work upon for better understanding of transmission and survival of this novel coronavirus.


id: cord-284583-urh0xk7r
title: Exceedances and trends of particulate matter (PM2.5) in five Indian megacities
author: Singh, Vikas
date: 2020-08-11
txt: ./txt/cord-284583-urh0xk7r.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-284583-urh0xk7r.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969720349901?v=s5
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141461
summary:
  This work presents the variability, trend, and exceedance analysis of PM2.5 measured at US Embassy and Consulate in five Indian megacities (Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and New Delhi) for six years (2014–2019). The major recent initiatives that might have helped in the reduction include the launch of the National Air Quality Index (AQI) for public awareness, the formation of Environment pollution (prevention and control) authority, implementation of a Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) and Comprehensive Action Plan LPG is lower than that of solid fuel (Deepthi et al., 2019) , the implementation of PMUY across India would have reduced PM 2.5 levels mainly at the regional level (Chowdhury et al., 2019) . This study reports a detailed analysis of the variabilities and trends in the PM 2.5 concentration measured at the US embassy and consulates in the five megacities (Chennai, Kolkata, Analysis of MERRA-2 meteorological parameters suggests no significant change in the annual mean wind speed, temperature, PBLH, and precipitation in the past six years.

abstract:
  Abstract Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the leading environmental risk factor that requires regular monitoring and analysis for effective air quality management. This work presents the variability, trend, and exceedance analysis of PM2.5 measured at US Embassy and Consulate in five Indian megacities (Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and New Delhi) for six years (2014–2019). Among all cities, Delhi is found to be the most polluted city followed by Kolkata, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Chennai. The trend analysis for six years for five megacities suggests a statistically significant decreasing trend ranging from 1.5 to 4.19 μg/m3 (2%–8%) per year. Distinct diurnal, seasonal, and monthly variations are observed in the five cities due to the different site locations and local meteorology. All cities show the highest and lowest concentrations in the winter and monsoon months respectively except for Chennai which observed the lowest levels in April. All the cities consistently show morning peaks (~08: 00–10:00 h) and the lowest level in late afternoon hours (~15:00–16:00 h). We found that the PM2.5 levels in the cities exceed WHO standards and Indian NAAQS for 50% and 33% of days in a year except for Chennai. Delhi is found to have more than 200 days of exceedances in a year and experiences an average 15 number of episodes per year when the level exceeds the Indian NAAQS. The trends in the exceedance with a varying threshold (20–380 μg/m3) suggest that not only is the annual mean PM2.5 decreasing in Delhi but also the number of exceedances is decreasing. This decrease can be attributed to the recent policies and regulations implemented in Delhi and other cities for the abatement of air pollution. However, stricter compliance of the National Clean Air Program (NCAP) policies can further accelerate the reduction of the pollution levels.


id: cord-285620-oawrnmhy
title: Efficient removal of water bacteria and viruses using electrospun nanofibers
author: Fahimirad, Shohreh
date: 2020-08-16
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32866832/
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141673
abstract:
  Abstract Pathogenic contamination has been considered as a significant worldwide water quality concern. Due to providing promising opportunities for the production of nanocomposite membranes with tailored porosity, adjustable pore size, and scaled-up ability of biomolecules incorporation, electrospinning has become the center of attention. This review intends to provide a detailed summary of the recent advances in the fabrication of antibacterial and antiviral electrospun nanofibers and discuss their application efficiency as a water filtration membrane. The current review attempts to give a functionalist perspective of the fundamental progress in construction strategies of antibacterial and antiviral electrospun nanofibers. The review provides a list of antibacterial and antiviral agents commonly used as water membrane filters and discusses the challenges in the incorporation process. We have thoroughly studied the recent application of functionalized electrospun nanofibers in the water disinfection process, with an emphasis on their efficiency. Moreover, different antibacterial and antiviral assay techniques for membranes are discussed, the gaps and limitations are highlighted and promising strategies to overcome barriers are studies.


id: cord-285725-gge8ri93
title: Bioaerosol emissions from activated sludge basins: Characterization, release, and attenuation
author: Burdsall, Adam C.
date: 2020-08-20
txt: ./txt/cord-285725-gge8ri93.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-285725-gge8ri93.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S004896972035381X?v=s5
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141852
summary:
  Previous studies have used culture-dependent and cultureindependent methods to identify the microorganisms present in bioaerosols emitted from aeration basins (Table 1 ). Activated sludge microorganisms grow within flocculent aggregates, consisting of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), inert particles, water, and numerous ionized chemicals (Metcalf and Eddy, 2003 The bubble then bursts when the membrane can no longer maintain the internal pressure of the bubble ( Figure 1A) . Splashing and bubble bursting occur with other methods of mechanical surface aeration (e.g. subsurface turbines, fountains, horizontal paddles), but peer-reviewed studies have not yet revealed the bioaerosol release mechanisms for these processes. Bioaerosol emissions from activated sludge basins are dependent upon the aeration method, which in turn influences mixing. Use of floating balls for reducing bacterial aerosol emissions from aeration in wastewater treatment processes Effect of the aeration system J o u r n a l P r e -p r o o f Journal Pre-proof on the levels of airborne microorganisms generated at wastewater treatment plants

abstract:
  Abstract This article presents a critical review of the peer-reviewed literature related to bioaerosol generation from activated sludge basins. Characterization techniques include a variety of culture- and nonculture-based techniques, each with unique features. Bioaerosols contain a variety of clinical pathogens including Staphylococcus saprophyticus, Clostridium perfringens, and Salmonella enteritidis; exposure to these microorganisms increases human health risks. Release mechanisms involve splashing and bubble burst dynamics. Larger bubbles emit more aerosol particles than smaller ones. Attenuation strategies include covering sources with lids, adjusting the method and intensity of aeration, and using free-floating carrier media. Future studies should combine culture and non-culture based methods, and expand chemical databases and spectral libraries in order to realize the full power of real-time online monitoring.


id: cord-286230-0si3pv3e
author: Wang, Wenlu
date: 2020-06-10
url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140113
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140113
title:
  Determination of the optimal penetration factor for evaluating the invasion process of aerosols from a confined source space to an uncontaminated area

abstract:
  Abstract Due to the outbreak and spread of COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2 has been proven to survive in aerosols for hours. Virus-containing aerosols may intrude into an uncontaminated area from a confined source space under certain ventilated conditions. The penetration factor, which is the most direct parameter for evaluating the invasion process, can effectively reflect the penetration fraction of aerosols and the shielding efficiency of buildings. Based on the observed concentrations of aerosols combined with a widely used concentration model, four numerical calculations of the penetration factor are proposed in this study. A theoretical time-correction P est was applied to a size-dependent P avg by proposing a correction coefficient r, and the error analysis of the real-time P(t) and the derived P d were also performed. The results indicated that P avg supplied the most stable values for laboratory penetration simulations. However, the time-correction is of little significance under current experimental conditions. P(t) and P d are suitable for rough evaluation under certain conditions due to the inevitability of particles detaching and re-entering after capture. The proposed optimal penetration factor and the error analysis of each method in this study can provide insight into the penetration mechanism, and also provide a rapid and accurate assessment method for preventing and controlling the spread of the epidemic.


id: cord-287751-52e0tlcu
author: Dai, Qili
date: 2020-11-06
txt: ./txt/cord-287751-52e0tlcu.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-287751-52e0tlcu.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969720370790?v=s5
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143548
summary:
  To reduce the influence of dilution on quantitative source estimates, a methodology for improving the accuracy of source apportionment results by incorporating a measure of dispersion, the ventilation coefficient, into the PMF analysis (called dispersion normalized PMF, DN-PMF) was applied to a PNC dataset measured from a field campaign that includes the Spring Festival event and the start of the COVID-19 lockdown in Tianjin, China. In addition to measured PNC data, auxiliary variables include gaseous pollutants (SO 2 , NO 2 , CO and O 3 ), PM 1 , PM 1-2.5 (PM 2.5 -PM 1 ), radiation and selected potential source tracer species (OC, EC, NO 3 -analyses to support factor interpretation. The best solution with the optimal number of factors was evaluated with selection criteria of appropriately narrow distributions of scaled residuals of PNCs and the physical interpretability of factors in terms of (a) examination of size factor profiles and its association with external variables, (b) source directionality from CBPF plots, and (c) diel patterns.

title:
  Changes in source contributions to particle number concentrations after the COVID-19 outbreak: Insights from a dispersion normalized PMF

abstract:
  Factor analysis models use the covariance of measured variables to identify and apportion sources. These models, particularly positive matrix factorization (PMF), have been extensively used for analyzing particle number concentrations (PNCs) datasets. However, the variation of observed PNCs and particle size distribution are driven by both the source emission rates and atmospheric dispersion as well as chemical and physical transformation processes. This variation in the observation data caused by meteorologically induced dilution reduces the ability to obtain accurate source apportionment results. To reduce the influence of dilution on quantitative source estimates, a methodology for improving the accuracy of source apportionment results by incorporating a measure of dispersion, the ventilation coefficient, into the PMF analysis (called dispersion normalized PMF, DN-PMF) was applied to a PNC dataset measured from a field campaign that includes the Spring Festival event and the start of the COVID-19 lockdown in Tianjin, China. The data also included pollutant gases and hourly PM2.5 compositional data. Eight factors were resolved and interpreted as municipal incinerator, traffic nucleation, secondary inorganic aerosol (SIA), traffic emission, photonucleation, coal combustion, residential heating and festival emission. The DN-PMF enhanced the diel patterns of photonucleation and the two traffic factors by enlarging the differences between daytime peak values and nighttime concentrations. The municipal incinerator plant, traffic emissions, and coal combustion have cleaner and more clearly defined directionalities after dispersion normalization. Thus, dispersion normalized PMF is capable of enhancing the source emission patterns. After the COVID-19 lockdown began, PNC of traffic nucleation and traffic emission decreased by 41% and 44%, respectively, while photonucleation produced more particles likely due to the reduction in the condensation sink. The significant changes in source emissions indicate a substantially reduced traffic volume after the implement of lockdown measures.


id: cord-290458-5fwbh9t9
author: Lal, Preet
date: 2020-05-08
txt: ./txt/cord-290458-5fwbh9t9.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-290458-5fwbh9t9.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://api.elsevier.com/content/article/pii/S004896972032814X
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139297
summary:
  Rising global death tolls combined with the high infectivity of the virus, mild clinical symptoms, an uncertain incubation period, lack of pre-existing human immunity, and the possibility of asymptomatic healthy carriers (Bouey, 2020) led to the WHO declaring COVID-19 a "Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC)" on 30 th January 2020 (World Health Organization, 2020a) . Projected near-surface air temperature, and relative humidity (RH) datasets acquired from CIMIP-5 model at RCP 8.5 scenario until November 2020 and were used to estimate the possible impacts of COVID-19 on different countries under future meteorological conditions. The future projections of absolute humidity based on the CIMIP-5 model at RCP 8.5 scenario until November 2020 were used to deduce the possible contribution of meteorological conditions to COVID-19 spread following January-March 2020 variations in AH and Bukhari and Jameel, (2020) concepts of virus transmission at the different threshold of AH.

title:
  The dark cloud with a silver lining: Assessing the impact of the SARS COVID-19 pandemic on the global environment

abstract:
  Abstract The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by a novel coronavirus known as SARS-CoV-2 has caused tremendous suffering and huge economic losses. We hypothesized that extreme measures of partial-to-total shutdown might have influenced the quality of the global environment because of decreased emissions of atmospheric pollutants. We tested this hypothesis using satellite imagery, climatic datasets (temperature, and absolute humidity), and COVID-19 cases available in the public domain. While the majority of the cases were recorded from Western countries, where mortality rates were strongly positively correlated with age, the number of cases in tropical regions was relatively lower than European and North American regions, possibly attributed to faster human-to-human transmission. There was a substantial reduction in the level of nitrogen dioxide (NO2: 0.00002 mol m−2), a low reduction in CO (<0.03 mol m−2), and a low-to-moderate reduction in Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD: ~0.1–0.2) in the major hotspots of COVID-19 outbreak during February–March 2020, which may be attributed to the mass lockdowns. Our study projects an increasing coverage of high COVID-19 hazard at absolute humidity levels ranging from 4 to 9 g m−3 across a large part of the globe during April–July 2020 due to a high prospective meteorological suitability for COVID-19 spread. Our findings suggest that there is ample scope for restoring the global environment from the ill-effects of anthropogenic activities through temporary shutdown measures.


id: cord-292045-pnid9dmq
author: Kumar, Manish
date: 2020-07-28
url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141326
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141326
title:
  First proof of the capability of wastewater surveillance for COVID-19 in India through detection of genetic material of SARS-CoV-2

abstract:
  Abstract We made the first ever successful effort in India to detect the genetic material of SARS-CoV-2 viruses to understand the capability and application of wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) surveillance in India. Sampling was carried out on 8 and 27 May 2020 at the Old Pirana Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP) at Ahmedabad, Gujarat that receives effluent from Civil Hospital treating COVID-19 patients. All three, i.e. ORF1ab, N and S genes of SARS-CoV-2, were found in the influent with no genes detected in effluent collected on 8 and 27 May 2020. Increase in SARS-CoV-2 genetic loading in the wastewater between 8 and 27 May 2020 samples concurred with corresponding increase in the number of active COVID-19 patients in the city. The number of gene copies was comparable to that reported in untreated wastewaters of Australia, China and Turkey and lower than that of the USA, France and Spain. However, temporal changes in SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentrations need to be substantiated further from the perspectives of daily and short-term changes of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater through long-term monitoring. The study results SARS-CoV-2 will assist concerned authorities and policymakers to formulate and/or upgrade COVID-19 surveillance to have a more explicit picture of the pandemic curve. While infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 through the excreted viral genetic material in the aquatic environment is still being debated, the presence and detection of genes in wastewater systems makes a strong case for the environmental surveillance of the COVID-19 pandemic.


id: cord-293139-uj1m3t79
author: Hua, Jinxi
date: 2020-08-11
txt: ./txt/cord-293139-uj1m3t79.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-293139-uj1m3t79.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969720351044?v=s5
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141575
summary:
  In this study, we assessed the variations in concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) during the holidays in the heating season from 2014 to 2018 based on daily surface air quality monitoring measurements in Beijing. The predictors in our GAM model include time vectors to represent inter-annual, monthly, and weekday variations, as well as meteorological variables (boundary layer height, east-west wind component, south-north wind component, relative humidity, air temperature, dew point temperature, and surface pressure). The spatial variation in the holiday effect at different sites reflects two distinct ways that human activities impact air quality: increased residential heating tended to increase both PM 2.5 and NO 2 , whereas reduced traffic emissions leads to lower NO 2 . Effects of meteorology and emission reduction measures on air pollution in Beijing during heating seasons

title:
  Competing PM2.5 and NO2 holiday effects in the Beijing area vary locally due to differences in residential coal burning and traffic patterns

abstract:
  Abstract The holiday effect is a useful tool to estimate the impact on air pollution due to changes in human activities. In this study, we assessed the variations in concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) during the holidays in the heating season from 2014 to 2018 based on daily surface air quality monitoring measurements in Beijing. A Generalized Additive Model (GAM) is used to analyze pollutant concentrations for 34 sites by comprehensively accounting for annual, monthly, and weekly cycles as well as the nonlinear impacts of meteorological factors. A Saturday effect was found in the downtown area, with about 4% decrease in PM2.5 and 3% decrease in NO2 relative to weekdays. On Sundays, the PM2.5 concentrations increased by about 5% whereas there were no clear changes for NO2. In contrast to the small effect of the weekend, there was a strong holiday effect throughout the region with average increases of about 22% in PM2.5 and average reductions of about 11% in NO2 concentrations. There was a clear geographical pattern in the strength of the holiday effect. In rural areas the increase in PM2.5 is related to the proportion of coal and biomass consumption for household heating. In the suburban areas between the Fifth Ring Road and Sixth Ring Road there were larger reductions in NO2 than downtown which might be due to decreased traffic as many people return to their hometown for the holidays. This study provides insights into the pattern of changes in air pollution due to human activities. By quantifying the changes, it also provides insights for improvements in air quality due to control policies implemented in Beijing during the heating season.


