Environmental monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 in the metropolitan area of Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul (RS), Brazil.

Since starts the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic identified the presence of genomic fragments of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in various environmental matrices: domestic sewage, surface waters, and contaminated freshwater. Environmental monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 is a tool for evaluating trend curves over the months, compared to several clinical cases of the disease. The objective of this study was to monitor the SARS-CoV-2 in environmental samples collected in different sites in a metropolitan area of Porto Alegre, Southern Brazil.

Incomplete sanitation in the Metropolitan Region of São Paulo results in detection of SARS-CoV-2 in headwater streams.

Among the largest metropolitan regions in the world, the Metropolitan Region of São Paulo (MRSP) represents an important case study for the COVID-19 respiratory disease pandemic because it is home to >20 million people, making it one of the largest metropolitan regions in the global south. Besides the high population density, the MRSP has several problems related to social and economic aspects, which may reflect in the dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 virus, such as low income, lack of sanitation and social vulnerability in the peripheral regions of MRSP. In these regions, the input of untreated sewage on the streams and rivers can be frequently observed, which may represent an indicator of poor sewer system.

Microbial interactions and nitrogen removal performance in an intermittently rotating biological contactor treating mature landfill leachate.

Developing efficient landfill leachate treatment is still necessary to reduce environmental risks. However, nitrogen removal in biological treatment systems is often poor or costly. Studying biofilms in anoxic/aerobic zones of rotating biological contactors (RBC) can elucidate how microbial interactions confer resistance to shock loads and toxic substances in leachate treatment.

Wastewater-based epidemiology: A Brazilian SARS-COV-2 surveillance experience.

Since 2020, developed countries have rapidly shared both publicly and academically relevant wastewater surveillance information. Data on SARS-CoV-2 circulation is pivotal for guiding public health policies and improving the COVID-19 pandemic response. Conversely, low- and middle-income countries, such as Latin America and the Caribbean, showed timid activities in the Wastewater-Based Epidemiology (WBE) context.

Sampling strategies for wastewater surveillance: Evaluating the variability of SARS-COV-2 RNA concentration in composite and grab samples.

The shedding of SARS-CoV-2 RNA titers by infected individuals, even asymptomatic and oligosymptomatic ones, allows the use of wastewater monitoring to track the COVID-19 spread in a community. This approach is interesting especially for emerging countries with limited clinical testing capabilities. However, there are still important methodological aspects that need validation so that wastewater monitoring data become more representative and useful for public health.

First case of SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection in municipal solid waste leachate from Brazil.

This work presents the first case of SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection in leachate collected from a transfer station in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. After calibration of the viral detection method already used for wastewater samples with a pilot leachate sample and virus fragments in laboratory, twelve polyethylene glycol concentrated leachates samples were tested by RT-qPCR. The results confirmed the presence of N1 gene in 9 of the 12 analyzed samples between epidemiological weeks 33 and 38 of the year 2021 (08/15/2021 to 09/19/2021).

Long-term monitoring of SARS-COV-2 RNA in wastewater in Brazil: A more responsive and economical approach.

SARS-CoV-2, the novel Coronavirus, was first detected in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, and has since spread rapidly, causing millions of deaths worldwide. As in most countries of the world, in Brazil, the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic have been catastrophic. Several studies have reported the fecal shedding of SARS-CoV-2 RNA titers from infected symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals.

Spatiotemporal variability of solid waste on sandy beaches with different access restrictions.

Intense human use and high construction density in coastal areas are stressors to sandy beaches. Pollution by marine debris is a major problem on beaches worldwide. This study pioneered an assessment of marine debris characterization over time on beaches with different levels of access.

Delays in obstetric care increase the risk of neonatal near-miss morbidity events and death: a case-control study.

Background: To evaluate the association between delays in obstetric care and neonatal near-miss mortality events and death in a public maternity referral center.

Methods: This case-control study enrolled 142 neonates, meeting the near-miss criteria of 5-min Apgar < 7, weight < 1500 g, gestational age < 32 weeks, and use of mechanical ventilation or congenital malformation, as well as 284 controls (without the near-miss criteria), at a ratio of 1:2. After follow-up, the following outcomes were reclassified: survival of the neonatal period without the near-miss criteria (true "controls"), "near-miss," and "neonatal death.

Intermittent rotation as an innovative strategy for achieving nitritation in rotating biological contactors.

The nitritation step is essential when the anammox process is focused, and alternative technologies to achieve partial nitritation-anammox are required. Rotating Biological Contactors (RBCs) are a promising and cost-effective technology, allowing the development of aerobic and anoxic zones in the biofilm, coupled to low energy consumption. This study evaluated nitritation in a RBC with two discs rotation strategies: continuous and intermittent.

Fast start-up of the single-stage nitrogen removal using anammox and partial nitritation (SNAP) from conventional activated sludge in a membrane-aerated biofilm reactor.

The single-stage nitrogen removal using anammox and partial nitritation (SNAP) is a promising alternative for low-cost ammonium removal from wastewaters. This study aimed to evaluate the anammox biomass enrichment and SNAP process start-up in a laboratory-scale membrane-aerated biofilm reactor (MABR) at nitrogen loading rates of 50 g N.m.

Late umbilical cord clamping does not increase rates of jaundice and the need for phototherapy in pregnancies at normal risk.

To verify the relationship between the time of clamping of the umbilical cord and the development of neonatal jaundice, the dosage of bilirubin and the need for phototherapy. Cross-sectional, retrospective study with 398 parturients at normal risk (single term gestation, no complications during gestation or delivery, birth weight between 2500 and 4499 g). The population was divided into three groups regarding the time of cord clamping: <1 min(117, 29.