Wastewater aerosols produced during flushing toilets, WWTPs, and irrigation with reclaimed municipal wastewater as indirect exposure to SARS-CoV-2

• Published in: Journal of environmental chemical engineering Vol. 9; no. 5; p. 106201
• Main Authors: Haji Ali, Banafsheh, Shahin, Mohammad Sajjad, Masoumi Sangani, Mohammad Mahdi, Faghihinezhad, Mohsen, Baghdadi, Majid
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.10.2021
• Subjects: Aerosolized wastewater; Bioaerosol; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; Virus-laden aerosols; Wastewater; COVID-19; Virus-laden aerosols; SARS-CoV-2; Aerosolized wastewater; Bioaerosol; Wastewater
• ISSN: 2213-3437; 2213-2929; 2213-3437
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jece.2021.106201

The detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in raw and treated wastewater can open up a fresh perspective to waterborne and aerosolized wastewater as a new transmission route of SARS-CoV-2 RNA during the current pandemic. The aim of this paper is to discuss the potential transmission of SARS-CoV-2 RNA from wastewater aerosols formed during toilet flushing, plumbing failure, wastewater treatment plants, and municipal wastewater reuse for irrigation. Moreover, how these aerosols might increase the risk of exposure to this novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2 RNA). This article supplies a review of the literature on the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in untreated wastewater, as well as the fate and stability of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater. We also reviewed the existing literatures on generation and transmission of aerosolized wastewater through flush a toilet, house's plumbing networks, WWTPs, wastewater reuse for irrigation of agricultural areas. Finally, the article briefly studies the potential risk of infection with exposure to the fecal bioaerosols of SARS-CoV-2 RNA for the people who might be exposed through flushing toilets or faulty building plumbing systems, operators/workers in wastewater treatment plants, and workers of fields irrigated with treated wastewater – based on current knowledge. Although this review highlights the indirect transmission of SARS-CoV-2 RNA through wastewater aerosols, no research has yet clearly demonstrated the role of aerosolized wastewater in disease transmission regarding the continuation of this pandemic. Therefore, there is a need for additional studies on wastewater aerosols in transmission of COVID-19. [Display omitted] •SARS-CoV-2 may be emitted in aerosol via flush toilet, WWTPs, and irrigation.•SARS-CoV-2 detection in wastewater aerosols at WWTPs raises concerns of transmission.•Exposure to SARS-CoV-2 via wastewater aerosols can pose higher risk to WWTP workers.•There is little knowledge about aerosols of SARS-CoV-2 from wastewater.