id: cord-296618-aw4zm23z
author: Huang, Guanyu
date: 2020-07-21
url: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969720345526?v=s5
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141023
title:
  Non-negligible impacts of clean air regulations on the reduction of tropospheric NO2 over East China during the COVID-19 pandemic observed by OMI and TROPOMI

abstract:
  Abstract We study the variation of tropospheric NO2 vertical column densities (TropNO2VCDs) over East China during the 2005–2020 lunar new year (LNY) holiday seasons to understand factors on the reduction of tropospheric NO2 during the outbreak of COVID-19 in East China using Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) and TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) observations. TropNO2VCDs from OMI and TROPOMI reveal sharp reductions of 33%–72% during 2020 LNY holiday season and the co-occurring outbreak of COVID-19 relative to the climatological mean of 2005–2019 LNY holiday seasons, and 22%–67% relative to the 2019 LNY holiday season. These reductions of TropNO2VCD occur majorly over highly polluted metropolitan areas with condensed industrial and transportation emission sources. COVID-19 control measures including lockdowns and shelter-in-place regulations are the primary reason for these tropospheric NO2 reductions over most areas of East China in 2020 LNY holiday season relative to the 2019 LNY holiday season, as COVID-19 control measures may explain ~87%–90% of tropospheric NO2 reduction in Wuhan as well as ~62%–89% in Beijing, Yangtze River Delta (YRD) and Pearl River Delta (PRD) areas. The clean air regulation of China also contributes significantly to reductions of tropospheric NO2 simultaneously and is the primary factor in the Sichuan Basin area, by explaining ~56%–62% of the tropospheric NO2 reduction there.


id: cord-296661-6ndn2qxc
author: Lu, Dingnan
date: 2020-07-25
txt: ./txt/cord-296661-6ndn2qxc.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-296661-6ndn2qxc.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://api.elsevier.com/content/article/pii/S0048969720347744
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141245
summary:
  This review provides new insights into the primary concentration methods that have been adopted by the eighteen recently reported COVID-19 wastewater detection studies, along with a brief discussion of the mechanisms of the most commonly used virus concentration methods, including the PEG-based separation, electrostatically charged membrane filtration, and ultrafiltration. The PEG-based separation is the most used technique (7 out of 18) among all concentration methods, and all four studies that adopted this concentration method showed positive results regarding the SARS-CoV-2 detection in wastewater samples (Bar Or et al., 2020; Hata et al., 2020; La Rosa et al., 2020b; Wu et al., 2020) . As previously mentioned, using electrostatically charged membranes filtration to concentrate viruses from turbid water, such as raw wastewater, can be subject to a significant reduction of virus recovery efficiency due to the presence of organic matter and high turbidity, which can lead to a preferential attachment to the charged filters and raise the risk of detrimental clogging.

title:
  Primary concentration – The critical step in implementing the wastewater based epidemiology for the COVID-19 pandemic: A mini-review

abstract:
  Abstract The recent outbreak of a novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has posed a significant global public health threat and caused dramatic social and economic disruptions. A new research direction is attracting a significant amount of attention in the academic community of environmental sciences and engineering, in which rapid community-level monitoring could be achieved by applying the methodology of wastewater based epidemiology (WBE). Given the fact that the development of a mass balance on the total number of viral RNA copies in wastewater samples and the infected stool specimens is the heart of WBE, the result of the quantitative RNA detection in wastewater has to be highly sensitive, accurate, and reliable. Thus, applying effective concentration methods before the subsequent RNA extraction and RT-qPCR detection is a must-have procedure for the WBE. This review provides new insights into the primary concentration methods that have been adopted by the eighteen recently reported COVID-19 wastewater detection studies, along with a brief discussion of the mechanisms of the most commonly used virus concentration methods, including the PEG-based separation, electrostatically charged membrane filtration, and ultrafiltration. In the end, two easy and well-proven concentration strategies are recommended as below, aiming to maximize the practical significance and operational effectiveness of the SARS-CoV-2 virus concentration from wastewater samples. Strategy1: Prefiltration-Salt addition-Electronegative membrane filtration (for initial volume ≤ 50 mL). Strategy2: Prefiltration-PEG-based separation-Overnight standing (for initial volume from 50 to 1000 mL).


id: cord-296986-8fuj072z
title: A chronicle of SARS-CoV-2: Part-I - Epidemiology, diagnosis, prognosis, transmission and treatment
author: Kumar, Manish
date: 2020-05-15
txt: ./txt/cord-296986-8fuj072z.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-296986-8fuj072z.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969720327959?v=s5
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139278
summary:
  The review explicitly covers the aspects like genome and pedigree of SARS-CoV-2; epidemiology, prognosis, pathogenesis, symptoms and diagnosis of COVID-19 in order to catalog the right information on transmission route, and influence of environmental factors on virus transmissions, for the robust understanding of right strategical steps for proper COVID-19 management. We have explicitly highlighted several useful information and facts like: i) No established relationship between progression of SARS-CoV-2 with temperature, humidity and/or both, ii) The underlying mechanism of SARS-CoV-2 is not fully understood, iii) Respiratory droplet size determines drop and airborne-based transmission, iv) Prognosis of COVID-19 can be done by its effects on various body organs, v) Infection can be stopped by restricting the binding of S protein and AE2, vi) Hydroxychloroquine is believed to be better than chloroquine for COVID-19, vii) Ivermectin with Vero-hSLAM cells is able to reduce infection by ~5000 time within 2 days, and viii) Nafamostat mesylate can inhibit SARS-CoV-2 S protein-initiated membrane fusion. Outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2): increased transmission beyond China-fourth update

abstract:
  Abstract In order to benefit the public, community workers and scientific community, we hereby present a chronicle of SARS-CoV-2 that leads to the unseen precedent of social distancing and lockdown owing to coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Information on this life-threatening pandemic of COVID-19 is sparse and discrete; and the urgency is such that the dissemination of information is increasing with numerous daily publications on the topic. Therefore, we developed a comprehensive review on various aspects of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19. We scientifically compiled published research, news, and reports from various sources to comprehend and summarize the information and findings on Coronaviruses. The review explicitly covers the aspects like genome and pedigree of SARS-CoV-2; epidemiology, prognosis, pathogenesis, symptoms and diagnosis of COVID-19 in order to catalog the right information on transmission route, and influence of environmental factors on virus transmissions, for the robust understanding of right strategical steps for proper COVID-19 management. We have explicitly highlighted several useful information and facts like: i) No established relationship between progression of SARS-CoV-2 with temperature, humidity and/or both, ii) The underlying mechanism of SARS-CoV-2 is not fully understood, iii) Respiratory droplet size determines drop and airborne-based transmission, iv) Prognosis of COVID-19 can be done by its effects on various body organs, v) Infection can be stopped by restricting the binding of S protein and AE2, vi) Hydroxychloroquine is believed to be better than chloroquine for COVID-19, vii) Ivermectin with Vero-hSLAM cells is able to reduce infection by ~5000 time within 2 days, and viii) Nafamostat mesylate can inhibit SARS-CoV-2 S protein-initiated membrane fusion. We have also suggested future research perspectives, challenges and scope.


id: cord-298990-bjv6xnqp
title: A health-based assessment of particulate air pollution in urban areas of Beijing in 2000–2004
author: Zhang, Minsi
date: 2007-04-15
txt: ./txt/cord-298990-bjv6xnqp.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-298990-bjv6xnqp.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://api.elsevier.com/content/article/pii/S0048969707001544
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2007.01.085
summary:
  Relevant research has been carried out in some cities and countries around the world (Beirut, Lebanon: El-Fadel and Massoud, 2000; Singapore: Quah and Boon, 2003; Shanghai, China: Kan and Chen, 2004) , indicating that the total economic cost of PM accounted for 4.31% and 1.03% of the gross domestic product (GDP) of Singapore and Shanghai, respectively. The health effects of PM 10 include mortality, especially from cardiovascular and respiratory problems, and morbidity, e.g., acute and chronic bronchitis and asthma attacks, accompanied by outpatient visits to internal medicine and pediatrics and hospital admission (Pope et al., 1995a) . (2003) showed that even the levels of particulate air pollution in Sydney were relatively low, e.g., the PM 10 concentrations ranged only in 16-26 μg m − 3 , it was still found the PM pollution were consistently associated with both daily mortality and hospital admissions, which indicated no threshold concentrations for health effects were present.

abstract:
  Particulate air pollution is a serious problem in Beijing. The annual concentration of particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter less than 10 μm (PM(10)), ranging from 141 to 166 μg m(− 3) in 2000–2004, could be very harmful to human health. In this paper, we presented the mortality and morbidity effects of PM(10) pollution based on statistical data and the epidemiological exposure–response function. The economic costs to health during the 5 years were estimated to lie between US$1670 and $3655 million annually, accounting for about 6.55% of Beijing's gross domestic product each year. The total costs were apportioned into two parts caused by: the local emissions and long-range transported pollution. The contribution from local emissions dominated the total costs, accounting on average for 3.60% of GDP. However, the contributions from transported pollution cannot be neglected, and the relative percentage to the total costs from the other regions could account for about 45%. An energy policy and effective measures should be proposed to reduce particulate matter, especially PM(2.5) pollution in Beijing to protect public health. The Beijing government also needs to cooperate with the other local governments to reduce high background level of particulate air pollution.


id: cord-299432-lbv69du4
author: Franklin, Alan B.
date: 2020-05-12
txt: ./txt/cord-299432-lbv69du4.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-299432-lbv69du4.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32416535/
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139358
summary:
  Here, we propose a hypothesized conceptual model that illustrates the mechanism whereby the SARS-CoV-2 could spillover from infected humans to naive wildlife hosts in North America. This proposed model is premised on transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from human feces through municipal waste water treatment plants into the natural aquatic environment where potential wildlife hosts become infected. Here, we propose a plausible mechanism where SARS-CoV-2, the pathogen causing the disease COVID-19, could spillover from infected humans into novel wildlife hosts in North America. While the primary risk associated with the current COVID-19 outbreak appears to be humanto-human transmission of SARS-CoV-2, we believe the existing evidence also supports the plausibility of novel coronaviruses, such as SARS-CoV-2, spilling over to new wildlife hosts through fecal shedding by infected humans and introduction to the natural aquatic environment via the waste water treatment system.

title:
  Spillover of SARS-CoV-2 into novel wild hosts in North America: A conceptual model for perpetuation of the pathogen

abstract:
  Abstract There is evidence that the current outbreak of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19, is of animal origin. As with a number of zoonotic pathogens, there is a risk of spillover into novel hosts. Here, we propose a hypothesized conceptual model that illustrates the mechanism whereby the SARS-CoV-2 could spillover from infected humans to naive wildlife hosts in North America. This proposed model is premised on transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from human feces through municipal waste water treatment plants into the natural aquatic environment where potential wildlife hosts become infected. We use the existing literature on human coronaviruses, including SARS CoV, to support the potential pathways and mechanisms in the conceptual model. Although we focus on North America, our conceptual model could apply to other parts of the globe as well.


id: cord-299889-x6c3p195
author: Tirkolaee, Erfan Babaee
date: 2020-11-10
txt: ./txt/cord-299889-x6c3p195.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-299889-x6c3p195.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969720371382?v=s5
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143607
summary:
  Therefore, in this study, a novel mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) model is developed to formulate the sustainable multi-trip location-routing problem with time windows (MTLRP-TW) for medical waste management in the COVID-19 pandemic. To this end, the sustainable multi-trip location-routing problem with time windows (MTLRP-TW) is introduced to address the collection, transportation and disposal processes considering the priorities of services and available budget of the system. Here to address the sustainable development, the objectives are defined to concurrently minimize the total traveling time of waste-collection vehicles, total violation from time windows (service priorities) and the number of people live around disposal sites. (2012) designed a multi-objective framework for routing of HAZMAT between generating nodes and disposal sites with the aim of total transportation cost and risk minimization. Developing an applied algorithm for multi-trip vehicle routing problem with time windows in urban waste collection: A case study

title:
  Sustainable fuzzy multi-trip location-routing problem for the epidemic outbreak of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)

abstract:
  The performance of waste management system has been recently interrupted and encountered a very serious situation due to the epidemic outbreak of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). To this end, the handling of infectious medical waste has been particularly more vital than ever. Therefore, in this study, a novel mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) model is developed to formulate the sustainable multi-trip location-routing problem with time windows (MTLRP-TW) for medical waste management in the COVID-19 pandemic. The objectives are to concurrently minimize the total traveling time, total violation from time windows/service priorities and total infection/environmental risk imposed on the population around disposal sites. Here, the time windows play a key role to define the priority of services for hospitals with a different range of risks. To deal with the uncertainty, a fuzzy chance-constrained programming approach is applied to the proposed model. A real case study is investigated in Sari city of Iran to test the performance and applicability of the proposed model. Accordingly, the optimal planning of vehicles is determined to be implemented by the municipality, which takes 19.733 hours to complete the processes of collection, transportation and disposal. Finally, several sensitivity analyses are performed to examine the behavior of the objective functions against the changes of controllable parameters and evaluate optimal policies and suggest useful managerial insights under different conditions.


id: cord-300435-vs0ntcsb
author: Katz, Al
date: 2018-10-01
txt: ./txt/cord-300435-vs0ntcsb.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-300435-vs0ntcsb.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.04.425
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.04.425
summary:
  Four sediments in the colloidal size range: goethite, montmorillonite, illite, and kaolinite, were suspended with the bacteriophage φ6, a model enveloped virus, to determine relative rates of heteroaggregation and the effect of aggregation on virus viability. A study of heteroaggregation of the non-enveloped cowpea mosaic virus with colloidal hematite revealed that at pH 6, at which hematite carries a positive surface charge and the virus a negative charge, the aggregates accumulated four times as many viruses as hematite particles Vilker et al. In this work, we employ turbidity measurements to investigate the heteroaggregation of a model envelope virus, the bacteriophage φ6, with colloidal goethite and three clay minerals: illite, kaolinite and montmorillonite. Although imprecise knowledge of doublet shape complicates calculations of heteroaggregation rates, analysis of the turbidity slope coupled with particle concentrations allows one to determine relative aggregation rates between φ6 and the four sediment types, elucidating the nature of the interaction.

title:
  Heteroaggregation of an enveloped bacteriophage with colloidal sediments and effect on virus viability

abstract:
  Four sediments in the colloidal size range: goethite, montmorillonite, illite, and kaolinite, were suspended with the bacteriophage φ6, a model enveloped virus, to determine relative rates of heteroaggregation and the effect of aggregation on virus viability. Turbidity was measured on combinations of virus and each sediment type at low concentration to determine aggregation rates. Aggregation of sediment with virus occurred regardless of mineral type, and larger fraction of virus is expected to aggregate with increasing sediment concentration leading to higher deposition rates. The negatively charged sediments, aggregated with φ6 (also negatively charged at neutral pH) at a faster rate than the positively charged sediments, yielding turbidity slopes of 4.94 × 10(−3) s(−1) and 7.50 × 10(−4) s(−1) for φ6-montmorillonite and φ6-illite aggregates, respectively, and 2.98 × 10(−5) s(−1) and 2.84 × 10(−5) s(−1), for φ6-goethite and φ6-kaolinite, respectively. This indicates that the interaction between sediments and virus is hydrophobic, rather than electrostatic. Large numbers of virions remained viable post-aggregation, despite the fragility of the viral envelope, indicating that small-sized aggregates, which may travel more readily through porous media, may pose an infection risk. The fraction of φ6 that remained viable varied with sediment type, with montmorillonite-φ6 aggregates experiencing the greatest reduction in infectivity at 35%. TEM analyses reveal that in all sediment-φ6 combinations, infectivity loss was likely due to disassembly of the viral envelope as a result of aggregation.


