Distributions and risks of SARS-CoV-2 in hospital outdoor environment

The outbreak of coronavirus infectious disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has rapidly spread throughout over 200 countries, posing a global threat to human health. Till 15th May 2020, there are over 4.5 million confirmed cases, with roughly 300,000 death1. To date, most studies focus on severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in indoor environment owing to its main transmission routes via human respiratory droplets and direct contact2,3. It remains unclear whether SARS-CoV-2 can spill over and impose transmission risks to outdoor environments despite potential threats to people and communities. Here, we investigated the presence of SARS-CoV-2 by measuring viral RNA in 73 samples from outdoor environment of three hospitals in Wuhan. We detected SARS-CoV-2 in soils (205-550 copies/g), aerosols (285-1,130 copies/m3) and wastewaters (255 to 18,744 copies/L) in locations close to hospital departments receiving COVID-19 patients or in wastewater treatment sectors. These findings reveal significant viral spillover in hospital outdoor environments that was possibly caused by respiratory droplets from patients or aerosolized particles from wastewater containing SARS-CoV-2. In contrast, SARS-CoV-2 was not detected in other areas or on surfaces with regular disinfection implemented. Soils may behave as viral warehouse through deposition and serve as a secondary source spreading SARS-CoV-2 for a prolonged time. For the first time, our findings demonstrate that there are high-risk areas in hospital outdoor environments to spread SARS-CoV-2, calling for sealing of wastewater treatment unit and complete sanitation to prevent COVID-19 transmission risks.

Ultra-fast and onsite interrogation of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in environmental specimens via surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)

The outbreak of coronavirus infectious disease-2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia challenges the rapid interrogation of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in human and environmental specimens. In this study, we developed an assay using surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) coupled with multivariate analysis to diagnose SARS-CoV-2 in an ultra-fast manner without any pretreatment (e.g., RNA extraction). Using silver-nanorod SERS array functionalized with cellular receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), we obtained strong SERS signals of ACE2 at 1032, 1051, 1089, 1189, 1447 and 1527 cm-1. The recognition and binding of receptor binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein on SERS assay significantly quenched the spectral intensities of most peaks and exhibited a shift from 1189 to 1182 cm-1. On-site tests on 17 water samples with a portable Raman spectrometer proved its accuracy and easy-operation for spot diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 to evaluate disinfection performance, explore viral survival in environmental media, assess viral decay in wastewater treatment plant and track SARS-CoV-2 in pipe network. Our findings raise a state-of-the-art spectroscopic tool to screen and interrogate viruses with RBD for human cell entry, proving its feasibility and potential as an ultra-fast diagnostic tool for public health.

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

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 Fangcang Hospital and found the high level of (0.05-1.87)x104 copies/L after disinfection with sodium hypochlorite. Embedded viruses in stool particles might be released in septic tanks, behaving as a source of SARS-CoV-2 and potentially contributing to its spread through drainage pipelines. Current recommended disinfection strategy (free chlorine above 6.5 mg/L after 1.5-hour contact) 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.

Modified ferron assay for speciation characterization of hydrolyzed Al(III): a precise k value based judgment.

The speciation of Al-OH complexes in terms of Al(a), Al(b) and Al(c) could be achieved by traditional ferron assay and Al(b) is generally considered as Al(13), however, the inherent correlation between them remains an enigma. This paper presents a modified ferron assay to get precise determination of Al(13) using nonlinear least squares analysis, and to clarify the correlation between Al(b) and Al(13). Two parallel reactions conforming to pseudo-first-order kinetics can simulate the complicate reactions between polynuclear complexes and ferron successfully. Four types of experimental kinetic constant (k value) of Al-OH complexes can be observed by this method when investigating three typical aluminium solutions. Comparing with the results of (27)Al NMR, the species with moderate kinetics around 0.001 s(-1) can be confirmed to resemble to Al(13) polycation. The other types of kinetics are also well-regulated in partially neutralized aluminium solutions with various OH/Al ratios (b values) in the range 0 approximately 2.5. It would provide potential means to trace the in-situ formation of Al(13) in dilute solutions such as coagulation with Al-based coagulants.

Removal of azo dye from water by magnetite adsorption-Fenton oxidation.

The aim of this study is to highlight the possibility of using powder magnetite adsorption-Fenton oxidation as a method for removal of azo dye acid red B (ARB) from water. The adsorption properties of magnetite powder towards ARB were studied. The oxidation of adsorbed ARB and regeneration of magnetite adsorbent at the same time by Fenton reagent (hydrogen peroxide [H2O2] + iron (II) [Fe2+]) in another treatment unit with a smaller volume was also investigated. The efficiency of Fenton oxidation of ARB was compared for the reaction carried out in solution and on magnetite. The magnetic separation method was used to recover magnetite after adsorption or regeneration. The results indicated that the adsorption rate was fast. The capacity was strongly dependent on pH and inorganic anions, and pH 3.8 was optimal for the adsorption of ARB. The adsorption can be described well using the Langmuir model. The oxidation was more efficient for ARB adsorbed on magnetite than in solution. The adsorption capacity of magnetite increased significantly after regeneration, which was the result of an increase in surface area of the adsorbent and change of elemental ratio (oxygen:iron [O:Fe]) on the surface. The maximum adsorption capacity for ARB was 32.4 mg/g adsorbent.