Influences of Environmental Factors on Survival and Transmission of Viruses in Water

ABSTRACT

Up to now, 2019-nCoV has spread all over the world. The detection of 2019-nCoV in feces and wastewater suggests the possibility of water-borne transmission. It is significant for the prevention and control of water-borne infections and the risk assessment of viruses to understand the impact of various environmental factors on the survival and transmission of water-borne viruses in the aqueous environment. These factors are investigated by studying the international related researches. It has been suggested that the survival and transmission of pathogenic viruses in the aqueous environment are closely related to the ultraviolet irradiation, temperature, pH, salinity, microorganisms and suspended particles in water. The main influences include (1) The low temperature in water can greatly prolong the survival time of viruses and facilitate the spread of viruses, while the high temperature can accelerate the inactivation of viruses and reduce the transmission of viruses. (2) Ultraviolet irradiation can remove and inactivate viruses effectively by destroying the viral nucleic acids. (3) Microbes in water inactivate viruses by producing detrimental metabolites, or using the viral capsid as a source of nutrients. (4) The adsorption of viruses on a large number of suspended particles can significantly prolong the survival time of viruses, therefore enhancing viral transmission in water;In addition, suspended particles can also promote or hinder the transmission and retention of viruses in porous media. (5) Water pH affects the aggregation of viruses by changing their surface charges, thereby affecting their persistence in the aqueous environment. (6) Inorganic ions change the activity of viruses by affecting their aggregation and adsorption properties. The impacts of environmental factors on the survival of viruses may vary with different viral characteristics. Therefore, the studies on 2019-nCoV should be further explored, such as the survival variability in the aqueous environment, the occurrence and fate in wastewater and drinking water treatment process, as well as the long-term monitoring and quantitative risk assessment in wastewater, recreational water and drinking water. © 2020, Editorial Board, Research of Environmental Sciences. All right reserved.