id: cord-300739-ll1kc7sn
author: Kerimray, Aiymgul
date: 2020-05-04
txt: ./txt/cord-300739-ll1kc7sn.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-300739-ll1kc7sn.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32387822/
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139179
summary:
  title: Assessing air quality changes in large cities during COVID-19 lockdowns: The impacts of traffic-free urban conditions in Almaty, Kazakhstan The results demonstrate the impact of traffic on the complex nature of air pollution in Almaty, which is substantially contributed by various nontraffic related sources, mainly coal-fired combined heat and power plants and household heating systems, as well as possible small irregular sources such as garbage burning and bathhouses. Benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and o-xylene (BTEX) concentrations were also measured during three days in the middle of the lockdown and compared with the concentrations observed during the same periods of previous years (2015) (2016) (2017) (2018) (2019) . There were substantial increases in benzene and toluene during the lockdown period compared to the average during the 2015-2019 years, while some reductions were observed in ethylbenzene and o-xylene concentrations.

title:
  Assessing air quality changes in large cities during COVID-19 lockdowns: The impacts of traffic-free urban conditions in Almaty, Kazakhstan

abstract:
  Abstract Number of cities worlwide experienced air quality improvements during COVID-19 lockdowns; however, such changes may have been different in places with major contributions from nontraffic related sources. In Almaty, a city-scale quarantine came into force on March 19, 2020, which was a week after the first COVID-19 case was registered in Kazakhstan. This study aims to analyze the effect of the lockdown from March 19 to April 14, 2020 (27 days), on the concentrations of air pollutants in Almaty. Daily concentrations of PM2.5, NO2, SO2, CO, O3, and BTEX were compared between the periods before and during the lockdown. During the lockdown, the PM2.5 concentration was reduced by 21% with spatial variations of 6–34% compared to the average on the same days in 2018–2019, and still, it exceeded WHO daily limit values for 18 days. There were also substantial reductions in CO and NO2 concentrations by 49% and 35%, respectively, but an increase in O3 levels by 15% compared to the prior 17 days before the lockdown. The concentrations of benzene and toluene were 2–3 times higher than those during in the same seasons of 2015–2019. The temporal reductions may not be directly attributed to the lockdown due to favorable meteorological variations during the period, but the spatial effects of the quarantine on the pollution levels are evidenced. The results demonstrate the impact of traffic on the complex nature of air pollution in Almaty, which is substantially contributed by various nontraffic related sources, mainly coal-fired combined heat and power plants and household heating systems, as well as possible small irregular sources such as garbage burning and bathhouses.


id: cord-301067-wk3cf0b7
author: Corpus-Mendoza, Asiel N.
date: 2020-11-01
txt: ./txt/cord-301067-wk3cf0b7.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-301067-wk3cf0b7.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143382
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143382
summary:
  As a consequence of the prevention measures implemented to contain the virus, cities around the world are experiencing a decrease in urban mobility and electricity demand that have positively affected the air quality. At the same time, we analyse the evolution of confirmed COVID-19 cases and compare them with the start of prevention measures and changes in sectors affected in different countries to discuss the effectiveness in time in which they are applied. These measures are classified in 5 categories in the original dataset, however, we reclassify them and discuss them in terms of their effects on health, and economy, but mainly on the environment by analysing changes in mobility, electricity generation, and air quality index (AQI) before and after the pandemic. At the same time, the analysis of changes in mobility and electricity demand along the evaluation of T D and I CR from the I C curves allow to discuss the timely execution of the prevention measures, which works as a feedback to consider and plan actions for the current pandemic or future global events.

title:
  Decrease of mobility, electricity demand, and NO2 emissions on COVID-19 times and their feedback on prevention measures

abstract:
  The spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on 2020 has affected human activities in a way never documented in modern history. As a consequence of the prevention measures implemented to contain the virus, cities around the world are experiencing a decrease in urban mobility and electricity demand that have positively affected the air quality. The most extreme cases for cities around the world show a decrease of 90, 40, and 70 % in mobility, electricity demand, and NO2 emissions respectively. At the same time, the inspection of these changes along the evaluation of COVID-19 incidence curves allow to obtain feedback about the timely execution of prevention measures for this and future global events. In this case, we identify and discuss the early effort of Latin-American countries to successfully delay the spread of the virus by implementing prevention measures before the fast growth of COVID-19 cases in comparison to European countries.


id: cord-302195-25gjbyi1
author: Al Huraimel, Khalid
date: 2020-07-15
url: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969720344752?v=s5
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140946
title:
  SARS-CoV-2 in the environment: Modes of transmission, early detection and potential role of pollutions

abstract:
  Abstract The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is spreading globally having a profound effect on lives of millions of people, causing worldwide economic disruption. Curbing the spread of COVID-19 and future pandemics may be accomplished through understanding the environmental context of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and adoption of effective detection tools and mitigation policies. This article aims to examine the latest investigations on SARS-CoV-2 plausible environmental transmission modes, employment of wastewater surveillance for early detection of COVID-19, and elucidating the role of solid waste, water, and atmospheric quality on viral infectivity. Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 via faecal-oral or bio-aerosols lacks robust evidence and remains debatable. However, improper disinfection and defected plumbing systems in indoor environments such as hospitals and high-rise towers may facilitate the transport of virus-laden droplets of wastewater causing infection. Clinical and epidemiological studies are needed to present robust evidence that SARS-CoV-2 is transmissible via aerosols, though quantification of virus-laden aerosols at low concentrations presents a challenge. Wastewater surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 can be an effective tool in early detection of outbreak and determination of COVID-19 prevalence within a population, complementing clinical testing and providing decision makers guidance on restricting or relaxing movement. While poor air quality increases susceptibility to diseases, evidence for air pollution impact on COVID-19 infectivity is not available as infections are dynamically changing worldwide. Solid waste generated by households with infected individuals during the lockdown period may facilitate the spread of COVID-19 via fomite transmission route but has received little attention from the scientific community. Water bodies receiving raw sewage may pose risk of infection but this has not been investigated to date. Overall, our understanding of the environmental perspective of SARS-CoV-2 is imperative to detecting outbreak and predicting pandemic severity, allowing us to be equipped with the right tools to curb any future pandemic.


id: cord-303665-l57e54hu
title: Review on the contamination of wastewater by COVID-19 virus: Impact and treatment
author: Lahrich, S.
date: 2020-09-10
txt: ./txt/cord-303665-l57e54hu.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-303665-l57e54hu.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142325
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142325
summary:
  Under these circumstances, the passive, but effective, method of sewage or wastewater monitoring can be used to trace and track the presence of SARS-CoV-2, through their genetic material RNA, and screen entire community. Since wastewater contains viruses that are repelled by everyone, regardless of their health, monitoring for viruses in wastewater and environmental waters that receive effluent from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) can determine the true prevalence and molecular epidemiology of gastroenteritis viruses and the risks to human health (Guan et al., 2020; Huang et al., 2020; Wang et al., 2020a) in a given geographical area rather than clinical research (Prevost et al., 2015; Kazama et al., 2017) . Therefore, the safety of drinking water and wastewater depends on the appropriate selection of the disinfectant dose and contact time in the treated environment, which are very important analytical techniques and methods that can detect viruses. Understanding how the virus breaks down in the aquatic environment is also critical to assessing risks to human health at present; the stability of the SARS-CoV-2 genome in wastewater is unclear.

abstract:
  Emerging viruses are a major public health problem. Most zoonotic pathogens originate in wildlife, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), influenza, Ebola, and coronavirus. Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a viral respiratory illness caused by a coronavirus called SARS-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV). Viruses are charged colloidal particles that have the ability to adsorb on surfaces depending on pH. Their sorptive interaction with solid particles has important implications for their behavior in aquatic environments, soils, sewage sludge, and other solid materials and their removal or concentration by water treatment processes. Current state of knowledge on the potential of wastewater surveillance to understand the COVID-19 pandemic is reviewed. This study also identified wastewater irrigation systems with a higher risk of COVID-19 transmission. Emphasis was placed on methodologies for the detection and quantification of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater.


id: cord-304490-q9ab1pji
author: Iqbal, Najaf
date: 2020-04-22
txt: ./txt/cord-304490-q9ab1pji.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-304490-q9ab1pji.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138916
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138916
summary:
  We employ 24-h daily average temperature, daily new confirmed cases of a covid-19 in Wuhan, and RMB exchange rate to represent the weather, covid-19 outbreak, and Chinese economy, respectively. The Renminbi exchange rate showed a negative coherence at specific time-frequency spots suggesting a negative but limited impact of the covid-19 outbreak in Wuhan on the Chinese export economy. In such a scenario, it is interesting to know how the Chinese RMB exchange rate moved with the emerging situation of the covid-19 outbreak, explicitly speaking the number of new daily confirmed cases in Wuhan during this period. This study attempts to document the relationship between local weather (Temperature), economy (Exchange rate of RMB), and covid-19 outbreak (Daily number of new confirmed covid-19 cases) in the Chinese city of Wuhan where it was first reported, using wavelet analysis.

title:
  Nexus between COVID-19, temperature and exchange rate in Wuhan City: New findings from Partial and Multiple Wavelet Coherence

abstract:
  Abstract This study attempts to document the nexus between weather, covid-19 outbreak in Wuhan and the Chinese economy. We employ 24-h daily average temperature, daily new confirmed cases of a covid-19 in Wuhan, and RMB exchange rate to represent the weather, covid-19 outbreak, and Chinese economy, respectively. The methodology of Wavelet Transform Coherence (WTC), Partial Wavelet Coherence (PWC), and Multiple Wavelet Coherence (MWC) is used to analyze the daily data collected from 21st January 2020 to 31st March 2020. Results reveal significant coherence between series at different time-frequency combinations. Overall results show the insignificance of an increase in temperature to contain new covid-19 infections. The Renminbi exchange rate showed a negative coherence at specific time-frequency spots suggesting a negative but limited impact of the covid-19 outbreak in Wuhan on the Chinese export economy. Our results are contrary to many earlier studies, which show a significant impact of increased temperature in slowing down covid-19 spread. These results can have important implications for economic and containment policy making regarding the covid-19 outbreak.


id: cord-304571-1riprk86
author: Ahmed, Warish
date: 2019-11-20
txt: ./txt/cord-304571-1riprk86.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-304571-1riprk86.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.07.055
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.07.055
summary:
  Additionally, a review of fecal indicators and pathogen log removal values (LRVs) through Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) or Best Management Practices (BMPs) of stormwater runoff has been compiled. The literature search was performed using the keywords "(stormwater OR sensitive urban design OR WSUD OR green infrastructure OR low impact development OR Low impact urban design and development) AND (pathogen OR microb-OR bacter-OR protozoa OR source tracking OR MST OR fecal indicator OR fecal contamination OR health risk OR QMRA) and included studies that are reported in English. The studies summarized in Table 3 indicate that potable and non-potable exposures to stormwater are likely to exceed water quality targets [e.g. up to a geometric 240 CFU/ mL for recycled water (USEPA, 2012b)] and risk benchmarks (10 −4 probability of infection or 10 −6 disability adjusted life years per person per year (pppy) in the absence of additional treatment and/or BMPs depending on the area, end use, and source water.

title:
  A review on microbial contaminants in stormwater runoff and outfalls: Potential health risks and mitigation strategies

abstract:
  Demands on global water supplies are increasing in response to the need to provide more food, water, and energy for a rapidly growing population. These water stressors are exacerbated by climate change, as well as the growth and urbanisation of industry and commerce. Consequently, urban water authorities around the globe are exploring alternative water sources to meet ever-increasing demands. These alternative sources are primarily treated sewage, stormwater, and groundwater. Stormwater including roof-harvested rainwater has been considered as an alternative water source for both potable and non-potable uses. One of the most significant issues concerning alternative water reuse is the public health risk associated with chemical and microbial contaminants. Several studies to date have quantified fecal indicators and pathogens in stormwater. Microbial source tracking (MST) approaches have also been used to determine the sources of fecal contamination in stormwater and receiving waters. This review paper summarizes occurrence and concentrations of fecal indicators, pathogens, and MST marker genes in urban stormwater. A section of the review highlights the removal of fecal indicators and pathogens through water sensitive urban design (WSUD) or Best Management Practices (BMPs). We also discuss approaches for assessing and mitigating health risks associated with stormwater, including a summary of existing quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) models for potable and non-potable reuse of stormwater. Finally, the most critical research gaps are identified for formulating risk management strategies.


id: cord-304925-9gvx3swf
author: Xie, Zhixiang
date: 2020-07-14
txt: ./txt/cord-304925-9gvx3swf.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-304925-9gvx3swf.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32687995/
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140929
summary:
  Abstract This paper uses the exploratory spatial data analysis and the geodetector method to analyze the spatial and temporal differentiation characteristics and the influencing factors of the COVID-19 (corona virus disease 2019) epidemic spread in mainland China based on the cumulative confirmed cases, average temperature, and socio-economic data. Thus, we selected the indicators reflecting the population distribution, population inflow from Wuhan, traffic accessibility, economic connection intensity, average temperature, and medical facilities conditions J o u r n a l P r e -p r o o f as the detection factors (Table 2) , and the epidemic spread rate as the detected factor to assess the formation mechanism for the spatial pattern of COVID-19 epidemic. Specifically, the influence of the population distribution (X1) on the spatial distribution of the epidemic spread rate was significantly different from the population inflow from Wuhan (X2), economic connection intensity (X4), and average temperature (X5), but not different from the traffic accessibility (X3) and medical facility conditions (X6).

title:
  Spatial and temporal differentiation of COVID-19 epidemic spread in mainland China and its influencing factors

abstract:
  Abstract This paper uses the exploratory spatial data analysis and the geodetector method to analyze the spatial and temporal differentiation characteristics and the influencing factors of the COVID-19 (corona virus disease 2019) epidemic spread in mainland China based on the cumulative confirmed cases, average temperature, and socio-economic data. The results show that: (1) the epidemic spread rapidly from January 24 to February 20, 2020, and the distribution of the epidemic areas tended to be stable over time. The epidemic spread rate in Hubei province, in its surrounding, and in some economically developed cities was higher, while that in western part of China and in remote areas of central and eastern China was lower. (2) The global and local spatial correlation characteristics of the epidemic distribution present a positive correlation. Specifically, the global spatial correlation characteristics experienced a change process from agglomeration to decentralization. The local spatial correlation characteristics were mainly composed of the‘high-high’ and ‘low-low’ clustering types, and the situation of the contiguous layout was very significant. (3) The population inflow from Wuhan and the strength of economic connection were the main factors affecting the epidemic spread, together with the population distribution, transport accessibility, average temperature, and medical facilities, which affected the epidemic spread to varying degrees. (4) The detection factors interacted mainly through the mutual enhancement and nonlinear enhancement, and their influence on the epidemic spread rate exceeded that of single factors. Besides, each detection factor has an interval range that is conducive to the epidemic spread.


id: cord-305262-23qylbmg
author: Rowan, Neil J.
date: 2020-09-10
url: https://api.elsevier.com/content/article/pii/S0048969720357880
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142259
title:
  Unlocking the surge in demand for personal and protective equipment (PPE) and improvised face coverings arising from coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic – Implications for efficacy, re-use and sustainable waste management

abstract:
  Currently, there is no effective vaccine for tackling the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 with the occurrence of repeat waves of infection frequently stretching hospital resources beyond capacity. Disease countermeasures rely upon preventing person-to-person transmission of SARS-CoV2 so as to protect front-line healthcare workers (HCWs). COVID-19 brings enormous challenges in terms of sustaining the supply chain for single-use-plastic personal and protective equipment (PPE). Post-COVID-19, the changes in medical practice will drive high demand for PPE. Important countermeasures for preventing COVID-19 transmission include mitigating potential high risk aerosol transmission in healthcare setting using medical PPE (such as filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs)) and the appropriate use of face coverings by the general public that carries a lower transmission risk. PPE reuse is a potential short term solution during COVID-19 pandemic where there is increased evidence for effective deployment of reprocessing methods such as vaporized hydrogen peroxide (30 to 35% VH2OH) used alone or combined with ozone, ultraviolet light at 254 nm (2000 mJ/cm2) and moist heat (60 °C at high humidity for 60 min). Barriers to PPE reuse include potentially trust and acceptance by HCWs. Efficacy of face coverings are influenced by the appropriate wearing to cover the nose and mouth, type of material used, number of layers, duration of wearing, and potentially superior use of ties over ear loops. Insertion of a nose clip into cloth coverings may help with maintaining fit. Use of 60 °C for 60 min (such as, use of domestic washing machine and spin dryer) has been advocated for face covering decontamination. Risk of virus infiltration in improvised face coverings is potentially increased by duration of wearing due to humidity, liquid diffusion and virus retention. Future sustained use of PPE will be influenced by the availability of recyclable PPE and by innovative biomedical waste management.


