Monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater: what normalisation for improved understanding of epidemic trends?

SARS-CoV-2 RNA quantification in wastewater has emerged as a relevant additional means to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the concentration can be affected by black water dilution factors or movements of the sewer shed population, leading to misinterpretation of measurement results. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of different indicators to accurately interpret SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater.

Elimination of SARS-CoV-2 along wastewater and sludge treatment processes.

The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is shed in the feces of infected people. As a consequence, genomic RNA of the virus can be detected in wastewater. Although the presence of viral RNA does not inform on the infectivity of the virus, this presence of genetic material raised the question of the effectiveness of treatment processes in reducing the virus in wastewater and sludge.

Airborne mycotoxins in waste recycling and recovery facilities: Occupational exposure and health risk assessment.

Mycotoxins are metabolites secreted by certain types of moulds, and some of them can be harmful to health. The objective of this study was to estimate the level of exposure to airborne aflatoxin B1, ochratoxin A, gliotoxin and sterigmatocystin in waste recycling and recovery facilities. An additional goal was to assess the related health risks for workers.

Inhalable dust as a marker of exposure to airborne biological agents in composting facilities.

Objectives: Industrial composting is associated with high levels of worker exposure to bioaerosols. Measurement of airborne microorganisms and endotoxin is complex and the related cost is high. The objective was therefore to examine whether dust measurement could be used as a marker of exposure to bioaerosols in composting facilities.

Aspergillus fumigatus and mesophilic moulds in air in the surrounding environment downwind of non-hazardous waste landfill sites.

Non-hazardous waste landfilling has the potential to release biological agents into the air, notably mould spores. Some species, such as Aspergillus fumigatus, may be a cause of concern for at-risk nearby residents. However, air concentration in the surrounding environment of non-hazardous waste landfill sites is poorly documented.

Extension of the sorting instructions for household plastic packaging and changes in exposure to bioaerosols at materials recovery facilities.

The aim of this study was to assess how extending the sorting instructions for plastic packaging would affect the exposure of workers working at materials recovery facility (MRF) to dust, endotoxins, fungi and bacteria, taking into consideration other factors that could have an influence on this exposure. Personal sampling was carried out at four MRFs during six sampling campaigns at each facility, both in sorting rooms and when the workers were involved in "mobile tasks" away from the rooms. The data was analysed by describing the extension of sorting instructions both using a qualitative variable (after vs before) and using data for the pots and trays recycling stream, including or excluding plastic film.

Drinking water, diet, indoor air: Comparison of the contribution to environmental micropollutants exposure.

This study collated 254,441 analytical results from drinking water quality monitoring in order to compare levels of exposure of the French adult population from drinking water with that from total diet for 37 pesticides, 11 mineral elements, 11 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), 6 non dioxin-like polychlorobiphenyls (NDL PCB), 5 ether polybromodiphenyl ethers (BDE), 2 perfluorinated compounds. It also compares levels of exposure from drinking water with that from inhalation of indoor air for 9 volatile organic compounds (VOC) and 3 phthalates. The vast majority of the water analysis results showed values below the limits of quantification and this comparison was primarily made on the basis of a highly pessimistic scenario consisting in considering the data below the limits of quantification as being equal to the limits of quantification.

Protection of the vehicle cab environment against bacteria, fungi and endotoxins in composting facilities.

Microbial quality of air inside vehicle cabs is a major occupational health risk management issue in composting facilities. Large differences and discrepancies in protection factors between vehicles and between biological agents have been reported. This study aimed at estimating the mean protection efficiency of the vehicle cab environment against bioaerosols with higher precision.

Exposure to dust, endotoxin and airborne microorganisms in wastewater sludge thermal drying units.

The objective of this study was to assess workers' exposure to bioaerosols in sludge drying units. Simultaneous collection of inhalable dust and airborne biological agents was carried out using rotating cup samplers (CIP 10, Arelco). Sixteen stationary and 30 personal measurements were performed in three drying plants, during summer and winter.

Bioaerosol in composting facilities: occupational health risk assessment.

This research found evidence of an association between occupational exposure to bioaerosols in composting plants and health outcome occurrence in exposed workers. An occupational exposure assessment in six composting plants was performed to better characterize personal exposure levels and evaluate associated health risk in workers. Sampling results showed large ranges of concentrations of dust, bacteria, molds, and endotoxin in ambient air and in personal samples, both when driving a front-end loader and when cleaning, monitoring, and performing maintenance tasks.

Fault tree analysis of the causes of waterborne outbreaks.

Prevention and containment of outbreaks requires examination of the contribution and interrelation of outbreak causative events. An outbreak fault tree was developed and applied to 61 enteric outbreaks related to public drinking water supplies in the EU. A mean of 3.

Bacterial removal from inexpensive portable water treatment systems for travelers.

Background: There are many personal portable water treatment systems for travelers on the market, including chemical agents, iodine resin purifiers and filters. However, information on the real efficacy of these systems in the field is often lacking. We have therefore estimated the capabilities of several inexpensive personal portable water treatment systems for travelers to remove bacteria in various situations of water quality, using stressed indigenous strains of bacteria.

Intestinal parasite carriage in workers exposed to sewage.

The presence of protozoan cysts and helminth eggs in sewage and the very low minimal infective doses of parasites suggest an occupational risk for workers exposed to sewage. The objective of this study was to assess this risk in a group of raw sewage-exposed workers. The relationship between sewage exposure and intestinal parasite carriage was estimated by a multiple cross-sectional survey comparing yearly prevalence rates in 126 employees working in sewers in Paris, France, with the prevalence rate in 363 food-handlers employed between 1988 and 1993.