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SARS-CoV-2 in Atmospheric Particulate Matter: An Experimental Survey in the Province of Venice in Northern Italy

Author

Listed:
  • Alberto Pivato

    (Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering (ICEA), University of Padua, 35131 Padova, Italy)

  • Gianni Formenton

    (Environmental Agency of Veneto Region (ARPAV), 30171 Mestre, Italy)

  • Francesco Di Maria

    (LAR Laboratory, Dipartimento di Ingegneria, University of Perugia, 06125 Perugia, Italy)

  • Tatjana Baldovin

    (Hygiene and Public Health Unit, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, 35131 Padova, Italy)

  • Irene Amoruso

    (Hygiene and Public Health Unit, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, 35131 Padova, Italy)

  • Tiziano Bonato

    (Società Estense Servizi Ambientali (S.E.S.A. S.p.A.), 35042 Este, Italy)

  • Pamela Mancini

    (Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy)

  • Giusy Bonanno Ferraro

    (Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy)

  • Carolina Veneri

    (Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy)

  • Marcello Iaconelli

    (Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy)

  • Lucia Bonadonna

    (Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy)

  • Teresa Vicenza

    (Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy)

  • Giuseppina La Rosa

    (Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy)

  • Elisabetta Suffredini

    (Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy)

Abstract

Analysis of atmospheric particulate matter (PM) has been proposed for the environmental surveillance of SARS-CoV-2. The aim of this study was to increase the current knowledge about the occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 in atmospheric PM, introduce a dedicated sampling method, and perform a simultaneous assessment of human seasonal coronavirus 229E. Thirty-two PM samples were collected on quartz fiber filters and six on Teflon using a low- and high-volumetric rate sampler, respectively, adopting a novel procedure for optimized virus detection. Sampling was performed at different sites in the Venice area (Italy) between 21 February and 8 March 2020 ( n = 16) and between 27 October and 25 November 2020 ( n = 22). A total of 14 samples were positive for Coronavirus 229E, 11 of which were collected in October–November 2020 (11/22; positivity rate 50%) and 3 in February–March 2020 (3/16 samples, 19%). A total of 24 samples (63%) were positive for SARS-CoV-2. Most of the positive filters were collected in October–November 2020 (19/22; positivity rate, 86%), whereas the remaining five were collected in February–March 2020 at two distinct sites (5/16, 31%). These findings suggest that outdoor PM analysis could be a promising tool for environmental surveillance. The results report a low concentration of SARS-CoV-2 in outdoor air, supporting a scarce contribution to the spread of infection.

Suggested Citation

  • Alberto Pivato & Gianni Formenton & Francesco Di Maria & Tatjana Baldovin & Irene Amoruso & Tiziano Bonato & Pamela Mancini & Giusy Bonanno Ferraro & Carolina Veneri & Marcello Iaconelli & Lucia Bonad, 2022. "SARS-CoV-2 in Atmospheric Particulate Matter: An Experimental Survey in the Province of Venice in Northern Italy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-14, August.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:15:p:9462-:d:878205
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Marina Borro & Paolo Di Girolamo & Giovanna Gentile & Ottavia De Luca & Robert Preissner & Adriano Marcolongo & Stefano Ferracuti & Maurizio Simmaco, 2020. "Evidence-Based Considerations Exploring Relations between SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic and Air Pollution: Involvement of PM2.5-Mediated Up-Regulation of the Viral Receptor ACE-2," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-13, August.
    2. Leonardo Setti & Fabrizio Passarini & Gianluigi De Gennaro & Pierluigi Barbieri & Alberto Pallavicini & Maurizio Ruscio & Prisco Piscitelli & Annamaria Colao & Alessandro Miani, 2020. "Searching for SARS-COV-2 on Particulate Matter: A Possible Early Indicator of COVID-19 Epidemic Recurrence," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-5, April.
    3. Andrea Mancusi & Federico Capuano & Santa Girardi & Orlandina Di Maro & Elisabetta Suffredini & Denise Di Concilio & Lucia Vassallo & Maria Concetta Cuomo & Maria Tafuro & Daniel Signorelli & Andrea P, 2022. "Detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in Bivalve Mollusks by Droplet Digital RT-PCR (dd RT-PCR)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(2), pages 1-13, January.
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