id: cord-305558-dnvl60ez
author: Ranjan, Avinash Kumar
date: 2020-07-19
url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141024
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141024
title:
  Effect of lockdown due to SARS COVID-19 on aerosol optical depth (AOD) over urban and mining regions in India

abstract:
  Abstract The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-COronaVirus Diseases 2019 (SARS-COVID-19) pandemic has posed a serious threat to human health (death) and substantial economic losses across the globe. It was however presumed that extreme preventive measures of entire lockdown in India might have reduced the air pollution level and therefore decreased the aerosol optical depth (AOD). The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS)-based Multi-angle Implementation of Atmospheric Correction (MAIAC) daily AOD product was deployed to investigate the change in AOD level during lockdown phases across the Indian Territory as compared to the long-term mean AOD level (2000–2019) of the same periods. The key findings of the study revealed that AOD level over the Indian Territory is greatly reduced (~45%) during the lockdown periods as compared to the long-term mean AOD level (2000–2019). Furthermore, a noteworthy negative AOD anomaly (~6 to 37%) was observed across the four metropolitan cities in India during the entire lockdown period (25th March to 15th May 2020). However, coal mining regions of the various coalfields in India showed a positive anomaly (~+11 to 40%) during the lockdown periods due to ongoing mining operations. In a nutshell, the study results indicated a huge drop in the AOD level over Indian Territory during lockdown periods. It is expected that the pandemic can influence some policy decisions to propose air pollution control methods. Lockdown events possibly may play a crucial role as a potential solution for air pollution abatement in the future. It may not be uncommon in future when the governments may implement deliberately selective lockdowns at pollution hotspots to control the pollution level.


id: cord-306124-sn780ike
author: Jakariya, Md.
date: 2020-06-16
txt: ./txt/cord-306124-sn780ike.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-306124-sn780ike.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://api.elsevier.com/content/article/pii/S0048969720337761
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140255
summary:
  The study also identified the need for assessing vulnerability after certain intervals, specifically owing to the dynamic nature of the coastal region where the factors were found to vary among the different study areas. An effort was made to find the crop yield vulnerability of the farmers of the three coastal districts of Bangladesh by identifying the significant factors that have increased effects on the vulnerability score by Machine Learning models. The factors related to three different variables of vulnerability, e.g., exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity, were identified through focus group discussions (FGD) with the local farmers in each village. Across the coastal region of Bangladesh, the climatic conditions were amongst the factors with the highest weights, which illustrate their importance to assess vulnerability levels. Table 3 shows the state of crop yield vulnerability of the three coastal regions of Bangladesh, which is reflected in the vulnerability scores of different villages in the study area.

title:
  Assessing climate-induced agricultural vulnerable coastal communities of Bangladesh using machine learning techniques

abstract:
  Abstract The agricultural arena in the coastal regions of South-East Asian countries is experiencing the mounting pressures of the adverse effects of climate change. Controlling and predicting climatic factors are difficult and require expensive solutions. The study focuses on identifying issues other than climatic factors using the Livelihood Vulnerability Index (LVI) to measure agricultural vulnerability. Factors such as monthly savings of the farmers, income opportunities, damage to cultivable lands, and water availability had significant impacts on increasing community vulnerability with regards to agricultural practice. The study also identified the need for assessing vulnerability after certain intervals, specifically owing to the dynamic nature of the coastal region where the factors were found to vary among the different study areas. The development of a climate-resilient livelihood vulnerability assessment tool to detect the most significant factors to assess agricultural vulnerability was done using machine learning (ML) techniques. The ML techniques identified nine significant factors out of 21 based on the minimum level of standard deviation (0.03). A practical application of the outcome of the study was the development of a mobile application. Custom REST APIs (application programming interface) were developed on the backend to seamlessly sync the app to a server, thus ensuring the acquisition of future data without much effort and resources. The paper provides a methodology for a unique vulnerability assessment technique using a mobile application, which can be used for the planning and management of resources by different stakeholders in a sustainable way.


id: cord-308086-jycvupy4
title: Indirect effects of COVID-19 on the environment
author: Zambrano-Monserrate, Manuel A.
date: 2020-04-20
txt: ./txt/cord-308086-jycvupy4.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-308086-jycvupy4.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://api.elsevier.com/content/article/pii/S0048969720323305
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138813
summary:
  Abstract This research aims to show the positive and negative indirect effects of COVID-19 on the environment, particularly in the most affected countries such as China, USA, Italy, and Spain. On the other hand, there are also negative secondary aspects such as the reduction in recycling and the increase in waste, further endangering the contamination of physical spaces (water and land), in addition to air. Global economic activity is expected to return in the coming months in most countries (even if slowly), so decreasing GHG concentrations during a short period is not a sustainable way to clean up our environment. Along these same lines, the UN Environment Program urged governments to treat waste management, including medical, domestic, and other waste, as an urgent and essential public service to minimize possible secondary health and environmental effects (ARCplus, 2020). Decreasing GHG concentrations during a short period is not a sustainable way to clean up our environment.

abstract:
  Abstract This research aims to show the positive and negative indirect effects of COVID-19 on the environment, particularly in the most affected countries such as China, USA, Italy, and Spain. Our research shows that there is a significant association between contingency measures and improvement in air quality, clean beaches and environmental noise reduction. On the other hand, there are also negative secondary aspects such as the reduction in recycling and the increase in waste, further endangering the contamination of physical spaces (water and land), in addition to air. Global economic activity is expected to return in the coming months in most countries (even if slowly), so decreasing GHG concentrations during a short period is not a sustainable way to clean up our environment.


id: cord-311827-jfdlb2g8
title: Nonuniform impacts of COVID-19 lockdown on air quality over the United States
author: Chen, L.-W. Antony
date: 2020-07-21
txt: ./txt/cord-311827-jfdlb2g8.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-311827-jfdlb2g8.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32731074/
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141105
summary:
  Abstract Most of the state governments in United States (U.S.) issued lockdown or business restrictions amid the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, which created a unique opportunity to evaluate the air quality response to reduced economic activities. Data acquired from 28 long-term air quality stations across the U.S. revealed widespread but nonuniform reductions of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and carbon monoxide (CO) during the first phase of lockdown (March 15–April 25, 2020) relative to a pre-lockdown reference period and historical baselines established in 2017–2019. The lockdown or stay-at-home orders issued by the U.S. government to counter the COVID-19 pandemic has nonuniformly impacted air pollution in the U.S. More consistent NO 2 and CO declines than other pollutants coincide with reduced transportation and utility demands, while inter-site differences reflect not only the local lockdown policy but also population density. Assessing air quality changes in large cities during COVID-19 lockdowns: The impacts of traffic-free urban conditions in Almaty

abstract:
  Abstract Most of the state governments in United States (U.S.) issued lockdown or business restrictions amid the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, which created a unique opportunity to evaluate the air quality response to reduced economic activities. Data acquired from 28 long-term air quality stations across the U.S. revealed widespread but nonuniform reductions of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and carbon monoxide (CO) during the first phase of lockdown (March 15–April 25, 2020) relative to a pre-lockdown reference period and historical baselines established in 2017–2019. The reductions, up to 49% for NO2 and 37% for CO, are statistically significant at two thirds of the sites and tend to increase with local population density. Significant reductions of particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) only occurred in the Northeast and California/Nevada metropolises where NO2 declined the most, while the changes in ozone (O3) were mixed and relatively minor. These findings are consistent with lower transportation and utility demands that dominate NO2 and CO emissions, especially in major urban areas, due to the lockdown. This study provides an insight into potential public health benefits with more aggressive air quality management, which should be factored into strategies to reopen the U.S. and global economy.


id: cord-312619-7jpf81yz
title: Disinfection technology and strategies for COVID-19 hospital and bio-medical waste management
author: Ilyas, Sadia
date: 2020-08-12
txt: ./txt/cord-312619-7jpf81yz.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-312619-7jpf81yz.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32822917/
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141652
summary:
  The exposure to COVID-waste may potentially increase the virus spread by increasing the reproductive number (R 0 ) from its determined range between 2.2 to 3.58 Thus, effective management of COVID-waste including the appropriate disinfect and disposal techniques are necessary to control the pandemic spread, which has not been focused yet albeit posing a similar threat as SARS-CoV-2 itself can have to the public health. The present article reviews the disinfection technologies to control/prevent the novel coronavirus spread and the proper management of COVID-waste including the effective strategies and reprocessing possibilities of the used items. Not only the COVID-waste generated by the hospitals, health centers, and self-quarantines, but the waste generated during the disinfection of public area or, where an infected person visited have been directed to treat as medical waste and collection of those waste in double-packed designated bags are mandatory before sending to burning at the high-temperature incinerator facility.

abstract:
  Abstract The isolation wards, institutional quarantine centers, and home quarantine are generating a huge amount of bio-medical waste (BMW) worldwide since the outbreak of novel coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). The personal protective equipment, testing kits, surgical facemasks, and nitrile gloves are the major contributors to waste volume. Discharge of a new category of BMW (COVID-waste) is of great global concern to public health and environmental sustainability if handled inappropriately. It may cause exponential spreading of this fatal disease as waste acts as a vector for SARS-CoV-2, which survives up to 7 days on COVID-waste (like facemasks). Proper disposal of COVID-waste is therefore immediately requires to lower the threat of pandemic spread and for sustainable management of the environmental hazards. Henceforth, in the present article, disinfection technologies for handling COVID-waste from its separate collection to various physical and chemical treatment steps have been reviewed. Furthermore, policy briefs on the global initiatives for COVID-waste management including the applications of different disinfection techniques have also been discussed with some potential examples effectively applied to reduce both health and environmental risks. This article can be of great significance to the strategy development for preventing/controlling the pandemic of similar episodes in the future.


id: cord-314711-c6rqv4zd
author: Pan, Jinhua
date: 2020-09-09
url: https://api.elsevier.com/content/article/pii/S0048969720358010
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142272
title:
  Warmer weather unlikely to reduce the COVID-19 transmission: An ecological study in 202 locations in 8 countries

abstract:
  Purpose To examine the association between meteorological factors (temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and UV radiation) and transmission capacity of COVID-19. Methods We collected daily numbers of COVID-19 cases in 202 locations in 8 countries. We matched meteorological data from the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. We used a time-frequency approach to examine the possible association between meteorological conditions and basic reproductive number (R0) of COVID-19. We determined the correlations between meteorological factors and R0 of COVID-19 using multiple linear regression models and meta-analysis. We further validated our results using a susceptible-exposed-infectious-recovered (SEIR) metapopulation model to simulate the changes of daily cases of COVID-19 in China under different temperatures and relative humidity conditions. Principal results Temperature did not exhibit significant association with R0 of COVID-19 (meta p = 0.446). Also, relative humidity (meta p = 0.215), wind speed (meta p = 0.986), and ultraviolet (UV) radiation (meta p = 0.491) were not significantly associated with R0 either. The SEIR model in China showed that with a wide range of meteorological conditions, the number of COVID-19 confirmed cases would not change substantially. Conclusions Meteorological conditions did not have statistically significant associations with the R0 of COVID-19. Warmer weather alone seems unlikely to reduce the COVID-19 transmission.


id: cord-314992-vhjuus50
title: On biological evolution and environmental solutions
author: Matthews, Blake
date: 2020-07-01
txt: ./txt/cord-314992-vhjuus50.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-314992-vhjuus50.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138194
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138194
summary:
  Drug treatment is often the default approach used to control emergent bacterial and fungal diseases, but in some cases a single new drug can cause strong natural selection, and, combined with the high evolutionary potential of pathogens, this means that the expected time until drug resistance evolves can be short (Fisher et al., 2018; Kennedy and Read, 2018) . A better understanding of the evolutionary dynamics of such systems, gained, for example, by tracking environmental change in real-time and linking those changes with environmental sources of natural selection, could help us predict the outbreaks of toxic algae. Predictions about complex ecological systems are challenging and require solid understanding of ecological and evolutionary mechanisms behind population growth, genetic and trait diversity, trait-environmental relationships, trade-offs, and community dynamics.

abstract:
  Drawing insights from multiple disciplines is essential for finding integrative solutions that are required to tackle complex environmental problems. Human activities are causing unprecedented influence on global ecosystems, culminating in the loss of species and fundamental changes in the selective environments of organisms across the tree of life. Our collective understanding about biological evolution can help identify and mitigate many of the environmental problems in the Anthropocene. To this end, we propose a stronger integration of environmental sciences with evolutionary biology.


id: cord-317042-dll3qt4g
author: Lv, Jun
date: 2020-06-19
txt: ./txt/cord-317042-dll3qt4g.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-317042-dll3qt4g.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://api.elsevier.com/content/article/pii/S0048969720338924
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140370
summary:
  title: Detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA residue on object surfaces in nucleic acid testing laboratory using droplet digital PCR In this study, we compared the qRT-PCR and ddPCR in detecting of residual virus that existed on the object surfaces from sample transportation and reception related facilities, testing related instruments, personal protective equipment and other facilities in nucleic acid testing laboratory. In this study, we aimed to 1) determine the concentration of SARS-Cov-2 present on the object surfaces and personal protective equipment after the nucleic acid test, 2) identify the risk areas and operation behaviors that may cause contamination, and 3) provide reference basis for the targeted formulation of laboratory disinfection programs and personal operating specifications. The SARS-CoV-2 test results of object surface samples from nucleic acid detection laboratory were shown in Table 1 . In this study, all objects in nucleic acid detection laboratory that tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 were directly or indirectly contacted by the operator''s gloved hands.

title:
  Detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA residue on object surfaces in nucleic acid testing laboratory using droplet digital PCR

abstract:
  Abstract The rapid development of global COVID-19 pandemic poses an unprecedented challenge to the safety and quality of laboratory diagnostic testing. Little is known about the laboratory surface areas and operation behaviors that may cause potential contamination in SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid testing. This study aims to provide reference basis for the improvement of laboratory disinfection programs and personal operating protocols. In this study, we compared the qRT-PCR and ddPCR in detecting of residual virus that existed on the object surfaces from sample transportation and reception related facilities, testing related instruments, personal protective equipment and other facilities in nucleic acid testing laboratory. All samples were negative by qRT-PCR, in contrast, 13 of 61 samples were positive for SARS-CoV-2 by ddPCR. The areas with highest density of SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid were the outer gloves of operator A (37.4 copies/cm2), followed by door handle of 4 °C refrigerator (26.25 copies/cm2), goggles of operator A (22.16 copies/cm2), outer cover of high speed centrifuge (19.95 copies/cm2), inner wall of high speed centrifuge (14.70 copies/cm2) and others. We found that all the positive objects were directly or indirectly contacted by the operator's gloved hands, suggesting that hands contact was the main transmission pathway that led to laboratory environmental contamination. In summary, ddPCR has an advantage over qRT-PCR in tracing laboratory contamination. We evaluated the risk areas and operation behaviors that may easily cause contamination, and provided recommendation for improving the laboratory disinfection programs and personal operating specifications.


id: cord-317355-z5tk3v3b
author: Dunker, Susanne
date: 2020-10-13
txt: ./txt/cord-317355-z5tk3v3b.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-317355-z5tk3v3b.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://api.elsevier.com/content/article/pii/S0048969720364111
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142881
summary:
  title: No SARS-CoV-2 detected in air samples (pollen and particulate matter) in Leipzig during the first spread Air samples collected at our measuring station in Leipzig and purified pollen were analyzed for SARS-CoV-2 typical signals or for virus-induced cytopathic effects, to test if the virus could bind to bioaerosols and if so, whether these complexes are infectious. We therefore aimed at investigating whether SARS-CoV-2 can bind to pollen or other kind of particulate matter within bioaerosols sampled at our station in Leipzig and if so, whether these complexes are infectious. In none of these samples SARS-CoV-2 typical For a detailed analysis of a possible correlation between concentrations of the most abundant pollen, particulate matter and registered Covid-19 cases, a correlation matrix was created with R (package "PerformanceAnalytics") (Fig. 2) .

