Bitter Lena Carolin, Kibbee Richard, Jiménez Gabriela C, Örmeci Banu
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada.
ACS ES T Water. 2022 May 12;2(11):2034-2046. doi: 10.1021/acsestwater.2c00060. eCollection 2022 Nov 11.
Because of the increased population density, high-risk behavior of young students, and lower vaccination rates, university campuses are considered hot spots for COVID-19 transmission. This study monitored the SARS-CoV-2 RNA levels in the wastewater of a Canadian university campus for a year to provide actionable information to safely manage COVID-19 on campus. Wastewater samples were collected from the campus sewer and residence buildings to identify changes, peaks, and hotspots and search for associations with campus events, social gatherings, long weekends, and holidays. Furthermore, the impact of wastewater parameters (total solids, volatile solids, temperature, pH, turbidity, and UV absorbance) on SARS-CoV-2 detection was investigated, and the efficiency of ultrafiltration and centrifugation concentration methods were compared. RT-qPCR was used for detecting SARS-CoV-2 RNA. Wastewater signals largely correlated positively with the clinically confirmed COVID-19 cases on campus. Long weekends and holidays were often followed by increased viral signals, and the implementation of lockdowns quickly decreased the case numbers. In spite of online teaching and restricted access to campus, the university represented a microcosm of the city and mirrored the same trends. Results indicated that the centrifugation concentration method was more sensitive for wastewater with high solids content and that the ultrafiltration concentration method was more sensitive for wastewater with low solids content. Wastewater characteristics collected from the buildings and the campus sewer were different. Statistical analysis was performed to manifest the observations. Overall, wastewater surveillance provided actionable information and was also able to bring high-risk factors and events to the attention of decision-makers, enabling timely corrective measures.
由于人口密度增加、青年学生的高风险行为以及较低的疫苗接种率，大学校园被视为新冠病毒传播的热点地区。本研究对加拿大一所大学校园的污水中的严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒2（SARS-CoV-2）RNA水平进行了为期一年的监测，以提供可采取行动的信息，以便在校园内安全管理新冠疫情。从校园下水道和宿舍楼采集污水样本，以确定变化、峰值和热点，并寻找与校园活动、社交聚会、长周末和节假日的关联。此外，还研究了污水参数（总固体、挥发性固体、温度、pH值、浊度和紫外线吸光度）对SARS-CoV-2检测的影响，并比较了超滤和离心浓缩方法的效率。采用逆转录定量聚合酶链反应（RT-qPCR）检测SARS-CoV-2 RNA。污水信号与校园内临床确诊的新冠病例在很大程度上呈正相关。长周末和节假日之后，病毒信号往往会增加，而实施封锁措施后病例数迅速下降。尽管开展了在线教学且限制进入校园，但该大学仍呈现出城市的缩影并反映出相同的趋势。结果表明，离心浓缩法对高固体含量的污水更敏感，而超滤浓缩法对低固体含量的污水更敏感。从建筑物和校园下水道收集的污水特征有所不同。进行了统计分析以呈现这些观察结果。总体而言，污水监测提供了可采取行动的信息，还能够让决策者关注高风险因素和事件，从而能够及时采取纠正措施。
