There are no standardized protocols for quantifying severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in wastewater to date, especially for population normalization. Here, a pipeline was developed, applied, and assessed to quantify SARS-CoV-2 and key variants of concern (VOCs) RNA in wastewater at Saskatoon, Canada. Normalization approaches using recovery ratio and extraction efficiency, wastewater parameters, or population indicators were assessed by comparing to daily numbers of new cases. Viral load was positively correlated with daily new cases reported in the sewershed. Wastewater surveillance (WS) had a lead time of approximately 7 days, which indicated surges in the number of new cases. WS revealed the variant α and δ driving the third and fourth wave, respectively. The adjustment with the recovery ratio and extraction efficiency improved the correlation between viral load and daily new cases. Normalization of viral concentration to concentrations of the artificial sweetener acesulfame K improved the trend of viral load during the Christmas and New Year holidays when populations were dynamic and variable. Acesulfame K performed better than pepper mild mottle virus, creatinine, and ammonia for population normalization. Hence, quality controls to characterize recovery ratios and extraction efficiencies and population normalization with acesulfame are promising for precise WS programs supporting decision-making in public health.

Predicting the behavior, fate, and transport potential of a herbicide in any soil involves understanding the sorption characteristics. The sorption characteristics of glyphosate (GPS) on soil and their main components were investigated, indicating that the mineral phase is more important than the organic carbon in adsorption of GPS. Sorption isotherms were determined from each component using the batch equilibrium method at various concentrations (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 mg L −1 ) and sorption affinity of GPS was approximated by the Freundlich equation. The sorption strength K f [mg kg −1 (L mg −1 ) −n ] across the various components ranged from 2.1-134.9 while the organic carbon-normalized Freundlich sorption capacity values, K foc , ranged from 1.28-3.53 mg kg −1 -OC/(mg L −1 ) n . Infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (FTIR) of the components showed significant structural differences. The results suggest that the presence of the oxides and hydroxides iron, in particular in soil solutions, enhanced GPS adsorption. They also suggest that reduction in OC% due to various treatments may enhance the remobilization of GPS into the aqueous phase (i.e., groundwater), though at different rates. Comparatively, contribution of surface area to the adsorption of GPS on the various components proved more significant than contents of organic carbon.

2,4-dichlorophenoxyl acetic acid (2,4-D, pKa = 2.8) is used extensively as a herbicide in agricultural practices. Its sorption behavior on both untreated and soils treated to significantly remove specific components (organic and iron and manganese [Fe-Mn] oxides and hydroxides phases) was investigated under oxic and anoxic conditions. The chemical and structural heterogeneity of the soil components were characterized by elemental analysis and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The coexistence of the various components seems to either mask sorption sites on the untreated soil surfaces or inhibit interlayer diffusion of 2,4-D. All sorption data conform to the Freundlich description and a pseudo-second-order kinetic model. There was a strong positive correlation between sorption capacity K(d), and surface area (r(2) ≤ 0.704), but a negative correlation was uncovered with both pH and organic carbon (r(2) ≤ -0.860). The results indicate that 2,4-D is preferably sorbed under oxic rather than anoxic conditions and it is greater on soils containing a high Fe content. There was incomplete 2,4-D sorption reversibility, with desorption occurring more rapidly under anoxic conditions. The study suggests that stimulation of Fe III reduction could be used for the bioremediation of a 2,4-D-contaminated site.

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