title:
  No SARS-CoV-2 detected in air samples (pollen and particulate matter) in Leipzig during the first spread

abstract:
  The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic co-occurred with pollen season in Europe 2020 and recent studies suggest a potential link between both. Air samples collected at our measuring station in Leipzig and purified pollen were analyzed for SARS-CoV-2 typical signals or for virus-induced cytopathic effects, to test if the virus could bind to bioaerosols and if so, whether these complexes are infectious. The results show that neither air samples nor purified pollen were infectious or could act as carrier for virus particles.


id: cord-318043-1x3dp1vv
title: Investigation of effective climatology parameters on COVID-19 outbreak in Iran
author: Ahmadi, Mohsen
date: 2020-04-17
txt: ./txt/cord-318043-1x3dp1vv.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-318043-1x3dp1vv.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138705
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138705
summary:
  In this study, the main parameters, including the number of infected people with COVID-19, population density, intra-provincial movement, and infection days to end of the study period, average temperature, average precipitation, humidity, wind speed, and average solar radiation investigated to understand how can these parameters effects on COVID-19 spreading in Iran? Organization," n.d.), population density, intra-provincial movement, infection days to end of the study period, average temperature( • C) (Yuan et al., 2006) , average precipitation (mm) (Araujo and Naimi, 2020) , humidity(%) (Wang et al., 2020) , wind speed (km/h) (Yuan et al., 2006) and average solar radiation (kWh/m 2 ) (Qu and Wickramasinghe, 2017) in the study period. In this study, the correlation of nine main variables includes the number of infected people, population density, intra-provincial movement, days of infection, average temperature, average rain, humidity, wind speed, and solar radiation with infection rate analyzed.

abstract:
  Abstract SARS CoV-2 (COVID-19) Coronavirus cases are confirmed throughout the world and millions of people are being put into quarantine. A better understanding of the effective parameters in infection spreading can bring about a logical measurement toward COVID-19. The effect of climatic factors on spreading of COVID-19 can play an important role in the new Coronavirus outbreak. In this study, the main parameters, including the number of infected people with COVID-19, population density, intra-provincial movement, and infection days to end of the study period, average temperature, average precipitation, humidity, wind speed, and average solar radiation investigated to understand how can these parameters effects on COVID-19 spreading in Iran? The Partial correlation coefficient (PCC) and Sobol’-Jansen methods are used for analyzing the effect and correlation of variables with the COVID-19 spreading rate. The result of sensitivity analysis shows that the population density, intra-provincial movement have a direct relationship with the infection outbreak. Conversely, areas with low values of wind speed, humidity, and solar radiation exposure to a high rate of infection that support the virus's survival. The provinces such as Tehran, Mazandaran, Alborz, Gilan, and Qom are more susceptible to infection because of high population density, intra-provincial movements and high humidity rate in comparison with Southern provinces.


id: cord-318856-f0m3wuyj
title: Can pollen explain the seasonality of flu-like illnesses in the Netherlands?
author: Hoogeveen, Martijn J.
date: 2020-10-22
txt: ./txt/cord-318856-f0m3wuyj.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-318856-f0m3wuyj.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969720367127?v=s5
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143182
summary:
  To further understand the impact of pollen as an environmental factor influencing the life cycle of flulike epidemics, the objective of this study is to determine the correlations of pollen and meteorological variables with (changes in) flu-like incidence and develop and test a discrete predictive model that combines pollen and meteorological co-inhibitors. To study the relationship between pollen and flu-like incidence in the Netherlands, we used the public datasets of Elkerliek Hospital (Elkerliek.nl) about the weekly allergenic, low-level allergenic and total pollen concentrations in the Netherlands in grains/m 3 , whereby for 42 types of pollen particles the J o u r n a l P r e -p r o o f Journal Pre-proof numbers are counted and averaged per day per 1m 3 of air. When testing the impact on ΔILI, the weekly changes in medical flu-like incidence, the extended dataset till 2020, including COVID-19, shows a strong and highly significant inverse correlation with total pollen (r(226) = -0.26, p = 0.000063).

abstract:
  Current models for flu-like epidemics insufficiently explain multi-cycle seasonality. Meteorological factors alone, including the associated behavior, do not predict seasonality, given substantial climate differences between countries that are subject to flu-like epidemics or COVID-19. Pollen is documented to be allergenic, it plays a role in immuno-activation and defense against respiratory viruses, and seems to create a bio-aerosol that lowers the reproduction number of flu-like viruses. Therefore, we hypothesize that pollen may explain the seasonality of flu-like epidemics, including COVID-19, in combination with meteorological variables. We have tested the Pollen-Flu Seasonality Theory for 2016-2020 flu-like seasons, including COVID-19, in the Netherlands, with its 17.4 million inhabitants. We combined changes in flu-like incidence per 100K/Dutch residents (code: ILI) with pollen concentrations and meteorological data. Finally, a predictive model was tested using pollen and meteorological threshold values, inversely correlated to flu-like incidence. We found a highly significant inverse correlation of r(224)= -0.41 (p < 0.001) between pollen and changes in flu-like incidence, corrected for the incubation period. The correlation was stronger after taking into account the incubation time. We found that our predictive model has the highest inverse correlation with changes in flu-like incidence of r(222) = -0.48 (p < 0.001) when average thresholds of 610 total pollen grains/m3, 120 allergenic pollen grains/m3, and a solar radiation of 510 J/cm2 are passed. The passing of at least the pollen thresholds, preludes the beginning and end of flu-like seasons. Solar radiation is a co-inhibitor of flu-like incidence, while temperature makes no difference. However, higher relative humidity increases with flu-like incidence. We conclude that pollen is a predictor of the inverse seasonality of flu-like epidemics, including COVID-19, and that solar radiation is a co-inhibitor, in the Netherlands.


id: cord-320787-dwyyjq6o
title: First detection of SARS-CoV-2 in untreated wastewaters in Italy
author: La Rosa, Giuseppina
date: 2020-05-23
txt: ./txt/cord-320787-dwyyjq6o.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-320787-dwyyjq6o.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139652
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139652
summary:
  Italy is among the world''s worst-affected countries in the COVID-19 pandemic, but so far there are no studies assessing the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in Italian wastewaters. To this aim, twelve influent sewage samples, collected between February and April 2020 from Wastewater Treatment Plants in Milan and Rome, were tested adapting, for concentration, the standard WHO procedure for Poliovirus surveillance. SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection was accomplished in volumes of 250 mL of wastewaters collected in areas of high (Milan) and low (Rome) epidemic circulation, according to clinical data. Herein we report the results of the screening for SARS-CoV-2 presence in sewage samples collected between the end of February and the beginning of April 2020 from WWTPs in Milan (Northern Italy) and Rome (Central Italy). In the absence of a standardized method for SARS-CoV-2 detection in environmental samples, RNAs were tested for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 using three different nested RT-PCR assays and one real-time qPCR assay (Table 1 and Figure 1 b) a newly designed primer set specific for SARS-CoV-2.

abstract:
  Abstract Several studies have demonstrated the advantages of environmental surveillance through the monitoring of sewage for the assessment of viruses circulating in a given community (wastewater-based epidemiology, WBE). During the COVID-19 public health emergency, many reports have described the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in stools from COVID-19 patients, and a few studies reported the occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewaters worldwide. Italy is among the world's worst-affected countries in the COVID-19 pandemic, but so far there are no studies assessing the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in Italian wastewaters. To this aim, twelve influent sewage samples, collected between February and April 2020 from Wastewater Treatment Plants in Milan and Rome, were tested adapting, for concentration, the standard WHO procedure for Poliovirus surveillance. Molecular analysis was undertaken with three nested protocols, including a newly designed SARS-CoV-2 specific primer set. SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection was accomplished in volumes of 250 mL of wastewaters collected in areas of high (Milan) and low (Rome) epidemic circulation, according to clinical data. Overall, 6 out of 12 samples were positive. One of the positive results was obtained in a Milan wastewater sample collected a few days after the first notified Italian case of autochthonous SARS-CoV-2. The study confirms that WBE has the potential to be applied to SARS-CoV-2 as a sensitive tool to study spatial and temporal trends of virus circulation in the population.


id: cord-321240-f6qh4fva
title: Modelling spatial variations of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Africa
author: Adekunle, Ibrahim Ayoade
date: 2020-08-10
url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138998
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138998
abstract:
  Clinical and epidemiological evidence has been advanced for human-to-human transmission of the novel coronavirus rampaging the world since late 2019. Outliers in the human-to-human transmission are yet to be explored. In this study, we examined the spatial density and leaned statistical credence to the global debate. We constructed spatial variations of clusters that examined the nexus between COVID-19 attributable deaths and confirmed cases. We rely on publicly available data on confirmed cases and death across Africa to unravel the unobserved factors, that could be responsible for the spread of COVID-19. We relied on the dynamic system generalised method of moment estimation procedure and found a ~0.045 Covid19 deaths as a result of confirmed cases in Africa. We accounted for cross-sectional dependence and found a basis for the strict orthogonal relationship. Policy measures were discussed.


id: cord-321727-xyowl659
author: Wang, Lishi
date: 2020-07-20
txt: ./txt/cord-321727-xyowl659.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-321727-xyowl659.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://api.elsevier.com/content/article/pii/S0048969720319070
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138394
summary:
  We report a new methodology, the Patient Information Based Algorithm (PIBA), for estimating the death rate of a disease in real-time using publicly available data collected during an outbreak. PIBA estimated the death rate based on data of the patients in Wuhan and then in other cities throughout China. The death rates based on PIBA were used to predict the daily numbers of deaths since the week of February 25, 2020, in China overall, Hubei province, Wuhan city, and the rest of the country except Hubei province. The PIBA uses patient data in real-time to build a model that estimates and predicts death rates for the near future. Based on the days between confirmation of COVID-19 and the days of death in the hospital, calculated from Wuhan, as mentioned in method 1 and information from the whole country and Hubei Province, we tested the number of days from diagnosis to death, that most likely reflects the actual death rate.

title:
  Real-time estimation and prediction of mortality caused by COVID-19 with patient information based algorithm

abstract:
  The global COVID-19 outbreak is worrisome both for its high rate of spread, and the high case fatality rate reported by early studies and now in Italy. We report a new methodology, the Patient Information Based Algorithm (PIBA), for estimating the death rate of a disease in real-time using publicly available data collected during an outbreak. PIBA estimated the death rate based on data of the patients in Wuhan and then in other cities throughout China. The estimated days from hospital admission to death was 13 (standard deviation (SD), 6 days). The death rates based on PIBA were used to predict the daily numbers of deaths since the week of February 25, 2020, in China overall, Hubei province, Wuhan city, and the rest of the country except Hubei province. The death rate of COVID-19 ranges from 0.75% to 3% and may decrease in the future. The results showed that the real death numbers had fallen into the predicted ranges. In addition, using the preliminary data from China, the PIBA method was successfully used to estimate the death rate and predict the death numbers of the Korean population. In conclusion, PIBA can be used to efficiently estimate the death rate of a new infectious disease in real-time and to predict future deaths. The spread of 2019-nCoV and its case fatality rate may vary in regions with different climates and temperatures from Hubei and Wuhan. PIBA model can be built based on known information of early patients in different countries.


id: cord-322572-wic7n6ia
title: Impact of meteorological factors on the COVID-19 transmission: A multi-city study in China
author: Liu, Jiangtao
date: 2020-07-15
txt: ./txt/cord-322572-wic7n6ia.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-322572-wic7n6ia.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S004896972032026X
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138513
summary:
  The purpose of the present study is to explore the associations between novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) case counts and meteorological factors in 30 provincial capital cities of China. The purpose of the present study is to explore the associations between novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) case counts and meteorological factors in 30 provincial capital cities of China. We compiled a daily dataset including confirmed case counts, ambient temperature (AT), diurnal temperature range (DTR), absolute humidity (AH) and migration scale index (MSI) for each city during the period of January 20th to March 2nd, 2020. We compiled a daily dataset including confirmed case counts, ambient temperature (AT), diurnal temperature range (DTR), absolute humidity (AH) and migration scale index (MSI) for each city during the period of January 20th to March 2nd, 2020. Then we used generalized linear models to examine the associations between meteorological factors and COVID-19 daily case counts in 30 provincial capitals except for Wuhan in China while controlling the population migration.

abstract:
  The purpose of the present study is to explore the associations between novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) case counts and meteorological factors in 30 provincial capital cities of China. We compiled a daily dataset including confirmed case counts, ambient temperature (AT), diurnal temperature range (DTR), absolute humidity (AH) and migration scale index (MSI) for each city during the period of January 20th to March 2nd, 2020. First, we explored the associations between COVID-19 confirmed case counts, meteorological factors, and MSI using non-linear regression. Then, we conducted a two-stage analysis for 17 cities with more than 50 confirmed cases. In the first stage, generalized linear models with negative binomial distribution were fitted to estimate city-specific effects of meteorological factors on confirmed case counts. In the second stage, the meta-analysis was conducted to estimate the pooled effects. Our results showed that among 13 cities that have less than 50 confirmed cases, 9 cities locate in the Northern China with average AT below 0 °C, 12 cities had average AH below 4 g/m(3), and one city (Haikou) had the highest AH (14.05 g/m(3)). Those 17 cities with 50 and more cases accounted for 90.6% of all cases in our study. Each 1 °C increase in AT and DTR was related to the decline of daily confirmed case counts, and the corresponding pooled RRs were 0.80 (95% CI: 0.75, 0.85) and 0.90 (95% CI: 0.86, 0.95), respectively. For AH, the association with COVID-19 case counts were statistically significant in lag 07 and lag 014. In addition, we found the all these associations increased with accumulated time duration up to 14 days. In conclusions, meteorological factors play an independent role in the COVID-19 transmission after controlling population migration. Local weather condition with low temperature, mild diurnal temperature range and low humidity likely favor the transmission.


id: cord-322787-dbtc0bo3
title: Short-term effects of weather parameters on COVID-19 morbidity in select US cities
author: Runkle, Jennifer D.
date: 2020-06-09
url: https://api.elsevier.com/content/article/pii/S0048969720336135
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140093
abstract:
  Abstract Little is known about the environmental conditions that drive the spatiotemporal patterns of SARS-CoV-2, and preliminary research suggests an association with weather parameters. However, the relationship with temperature and humidity is not yet apparent for COVID-19 cases in US cities first impacted. The objective of this study is to evaluate the association between COVID-19 cases and weather parameters in select US cities. A case-crossover design with a distributed lag nonlinear model was used to evaluate the contribution of ambient temperature and specific humidity on COVID-19 cases in select US cities. The case-crossover examines each COVID case as its own control at different time periods (before and after transmission occurred). We modeled the effect of temperature and humidity on COVID-19 transmission using a lag period of 7 days. A subset of 8 cities were evaluated for the relationship with weather parameters and 5 cities were evaluated in detail. Short-term exposure to humidity was positively associated with COVID-19 transmission in 4 cities. The associations were small with ¾ cities exhibiting higher COVID19 transmission with specific humidity that ranged from 6 to 9 g/kg. Our results suggest that weather should be considered in infectious disease modeling efforts and future work is needed over a longer time period and across different locations to clearly establish the weather-COVID19 relationship.


