Nada Hegazy, Xin Tian, Patrick M D'Aoust, Lakshmi Pisharody, Syeda Tasneem Towhid, Élisabeth Mercier, Zhihao Zhang, Shen Wan, Ocean Thakali, Md Pervez Kabir, Wanting Fang, Tram B Nguyen, Nathan T Ramsay, Alex E MacKenzie, Tyson E Graber, Stéphanie Guilherme, Robert Delatolla
Wastewater surveillance (WWS) of SARS-CoV-2 has become a crucial tool for monitoring COVID-19 cases and outbreaks. Previous studies have indicated that SARS-CoV-2 RNA measurement from testing solid-rich primary sludge yields better sensitivity compared to testing wastewater influent. Furthermore, measurement of pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV) signal in wastewater allows for precise normalization of SARS-CoV-2 viral signal based on solid content, enhancing disease prevalence tracking. However, despite the widespread adoption of WWS, a knowledge gap remains regarding the impact of ferric sulfate coagulation, commonly used in enhanced primary clarification, the initial stage of wastewater treatment where solids are sedimented and removed, on SARS-CoV-2 and PMMoV quantification in wastewater-based epidemiology...
December 19, 2023: Environmental Science and Pollution Research International