id: cord-322906-zef971xp
author: Hochman, Assaf
date: 2020-08-12
url: https://api.elsevier.com/content/article/pii/S0048969720352153
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141686
title:
  The relationship between cyclonic weather regimes and seasonal influenza over the Eastern Mediterranean

abstract:
  Abstract The prediction of the occurrence of infectious diseases is of crucial importance for public health, as clearly seen in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Here, we analyze the relationship between the occurrence of a winter low-pressure weather regime - Cyprus Lows - and the seasonal Influenza in the Eastern Mediterranean. We find that the weekly occurrence of Cyprus Lows is significantly correlated with clinical seasonal Influenza in Israel in recent years (R = 0.91; p < .05). This result remains robust when considering a complementary analysis based on Google Trends data for Israel, the Palestinian Authority and Jordan. The weekly occurrence of Cyprus Lows precedes the onset and maximum of Influenza occurrence by about one to two weeks (R = 0.88; p < .05 for the maximum occurrence), and closely follows their timing in eight out of ten years (2008–2017). Since weather regimes such as Cyprus Lows are more robustly predicted in weather and climate models than individual climate variables, we conclude that the weather regime approach can be used to develop tools for estimating the compatibility of the transmission environment for Influenza occurrence in a warming world. Furthermore, this approach may be applied to other regions and climate sensitive diseases. This study is a new cross-border inter-disciplinary regional collaboration for appropriate adaptation to climate change in the Eastern Mediterranean.


id: cord-325479-2r4oomdp
author: Torii, Shotaro
date: 2020-10-17
txt: ./txt/cord-325479-2r4oomdp.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-325479-2r4oomdp.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33131851/
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143067
summary:
  This study aims (1) to compare the whole process recovery of Pseudomonas phage φ6, a surrogate for enveloped viruses, among combinations of primary concentration [ultrafiltration (UF), electronegative membrane vortex (EMV), and polyethylene glycol precipitation (PEG)] and RNA extraction methods (spin column-based method using QIAamp Viral RNA Mini Kit and acid guanidinium thiocyanate–phenol–chloroform extraction using TRIzol reagent) for three types of raw sewage and (2) to test the applicability of the method providing the highest φ6 recovery to the detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA. This study aims (1) to compare the combination of primary concentration (UF, EMV, and PEG) and RNA extraction (QIAamp Viral RNA Mini Kit and TRIzol) for the whole process recovery of nonenveloped and enveloped virus surrogates and (2) to test the applicability of the method providing the highest φ6 recovery to detect SARS-CoV-2

title:
  Applicability of polyethylene glycol precipitation followed by acid guanidinium thiocyanate-phenol-chloroform extraction for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA from municipal wastewater

abstract:
  The primary concentration and molecular process are critical to implement wastewater-based epidemiology for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). However, the previously developed methods were optimized for nonenveloped viruses. Few studies evaluated if the methods are applicable to the efficient recovery of enveloped viruses from various types of raw sewage. This study aims (1) to compare the whole process recovery of Pseudomonas phage φ6, a surrogate for enveloped viruses, among combinations of primary concentration [ultrafiltration (UF), electronegative membrane vortex (EMV), and polyethylene glycol precipitation (PEG)] and RNA extraction methods (spin column-based method using QIAamp Viral RNA Mini Kit and acid guanidinium thiocyanate–phenol–chloroform extraction using TRIzol reagent) for three types of raw sewage and (2) to test the applicability of the method providing the highest φ6 recovery to the detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA. Among the tested combinations, PEG+TRIzol provided the highest φ6 recovery ratio of 29.8% to 49.8% (geometric mean). UF+QIAamp Viral RNA Mini Kit provided the second highest φ6 recovery of 6.4% to 35.8%. The comparable φ6 recovery was observed for UF+TRIzol (13.8 – 30.0 %). PEG+QIAamp Viral RNA Mini Kit provided only 1.4% to 3.0% of φ6 recovery, while coliphage MS2, a surrogate for nonenveloped viruses, was recovered comparably with PEG+TRIzol. This indicated that the nonenveloped surrogate (MS2) did not necessarily validate the efficient recovery for enveloped viruses. EMV+QIAamp Viral RNA Mini Kit provided significantly different φ6 recovery (1.6 – 21 %) among the types of raw sewage. Then, the applicability of modified PEG+TRIzol was examined for the raw sewage collected in Tokyo, Japan. Of the 12 grab samples, 4 were positive for SARS-CoV-2 CDC N1 and N3 assay. Consequently, PEG+TRIzol provided the highest φ6 recovery and allowed for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA from raw sewage.


id: cord-327273-7ntp7x8d
title: COVID-19 wastewater surveillance: An African perspective
author: Street, Renée
date: 2020-07-03
txt: ./txt/cord-327273-7ntp7x8d.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-327273-7ntp7x8d.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://api.elsevier.com/content/article/pii/S0048969720342418
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140719
summary:
  Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic has once again highlighted the importance of access to sufficient quantities of safe water and sanitation in public health. In the current COVID-19 pandemic, an early warning wastewater system has been proposed as a platform for SARS-CoV-2 surveillance, and a potentially important public health strategy to combat the disease. The COVID-19 pandemic has once again highlighted the importance of access to sufficient quantities of safe water, and sanitation in public health. In the current COVID-19 pandemic, tracking of wastewater has been proposed as a platform for SARS-CoV-2 surveillance, and a potentially important public health strategy to combat the disease [11, 12] . Thus SARS-CoV-2 surveillance through water-based epidemiology (WBE) is a potential complimentary and cost-effective approach to enable wide scale screening which would reduce labor intensive and costly personal COVID-19 testing and tracings [11, 17, 18] . Computational analysis of SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 surveillance by wastewater-based epidemiology locally and globally: Feasibility, economy, opportunities and challenges

abstract:
  Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic has once again highlighted the importance of access to sufficient quantities of safe water and sanitation in public health. In the current COVID-19 pandemic, an early warning wastewater system has been proposed as a platform for SARS-CoV-2 surveillance, and a potentially important public health strategy to combat the disease. This short communication on wastewater surveillance in sub-Saharan Africa highlights challenges, opportunities and alternatives taken into account the local context.


id: cord-327628-fl8dyahe
author: Yuan, Qi
date: 2020-08-20
txt: ./txt/cord-327628-fl8dyahe.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-327628-fl8dyahe.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://api.elsevier.com/content/article/pii/S0048969720353493
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141820
summary:
  The three-month period of continuous field observations for aerosol particles and gaseous pollutants, which extended from January 2020 to March 2020, covered urban, urban-industry, and suburban areas in the typical megacity of Hangzhou in the Yangtze River Delta in eastern China. Note that this public health emergency not only locked down people in the community but stopped the operation of the public traffic system and industry machine, which caused a short-term regional reduction of air pollutant emissions from vehicles and some industries in China (Huang et al., 2020b; Shi and Brasseur, 2020; The strictest nationwide restrictions for preventing the COVID-19 spread greatly reduced the primary emissions and weakened the regional transport effect of air pollutants due to the large-scale regional decrease in the primary pollution (Huang et al., 2020b; Zhang et al., 2020b) . During the observation period, the daily average mass concentrations of PM 10 , concentrations of PM 2.5 , NO x , and CO at the urban site were higher than those at the urban-industry and suburban sites (Table S2) , which suggests that vehicle emissions was the major source of air pollutants in the urban area.

title:
  Spatiotemporal variations and reduction of air pollutants during the COVID-19 pandemic in a megacity of Yangtze River Delta in China

abstract:
  Abstract In recent decades, air pollution has become an important environmental problem in the megacities of eastern China. How to control air pollution in megacities is still a challenging issue because of the complex pollutant sources, atmospheric chemistry, and meteorology. There is substantial uncertainty in accurately identifying the contributions of transport and local emissions to the air quality in megacities. The COVID-19 outbreak has prompted a nationwide public lockdown period and provides a valuable opportunity for understanding the sources and factors of air pollutants. The three-month period of continuous field observations for aerosol particles and gaseous pollutants, which extended from January 2020 to March 2020, covered urban, urban-industry, and suburban areas in the typical megacity of Hangzhou in the Yangtze River Delta in eastern China. In general, the concentrations of PM2.5–10, PM2.5, NOx, SO2, and CO reduced 58%, 47%, 83%, 11% and 30%, respectively, in the megacity during the COVID-Lock period. The reduction proportions of PM2.5 and CO were generally higher in urban and urban-industry areas than those in suburban areas. NOx exhibited the greatest reduction (>80%) among all the air pollutants, and the reduction was similar in the urban, urban-industry, and suburban areas. O3 increased 102%–125% during the COVID-Lock period. The daytime elevation of the planetary boundary layer height can reduce 30% of the PM10, PM2.5, NOx and CO concentrations on the ground in Hangzhou. During the long-range transport events, air pollutants on the regional scale likely contribute 40%–90% of the fine particles in the Hangzhou urban area. The findings highlight the future control and model forecasting of air pollutants in Hangzhou and similar megacities in eastern China.


id: cord-328509-l4yz1ude
title: Effect of restricted emissions during COVID-19 on air quality in India
author: Sharma, Shubham
date: 2020-08-01
txt: ./txt/cord-328509-l4yz1ude.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-328509-l4yz1ude.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138878
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138878
summary:
  This paper also explores the possible scenario which could result in national capital region if similar control on anthropogenic emissions occurs in worst meteorology conditions using Weather Research Forecasting (WRF)-Air Quality Dispersion Modelling System (AERMOD). To study the changes in air quality during the lockdown period, the data from 22 cities covering different regions of India were analysed, i.e. Bhopal and Dewas in centre, Jorapokhar, Patna, Gaya, Brajrajnagar and Kolkata in the east, Faridabad, Amritsar, Jodhpur, Delhi, Agra, Kanpur and Varanasi in the north, Amravati, Bengaluru, Thiruvananthapuram and Chennai in the south, as well as Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Nagpur and Pune in the west. The potential health benefits in different cities due to change in concentrations were estimated using the excess risks associated with the pollutant loads during similar periods with and without lockdown. The effect on meteorology on the PM 2.5 concentrations in National Capital Region (NCR) of Delhi was studied using the Air Quality Dispersion Modelling System (AERMOD).

abstract:
  The effectiveness and cost are always top factors for policy-makers to decide control measures and most measures had no pre-test before implementation. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, human activities are largely restricted in many regions in India since mid-March of 2020, and it is a progressing experiment to testify effectiveness of restricted emissions. In this study, concentrations of six criteria pollutants, PM(10), PM(2.5), CO, NO(2), ozone and SO(2) during March 16th to April 14th from 2017 to 2020 in 22 cities covering different regions of India were analysed. Overall, around 43, 31, 10, and 18% decreases in PM(2.5), PM(10), CO, and NO(2) in India were observed during lockdown period compared to previous years. While, there were 17% increase in O(3) and negligible changes in SO(2). The air quality index (AQI) reduced by 44, 33, 29, 15 and 32% in north, south, east, central and western India, respectively. Correlation between cities especially in northern and eastern regions improved in 2020 compared to previous years, indicating more significant regional transport than previous years. The mean excessive risks of PM reduced by ~52% nationwide due to restricted activities in lockdown period. To eliminate the effects of possible favourable meteorology, the WRF-AERMOD model system was also applied in Delhi-NCR with actual meteorology during the lockdown period and an un-favourable event in early November of 2019 and results show that predicted PM(2.5) could increase by only 33% in unfavourable meteorology. This study gives confidence to the regulatory bodies that even during unfavourable meteorology, a significant improvement in air quality could be expected if strict execution of air quality control plans is implemented.


id: cord-328914-6zog3xf3
title: Characterization of long-range transported bioaerosols in the Central Mediterranean
author: Petroselli, Chiara
date: 2020-10-19
url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143010
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143010
abstract:
  Airborne bacteria were characterized over a 2-y period via high-throughput massive sequencing of 16S rRNA gene in aerosol samples collected at a background mountain European Monitoring and Evaluation Programme (EMEP) Network site (Monte Martano, Italy) located in the Central Mediterranean area. The air mass origin of nineteen samples was identified by air mass modelling and a detailed chemical analysis was performed. Four main origins (Saharan, North-western, North-eastern, and Regional) were identified, and distinct microbial communities were associated with these air masses. Samples featured a great bacterial diversity with Protobacteria being the most abundant phylum, and Sphingomonas followed by Acidovorax, Acinetobacter and Stenotrophomonas the most abundant genera of the dataset. Bacterial genera including potential human and animal pathogens were more abundant in European and in Regional samples compared to Saharan samples; this stressed the relevance of anthropic impact on bacterial populations transported by air masses that cross densely populated areas. The principal aerosol chemical characteristics and the airborne bacterial communities were correlated by cluster analysis, similarity tests and non-metric multidimensional scaling analysis, explaining most of the variability observed. However, the strong correlation between bacterial community structure and air mass origin hampered the possibility to disentangle the effects of variations in bacterial populations and in dust provenance on variations in chemical variables.


id: cord-329050-vzsy6xw1
title: Bats and birds as viral reservoirs: A physiological and ecological perspective
author: Nabi, Ghulam
date: 2020-09-22
txt: ./txt/cord-329050-vzsy6xw1.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-329050-vzsy6xw1.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://api.elsevier.com/content/article/pii/S0048969720359015
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142372
summary:
  These convergent traits in birds and bats and their ecological interactions with domestic animals and humans increase the potential risk of viral spillover transmission and facilitate the emergence of novel viruses that most likely sources of zoonoses with the potential to cause global pandemics. This paper reviews convergent traits in the physiology, immunology and flight-related ecology of birds and bats with the aim of a better understanding of why these species are such important reservoirs of viral zoonoses, and the potential risk of bat and bird viruses infecting humans. The convergent traits of miniaturized body size, enhanced metabolic rate and antioxidant capacity, prolonged lifespan, a short but efficient digestive tract, and possessing some specific immunological features relative to non-flying mammals are thought to be the result of functional constraints on evolution imposed by the demands of powered flight (Thomas and Suthers, 1972; Norberg, 1990; Caviedes-Vidal et al., 2007; Costantini, 2008; Munshi-South and Wilkinson, 2010; Song et al., 2020; ) .

abstract:
  The birds (class Aves) and bats (order Chiroptera, class Mammalia) are well known natural reservoirs of a diverse range of viruses, including some zoonoses. The only extant volant vertebrates, bats and birds have undergone dramatic adaptive radiations that have allowed them to occupy diverse ecological niches and colonize most of the planet. However, few studies have compared the physiology and ecology of these ecologically, and medically, important taxa. Here, we review convergent traits in the physiology, immunology, flight-related ecology of birds and bats that might enable these taxa to act as viral reservoirs and asymptomatic carriers. Many species of birds and bats are well adapted to urban environments and may host more zoonotic pathogens than species that do not colonize anthropogenic habitats. These convergent traits in birds and bats and their ecological interactions with domestic animals and humans increase the potential risk of viral spillover transmission and facilitate the emergence of novel viruses that most likely sources of zoonoses with the potential to cause global pandemics.


id: cord-330779-mso2zfom
author: Sunkari, Emmanuel Daanoba
date: 2020-09-09
url: https://api.elsevier.com/content/article/pii/S0048969720358277
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142298
title:
  Sources and routes of SARS-CoV-2 transmission in water systems in Africa: Are there any sustainable remedies?

abstract:
  Governments across the globe are currently besieged with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2. Although some countries have been largely affected by this pandemic, others are only slightly affected. In this regard, every government is taking precautionary measures to mitigate the adverse effects of COVID-19. SARS-CoV-2 has been detected in wastewater raising an alarm for Africa due to the poor water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities. Also, most countries in Africa do not have resilient policies governing sanitation and water management systems, which expose them to higher risk levels for the transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Therefore, this study unearthed the likely sources and routes of SARS-CoV-2 transmission in water systems (mainly wastewater) in Africa through a holistic review of published works. This provided the opportunity to propose sustainable remedial measures, which can be extrapolated to most developing countries in the world. The principal sources and routes of potential transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in water systems are hospital sewage, waste from isolation and quarantine centres, faecal-oral transmission, contaminated surface and groundwater sources, and contaminated sewage. The envisioned overwhelming impact of these sources on the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 through water systems in Africa suggests that governments need to put stringent and sustainable measures to curtail the scourge. Hence, it is proposed that governments in Africa must put measures like improved WASH facilities and public awareness campaigns, suburbanization of wastewater treatment facilities, utilizing low-cost point-of-use water treatment systems, legally backed policy interventions, and Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS). SARS-CoV-2 in water systems can be inactivated and destroyed by integrating ozonation, chlorination, UV irradiation, and sodium hypochlorite in low-cost point-of-use treatment systems. These proposed sustainable remedial measures can help policymakers in Africa to effectively monitor and manage the untoward impact of SARS-CoV-2 on water systems and consequently, on the health of the general public.


id: cord-331069-ioph6vsp
author: Tobías, Aurelio
date: 2020-07-10
txt: ./txt/cord-331069-ioph6vsp.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-331069-ioph6vsp.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969720320520
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138539
summary:
  We have analyzed the trends of incident cases, deaths, and intensive care unit admissions (ICU) in both countries before and after their respective national lockdowns using an interrupted time-series design. During the second lockdown, implementing more restrictive measures for mobility, it has been a change in the trend slopes for both countries in daily incident cases and ICUs. This improvement indicates that the efforts overtaken are being successful in flattening the epidemic curve, and reinforcing the belief that we must hold on. We have analyzed the trends of the daily incident diagnosed cases, deaths, and intensive care units (ICU) admissions for SARS-CoV-2 in Italy and Spain before and during their respective national lockdowns, using an interrupted time-series design (Bernal et al., 2017) . The second lockdown, still ongoing, shows how the trends have changed, with a reduction of daily incident cases, deaths, and more significantly in ICUs. These are of similar magnitude in both countries, although Italy carries a week ahead of Spain.

title:
  Evaluation of the lockdowns for the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Italy and Spain after one month follow up

abstract:
  From the end of February, the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Spain has been following the footsteps of that in Italy very closely. We have analyzed the trends of incident cases, deaths, and intensive care unit admissions (ICU) in both countries before and after their respective national lockdowns using an interrupted time-series design. Data was analyzed with quasi-Poisson regression using an interaction model to estimate the change in trends. After the first lockdown, incidence trends were considerably reduced in both countries. However, although the slopes have been flattened for all outcomes, the trends kept rising. During the second lockdown, implementing more restrictive measures for mobility, it has been a change in the trend slopes for both countries in daily incident cases and ICUs. This improvement indicates that the efforts overtaken are being successful in flattening the epidemic curve, and reinforcing the belief that we must hold on.


id: cord-333547-88dkh6xd
author: Hasan, Shadi W.
date: 2020-10-19
url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142929
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142929
title:
  Detection and Quantification of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in Wastewater and Treated Effluents: Surveillance of COVID-19 Epidemic in the United Arab Emirates

abstract:
  Testing SARS-CoV-2 viral loads in wastewater has recently emerged as a method of tracking the prevalence of the virus and an early-warning tool for predicting outbreaks in the future. This study reports SARS-CoV-2 viral load in wastewater influents and treated effluents of 11 wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), as well as untreated wastewater from 38 various locations, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in May and June 2020. Composite samples collected over twenty-four hours were thermally deactivated for safety, followed by viral concentration using ultrafiltration, RNA extraction using commercially available kits, and viral quantification using RT-qPCR. Furthermore, estimates of the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in different regions were simulated using Monte Carlo. Results showed that the viral load in wastewater influents from these WWTPs ranged from 7.50E+02 to over 3.40E+04 viral gene copies/L with some plants having no detectable viral RNA by RT-qPCR. The virus was also detected in 85% of untreated wastewater samples taken from different locations across the country, with viral loads in positive samples ranging between 2.86E+02 and over 2.90E+04 gene copies/L. It was also observed that the precautionary measures implemented by the UAE government correlated with a drop in the measured viral load in wastewater samples, which were in line with the reduction of COVID-19 cases reported in the population. Importantly, none of the 11 WWTPs’ effluents tested positive during the entire sampling period, indicating that the treatment technologies used in the UAE are efficient in degrading SARS-CoV-2, and confirming the safety of treated re-used water in the country. SARS-CoV-2 wastewater testing has the potential to aid in monitoring or predicting an outbreak location and can shed light on the extent viral spread at the community level.


id: cord-336659-qddjqiw9
title: Multi-biomarker responses to pesticides in an agricultural population from Central Brazil
author: Ramos, Jheneffer Sonara Aguiar
date: 2020-08-21
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32920385/
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141893
abstract:
  Abstract We evaluated farmworkers exposed to pesticides and individuals with no history of occupational exposure to pesticides. It was performed the comet assay to evaluate DNA damage. The immunophenotyping of TCD4+ lymphocyte subpopulations in peripheral blood was performed by flow cytometry. The single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in PON1, XRCC1, IL6, IL6R, TNF-α, and MIR137 genes were evaluated by real-time PCR. The exposed group was composed mostly by males (69.44%), with direct exposure to pesticides (56%) and with an average age range of 46 ± 13.89 years, being that 58.3% of farmworkers directly exposed to pesticides and reported the full use of personal protective equipment (PPE). DNA damage was greater in the exposed group (p < 0.05), reinforced by the use of PPE to denote a lower degree of DNA damage (p = 0.002). In this context, in the exposed group, we demonstrated that the use of PPE, age, gender and intoxication events were the variables that most contributed to increase DNA damage (p < 0.0001). Besides, the exposed group showed a significant increase in the subpopulations of T lymphocytes CD3+ CD4+ (p = 0.04) and CD3+ CD4+ CD25+ (p < 0.0001). SNPs in the TNF-α (rs361525) gene presented a difference in the genotype distribution between the groups (p = 0.002). The genotype distribution of TNF-α (rs361525) was also positively correlated with the DNA damage of the exposed group (r = 0.19; p = 0.01), demonstrating a higher risk of DNA damage in the farmworkers presenting the A mutated allele. Our findings demonstrate that pesticides can exert various deleterious effects on human health by damaging the DNA as well as by influencing the immune system in the case of both direct or indirect exposure and these issues are associated to age, gender, intoxication and the nonuse of PPE.


id: cord-338189-j4hnldk4
title: Environmental perspective of COVID-19
author: Saadat, Saeida
date: 2020-08-01
txt: ./txt/cord-338189-j4hnldk4.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-338189-j4hnldk4.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969720323871
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138870
summary:
  The easy spread of this virus made people to wear a mask as precautionary route, use gloves and hand sanitizer on a daily basis that resulted in generation of a massive amount of medical wastes in the environment. However, the lock down of the COVID-19 pandemic caused the air quality in many cities across the globe to improve and drop in water pollutions in some parts of the world. There are some factors that contribute to the risk of COVID-19 but they are probably felt differently by different socioeconomic groups (Lipsitch et al., 2020) -People who have had medical problems of diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, or even high blood pressure and cancer are at higher risk from coronavirus (Giannis et al., 2020; Fang et al., 2020; Zheng et al., 2020) . The major death cases of coronavirus outbreak are happening mainly in old people probably because of a poor immune system that allows rapid growth of viral infections.

abstract:
  The outbreak of COVID-19 has caused concerns globally. On 30 January WHO has declared it as a global health emergency. The easy spread of this virus made people to wear a mask as precautionary route, use gloves and hand sanitizer on a daily basis that resulted in generation of a massive amount of medical wastes in the environment. Millions of people have been put on lockdown in order to reduce the transmission of the virus. This epidemic has also changed the people's life style; caused extensive job losses and threatened the sustenance of millions of people, as businesses have shut down to control the spread of virus. All over the world, flights have been canceled and transport systems have been closed. Overall, the economic activities have been stopped and stock markets dropped along with the falling carbon emission. However, the lock down of the COVID-19 pandemic caused the air quality in many cities across the globe to improve and drop in water pollutions in some parts of the world.


id: cord-338243-njkhwkwk
author: Zhang, Dayi
date: 2020-06-23
txt: ./txt/cord-338243-njkhwkwk.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-338243-njkhwkwk.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140445
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140445
summary:
  title: Potential spreading risks and disinfection challenges of medical wastewater by the presence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) viral RNA in septic tanks of Fangcang Hospital In this study, we evaluated the presence of SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA in septic tanks of Wuchang Cabin Hospital and found a striking high level of (0.5–18.7) × 103 copies/L after disinfection with sodium hypochlorite. In septic tanks, disinfection achieved free chlorine > 6.5 mg/L for 1.5 hours when the dosage of sodium hypochlorite was 800 g/m 3 , meeting well with the guideline for emergency treatment of medical sewage containing SARS-CoV-2 suggested by China CDC. Septic tanks can behave as a long-term source J o u r n a l P r e -p r o o f to release SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA into waters when disinfection is not sufficient and challenges public health via potentially spreading viruses in drainage pipelines.

title:
  Potential spreading risks and disinfection challenges of medical wastewater by the presence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) viral RNA in septic tanks of Fangcang Hospital

abstract:
  Abstract The outbreak of coronavirus infectious disease-2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia raises the concerns of effective deactivation of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in medical wastewater by disinfectants. In this study, we evaluated the presence of SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA in septic tanks of Wuchang Cabin Hospital and found a striking high level of (0.5–18.7) × 103 copies/L after disinfection with sodium hypochlorite. Embedded viruses in stool particles might be released in septic tanks, behaving as a secondary source of SARS-CoV-2 and potentially contributing to its spread through drainage pipelines. Current recommended disinfection strategy (free chlorine ≥0.5 mg/L after at least 30 min suggested by World Health Organization; free chlorine above 6.5 mg/L after 1.5-h contact by China Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) needs to be reevaluated to completely remove SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA in non-centralized disinfection system and effectively deactivate SARS-CoV-2. The effluents showed negative results for SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA when overdosed with sodium hypochlorite but had high a level of disinfection by-product residuals, possessing significant ecological risks.


id: cord-341212-dk6ioi15
title: Besides the climate model, other variables driving the COVID-19 spread in Brazil()
author: Ribeiro, Andre Luis Ribeiro
date: 2020-06-15
txt: ./txt/cord-341212-dk6ioi15.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-341212-dk6ioi15.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140211
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140211
abstract: nan
summary:
  The study model and data analysis are well-performed, and although the authors found that temperature and relativity humidity influenced the COVID-19 dissemination, other well-known and important variables, such as social distancing, population testing, hand wash (Giordano et al., 2020) and rational use of face mask were not part of their study model (Feng et al., 2020) . This dispute was taken to the Supreme Court, which reinforced the authority of cities and states to define local measures of social distancing, quarantine, prohibition of activities and definition of essential services (Federal, 2020) . Since the cases started to spread in these cities, uncoordinated measures of social distancing were gradually implemented across the country, in despite of the divergences between the president and governors (Wikipedia, 2020a) , (Wikipedia, 2020b) . Evidence that high temperatures and intermediate relative humidity might favor the spread of COVID-19 in tropical climate: A case study for the most affected Brazilian cities


id: cord-344423-jhdfscyw
title: Impact of city lockdown on the air quality of COVID-19-hit of Wuhan city
author: Lian, Xinbo
date: 2020-06-30
txt: ./txt/cord-344423-jhdfscyw.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-344423-jhdfscyw.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S004896972034078X?v=s5
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140556
summary:
  The lockdown had a substantial environmental impact, because traffic pollution and industrial emissions are important factors affecting air quality and public health in the region. Due to the lack of central heating and chemical industry, in addition to the emissions from coal-fired enterprises such as power plants and the pollution transported from surrounding rural biomass burning activities, vehicle emissions are responsible for the most important pollution source affecting the air quality and public health in Wuhan (Daoru Liu, J o u r n a l P r e -p r o o f 5 2020). Compared with the corresponding periods, the rate of good days (AQI < 100) increased by 37.4%, which means that during the lockdown, the air quality in Wuhan had no significant effect on human health, and only some pollutants may have had a weak impact on the health of a small number of unusually sensitive people.

abstract:
  Abstract A series of strict lockdown measures were implemented in the areas of China worst affected by coronavirus disease 19, including Wuhan, to prevent the disease spreading. The lockdown had a substantial environmental impact, because traffic pollution and industrial emissions are important factors affecting air quality and public health in the region. After the lockdown, the average monthly air quality index (AQI) in Wuhan was 59.7, which is 33.9% lower than that before the lockdown (January 23, 2020) and 47.5% lower than that during the corresponding period (113.6) from 2015 to 2019. Compared with the conditions before the lockdown, fine particulate matter (PM2.5) decreased by 36.9% and remained the main pollutant. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) showed the largest decrease of approximately 53.3%, and ozone (O3) increased by 116.6%. The proportions of fixed-source emissions and transported external-source emissions in this area increased. After the lockdown, O3 pollution was highly negatively correlated with the NO2 concentration, and the radiation increase caused by the PM2.5 reduction was not the main reason for the increase in O3. This indicates that the generation of secondary pollutants is influenced by multiple factors and is not only governed by emission reduction.


id: cord-345347-wrgg8met
author: Campling, Paul
date: 2020-10-17
txt: ./txt/cord-345347-wrgg8met.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-345347-wrgg8met.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://api.elsevier.com/content/article/pii/S0048969720365013
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142971
summary:
  A pan-European, multi-actor approach was adapted in the context of seven rural or mixed rural/urban Action Labs (also known as Living Labs) to determine barriers and factors that hinder the uptake of BMPs and MMs to protect drinking water sources from nitrates and PPPs and that have an impact on farmers'' decision making and strategies. The main environmental policy instruments related to water that are to be considered here are: Directive (WFD) and sets groundwater quality standards, introducing measures to prevent or limit inputs of pollutants into groundwater (European Parliament and Council, 2006) ; and, For EU agriculture policies, the cross-compliance requirements (set of minimum agricultural production standards) and the measures included in the Rural Development Plans are those that define the framework for the farmers, in order to benefit from EU subsidies. The first step in the analysis of the uptake of BMPs and MMs to prevent the pollution of drinking water sources from agriculture was to match the wealth of information from previous European projects that assess mitigation measures with the local knowledge of the farming systems and the focus issues in the seven Action Labs.

title:
  A multi-actor, participatory approach to identify policy and technical barriers to better farming practices that protect our drinking water sources

abstract:
  Despite an improvement of water quality across Europe there are many pollution hotspots for both nitrates and PPPs, mainly due to agricultural activities. The BMPs and MMs to reduce pollution from agriculture are well known, and there are policy instruments in place to ensure drinking water standards, but the current approach has not been efficient enough. Within the H2020 Water Protect project the premise was that there is a need for a multi-actor, participatory approach to tackle the issue from a new angle, and to assess why the uptake of known BMPs and MMs was not better among farmers. Seven “Action Labs” were selected that represent major physical, socio-economical, cultural and farming settings across Europe. A methodology of multi-actor engagement was chosen but with different approaches due to the local context. Initially the level of farmers' awareness about water quality issues was matched to the observed uptake rates of BMPs and MMs. In a second survey barriers hindering the uptake of measures were identified. The first survey revealed a low general awareness on the potential pollution to drinking water sources. Despite this, between 24% to 88% of the surveyed farmers per Action Lab were already voluntarily adopting one quarter of the selected BMPs and MMs. The second survey demonstrated the need to address organisational, legislative, sociological and technical barriers. The lack of coordination between different institutional bodies promoting measures and the financial incentives needed to invest and operate these often-costly measures need to be considered. The multi-actor, participatory approach with its improved awareness and collaboration made it possible to identify the crucial factors for improvement - to build a social acceptance among all actors and communicate the issues and solutions from the start.


id: cord-347354-1bh6ncls
author: Rodrigues, Marcos
date: 2020-10-08
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33092845/
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142793
title:
  Is COVID-19 halting wildfires in the Mediterranean? Insights for wildfire science under a pandemic context

abstract:
  Wildfires in the Mediterranean are strongly tied to human activities. Given their particular link with humans, which act as both initiators and suppressors, wildfire hazard is highly sensitive to socioeconomic changes and patterns. Many researchers have prompted the perils of sustaining the current management policy, the so-called ‘total fire exclusion’. This policy, coupled to increasingly fire-prone weather conditions, may lead to more hazardous fires in the mid-long run. Under this framework, the irruption of the COVID-19 pandemic adds to the ongoing situation. Facing the lack of an effective treatment, the only alternative was the implementation of strict lockdown strategies. The virtual halt of the system undoubtedly affected economic and social behavior, triggering cascading effects such as the drop in winter-spring wildfire activity. In this work, we discuss the main impacts, challenges and consequences that wildfire science may experience due to the pandemic situation, and identify potential opportunities for wildfire management. We investigate the recent evolution of burned area (retrieved from the MCD64A1 v006 MODIS product) in the EU Mediterranean region (Portugal, Spain, France, Italy and Greece) to ascertain to what extent the 2020 winter-spring season was impacted by the public health response to COVID-19 (curfews and lockdowns). We accounted for weather conditions (characterized using the 6-month Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index; SPEI6) to disregard possible weather effects mediating fire activity. Our results suggest that, under similar drought-related circumstances (SPEI6 ≈ -0.7), the expected burned area in 2020 during the lockdown period in the EU (March-May) would lay somewhere within the range of 38,800 ha ± 18,379 ha. Instead, the affected area stands one order of magnitude below average (3,325 ha). This stresses the need of considering the social dimension in the analysis of current and future wildfire impacts in the Mediterranean region.


id: cord-347613-tjeo62dv
author: da Silva, Priscilla Gomes
date: 2020-09-10
txt: ./txt/cord-347613-tjeo62dv.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-347613-tjeo62dv.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142123
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142123
abstract: nan
summary:
  In this study, HeLa cells that expressed or did not express ACE2 proteins from humans, Chinese horseshoe bats, civets, pigs and mice were used, and it was found that SARS-CoV-2 is able to use all ACE2 proteins (except for mouse ACE2) as an entry receptor to enter ACE2-expressing cells, but it could not enter cells that did not express ACE2, indicating that ACE2 is probably the cell receptor through which SARS-CoV-2 enters cells (Zhou et al., 2020) . This and other bat-coronaviruses share 88-92% nucleotide sequence homology with SARS-CoV-1 (Ye et al., 2020) , leading scientists to believe that SARS-CoV was transmitted directly to humans from wet market civets, with bats as the main reservoir hosts (Cui et al., 2019; Hu et al., 2017) ". Discovery of a rich gene pool of bat SARS-related coronaviruses provides new insights into the origin of SARS coronavirus

title:
  Corrigendum to “Viral, host and environmental factors that favor anthropozoonotic spillover of coronaviruses: An opinionated review, focusing on SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2”[Sci. Total Environ. 750 (2021) 141483]


id: cord-349078-59wel5o5
title: COVID-19's impact on the atmospheric environment in the Southeast Asia region
author: Kanniah, Kasturi Devi
date: 2020-05-25
url: https://api.elsevier.com/content/article/pii/S0048969720331788
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139658
abstract:
  Abstract Since its first appearance in Wuhan, China at the end of 2019, the new coronavirus (COVID-19) has evolved a global pandemic within three months, with more than 4.3 million confirmed cases worldwide until mid-May 2020. As many countries around the world, Malaysia and other southeast Asian (SEA) countries have also enforced lockdown at different degrees to contain the spread of the disease, which has brought some positive effects on natural environment. Therefore, evaluating the reduction in anthropogenic emissions due to COVID-19 and the related governmental measures to restrict its expansion is crucial to assess its impacts on air pollution and economic growth. In this study, we used aerosol optical depth (AOD) observations from Himawari-8 satellite, along with tropospheric NO2 column density from Aura-OMI over SEA, and ground-based pollution measurements at several stations across Malaysia, in order to quantify the changes in aerosol and air pollutants associated with the general shutdown of anthropogenic and industrial activities due to COVID-19. The lockdown has led to a notable decrease in AOD over SEA and in the pollution outflow over the oceanic regions, while a significant decrease (27% - 30%) in tropospheric NO2 was observed over areas not affected by seasonal biomass burning. Especially in Malaysia, PM10, PM2.5, NO2, SO2, and CO concentrations have been decreased by 26–31%, 23–32%, 63–64%, 9–20%, and 25–31%, respectively, in the urban areas during the lockdown phase, compared to the same periods in 2018 and 2019. Notable reductions are also seen at industrial, suburban and rural sites across the country. Quantifying the reductions in major and health harmful air pollutants is crucial for health-related research and for air-quality and climate-change studies.


id: cord-350236-7fit8q1s
title: On-site analysis of COVID-19 on the surfaces in wards
author: Wan, Bin
date: 2020-08-18
txt: ./txt/cord-350236-7fit8q1s.txt
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url: https://api.elsevier.com/content/article/pii/S0048969720352876
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141758
summary:
  Herein, surface contamination in the ward was detected on-site using an RNA extraction-free rapid method. (Guo et al., 2020; These researchers confirmed the virus by real time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), which typically performs deactivation, nucleic acid extraction, and RT-PCR amplification of the collected samples. Samples were collected from seven sites: 1) bedrail; 2) bedside cupboard; 3) chairs; 4) door handles of the bathroom; 5) light switches; 6) remote controller or beeper; 7) fingertip of electrocardiograph (ECG) monitoring. We successfully applied an extraction-free SARS-Cov-2 isothermal amplification detection method to on-site analysis of surface contamination by COVID-19 patients in wards. Among 31 cases collected from 18 March to 27 April of 2020, 72.7% reported positive amplifications on the ECG fingertip, indicating that this surface is an important hygiene site. -The presence of SARS-CoV-2 in wards was confirmed by nucleic acid isothermal amplification.

abstract:
  Abstract SARS-Cov-2 has erupted across the globe, and confirmed cases of COVID-19 pose a high infection risk. Infected patients typically receive their treatment in specific isolation wards, where they are confined for at least 14 days. The virus may contaminate any surface of the room, especially frequently touched surfaces. Therefore, surface contamination in wards should be monitored for disease control and hygiene purposes. Herein, surface contamination in the ward was detected on-site using an RNA extraction-free rapid method. The whole detection process, from surface sample collection to readout of the detection results, was finished within 45 min. The nucleic acid extraction-free method requires minimal labor. More importantly, the tests were performed on-site and the results were obtained almost in real-time. The test confirmed that 31 patients contaminated seven individual sites. Among the sampled surfaces, the electrocardiogram fingertip presented a 72.7% positive rate, indicating that this surface is an important hygiene site. Meanwhile, the bedrails showed the highest correlation with other surfaces, so should be detected daily. Another surface with high contamination risk was the door handle in the bathroom. To our knowledge, we present the first on-site analysis of COVID-19 surface contamination in wards. The results and applied technique provide a potential further reference for disease control and hygiene suggestions.


id: cord-350714-zfprrxt4
title: Association of particulate matter pollution and case fatality rate of COVID-19 in 49 Chinese cities
author: Yao, Ye
date: 2020-06-20
url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140396
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140396
abstract:
  Abstract The COVID-19 epidemic, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, has resulted in 3352 deaths in China as of April 12, 2020. This study aimed to investigate the associations between particulate matter (PM) concentrations and the case fatality rate (CFR) of COVID-19 in 49 Chinese cities, including the epicenter of Wuhan. We used the Global Moran's I to analyze spatial distribution and autocorrelation of CFRs, and then we used multivariate linear regression to analyze the associations between PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations and COVID-19 CFR. We found positive associations between PM pollution and COVID-19 CFR in cities both inside and outside Hubei Province. For every 10 μg/m3 increase in PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations, the COVID-19 CFR increased by 0.24% (0.01%–0.48%) and 0.26% (0.00%–0.51%), respectively. PM pollution distribution and its association with COVID-19 CFR suggests that exposure to such may affect COVID-19 prognosis.


id: cord-350919-by4zwniq
author: Chowdhuri, Indrajit
date: 2020-07-28
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32771791/
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141321
title:
  Significant decrease of lightning activities during COVID-19 lockdown period over Kolkata megacity in India

abstract:
  Abstract The outbreak of COVID-19 has now created the largest pandemic and the World health organization (WHO) has declared social distancing as the key precaution to confront such type of infections. Most of the countries have taken protective measures by the nationwide lockdown. The purpose of this study is to understand the effect of lockdown on air pollutants and to analyze pre-monsoon (April and May) cloud-to-ground and inter-cloud lightning activity in relation to air pollutants i.e. suspended Particulate matter (PM10), Nitrogen dioxides (NO2) Sulfur dioxide (SO2), Ozone (O3) and Aerosol concentration (AC) in a polluted tropical urban megacities like Kolkata. After the strict lockdown the pollutants rate has reduced by more than 40% from the pre-lockdown period in the Kolkata megacity. So, decreases of PM10, NO2, SO2, O3 and AC have a greater effect on cloud lightning flashes in the pre-monsoon period. In the previous year (2019), the pre-monsoon average result shows a strong positive relation between the lightning and air pollutants; PM10 (R2 = 0.63), NO2 (R2 = 0.63), SO2 (R2 = 0.76), O3 (R2 = 0.68) and AC (R2 = 0.83). The association was relatively low during the lock-down period (pre-monsoon 2020) and the R2 values were 0.62, 0.60, 0.71, 0.64 and 0.80 respectively. Another thing is that the pre-monsoon (2020) lightning strikes decreased by 49.16% compared to the average of previous years (2010 to 2019). The overall study shows that the reduction of surface pollution in the thunderstorm environment is strongly related to the reduction of lightning activity where PM10 and AC are the key pollutants in the Kolkata megacity.


id: cord-350925-1h6pbfwp
title: Airborne spread of infectious SARS-CoV-2: moving forward using lessons from SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV
author: da Silva, Priscilla Gomes
date: 2020-10-08
url: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969720363312?v=s5
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142802
abstract:
  Background Although an increasing body of data reports the detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in air, this does not correlate to the presence of infectious viruses, thus not evaluating the risk for airborne COVID-19. Hence there is a marked knowledge gap that requires urgent attention. Therefore, in this systematic review, viability/stability of airborne SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV viruses is discussed. Methods A systematic literature review was performed on PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science and Scopus to assess the stability and viability of SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 on air samples. Results and discussion The initial search identified 27 articles. Following screening of titles and abstracts and removing duplicates, 11 articles were considered relevant. Temperatures ranging from 20 °C to 25 °C and relative humidity ranging from 40% to 50% were reported to have a protective effect on viral viability for airborne SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV. As no data is yet available on the conditions influencing viability for airborne SARS-CoV-2, and given the genetic similarity to SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV, one could extrapolate that the same conditions would apply. Nonetheless, the effect of these conditions seems to be residual considering the increasing number of cases in the south of USA, Brazil and India, where high temperatures and humidities have been observed. Conclusion Higher temperatures and high relative humidity can have a modest effect on SARS-CoV-2 viability in the environment, as reported in previous studies to this date. However, these studies are experimental, and do not support the fact that the virus has efficiently spread in the tropical regions of the globe, with other transmission routes such as the contact and droplet ones probably being responsible for the majority of cases reported in these regions, along with other factors such as human mobility patterns and contact rates. Further studies are needed to investigate the extent of aerosol transmission of SARS-CoV-2 as this would have important implications for public health and infection-control policies.


id: cord-351665-6gwb900b
title: Coupled human-environment system amid COVID-19 crisis: A conceptual model to understand the nexus
author: Sarkar, Priyanka
date: 2020-08-18
url: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969720352864?v=s5
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141757
abstract:
  Abstract The world today is dealing with a havoc crisis due to the pervasive outbreak of COVID-19. As a preventive measure against the pandemic, government authorities worldwide have implemented and adopted strict policy interventions such as lockdown, social distancing, and quarantine, to curtail the disease transmission. Consequently, humans have been experiencing several ill impacts, while the natural environment has been reaping the benefits of the interventions. Therefore, it is imperative to understand the interlinked relationship between human society and the natural environment amid the current crisis. Herein, we performed a meta-analysis of existing literature reporting the various impacts of COVID-19 on human society and the natural environment. A conceptual model was developed to portray and address how the interaction of the existing elements of both sub-components of the coupled human-environment system (CHES) – human society and natural environment – are impacted by the government interventions. Results revealed a suite of positive and negative impacts of COVID-19 on both the sub-components. Our model provides an explicit impression of the complex nexus of CHES amid the current crisis. The proposed conceptual model could help in understanding the complex nexus by identifying the route of short-term impacts of COVID-19 measures and thus may aid in identifying priority areas for discussion and planning in similar other crises as well.


id: cord-352630-dx1fwngb
author: Hossain, Md. Sabbir
date: 2020-11-02
txt: ./txt/cord-352630-dx1fwngb.txt
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url: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969720368467?v=s5
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143315
summary:
  We aimed to examine the impact of weather on COVID-19 confirmed cases in South Asian countries, namely, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Several studies suggested that weather parameters like temperature, rainfall, humidity, wind speed, and air pollutants may influence the transmission of the COVID-19 (Ahmadi et al., 2020; Al-Rousan and Al-Najjar, 2020; Bashir et al., 2020; Jüni et al., 2020; Liu et al., 2020; Qi et al., 2020; Sobral et al., 2020; Tosepu et al., 2020; Zoran et al., 2020) . This study was accumulated different types of data, including daily COVID-19, climate, and air pollutants datasets from the first unequal date of COVID-19 confirmed cases to 31 August 2020 of five South Asian countries, such as Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Our analyses also showed that temperature had a significant positive and negative impact on the transmissibility of COVID-19 in four south Asian countries except for India.

title:
  Impact of weather on COVID-19 transmission in South Asian Countries: an application of the ARIMAX model

abstract:
  We aimed to examine the impact of weather on COVID-19 confirmed cases in South Asian countries, namely, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Data on daily confirmed cases, together with weather parameters, were collected from the first day of COVID confirmed cases in each country to 31 August 2020. The weather parameters were Rainfall (mm), relative humidity (%), maximum and minimum temperature (°C), surface pressure (kpa), maximum air pollutants matter PM 2.5 (μg/m3) and maximum wind speed (m/s). Data were analyzed for each investigated countries separately by using the Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average with Explanatory Variables (ARIMAX) model. We found that maximum wind speed had significant negative impact on COVID-19 transmission in India (-209.45, 95% confidence interval (CI): -369.13, -49.77) and Sri Lanka (-2.77, 95% CI: -4.77, -0.77). Apart from India, temperature had mixed effects (i.e., positive or negative) in four countries in South Asia. For example, maximum temperature had negative impact (-30.52, 95% CI: -60.24, -0.78) in Bangladesh and positive impact (5.10, 95% CI: 0.06, 10.14) in Afghanistan. Whereas rainfall had negative effects (-48.64, 95% CI: -80.17, -17.09) in India and mixed effects in Pakistan. Besides, maximum air pollutants matter PM 2.5 was negatively associated with the confirmed cases of COVID-19. In conclusion, maximum wind speed, rainfall, air pollutants (maximum PM 2.5) and temperature are four variables that could play a vital role in the transmission of COVID-19. Although there is a mixed conclusion regarding weather parameters and COVID-19 transmission, we recommend developing environmental policies regarding the transmission of COVID-19 in South Asian countries.


id: cord-354254-89vjfkfd
author: Peng, Shanbi
date: 2020-08-31
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33027870/
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142090
title:
  The role of computational fluid dynamics tools on investigation of pathogen transmission: Prevention and control

abstract:
  Transmission mechanics of infectious pathogen in various environments are of great complexity and has always been attracting many researchers' attention. As a cost-effective and powerful method, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) plays an important role in numerically solving environmental fluid mechanics. Besides, with the development of computer science, an increasing number of researchers start to analyze pathogen transmission by using CFD methods. Inspired by the impact of COVID-19, this review summarizes research works of pathogen transmission based on CFD methods with different models and algorithms. Defining the pathogen as the particle or gaseous in CFD simulation is a common method and epidemic models are used in some investigations to rise the authenticity of calculation. Although it is not so difficult to describe the physical characteristics of pathogens, how to describe the biological characteristics of it is still a big challenge in the CFD simulation. A series of investigations which analyzed pathogen transmission in different environments (hospital, teaching building, etc) demonstrated the effect of airflow on pathogen transmission and emphasized the importance of reasonable ventilation. Finally, this review presented three advanced methods: LBM method, Porous Media method, and Web-based forecasting method. Although CFD methods mentioned in this review may not alleviate the current pandemic situation, it helps researchers realize the transmission mechanisms of pathogens like viruses and bacteria and provides guidelines for reducing infection risk in epidemic or pandemic situations.


