Transmission of SARS-Cov-2 and other enveloped viruses to the environment through protective gear: a brief review

Abstract

Over the past two decades, several deadly viral epidemics have emerged, which have placed humanity in danger. Previous investigations have suggested that viral diseases can spread through contaminants or contaminated surfaces. The transmission of viruses via polluted surfaces relies upon their capacity to maintain their infectivity while they are in the environment. Here, a range of materials that are widely used to manufacture personal protective equipment (PPE) are summarized, as these offer effective disinfection solutions and are the environmental variables that influence virus survival. Infection modes and prevention as well as disinfection and PPE disposal strategies are discussed. A coronavirus-like enveloped virus can live in the environment after being discharged from a host organism until it infects another healthy individual. Transmission of enveloped viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 can occur even without direct contact, although detailed knowledge of airborne routes and other indirect transmission paths is still lacking. Ground transmission of viruses is also possible via wastewater discharges. While enveloped viruses can contaminate potable water and wastewater through human excretions such as feces and droplets, careless PPE disposal can also lead to their transmission into our environment. This paper also highlights the possibility that viruses can be transmitted into the environment from PPE kits used by healthcare and emergency service personnel. A simulation-based approach was developed to understand the transport mechanism for coronavirus and similar enveloped viruses in the environment through porous media, and preliminary results from this model are presented here. Those results indicate that viruses can move through porous soil and eventually contaminate groundwater. This paper therefore underlines the importance of proper PPE disposal by healthcare workers in the Mediterranean region and around the world.

Appraisal of COVID-19 lockdown and unlocking effects on the air quality of North India

“…The COVID-19 lockdown emerged as a reinstatement phase for nature highlighted in various studies ( Aravinthasamy et al, 2021 ; CPCB, 2021 ; Dutta et al, 2020a ; Karunanidhi et al, 2021 ; Khan et al, 2021a , 2021b ). The impact of COVID-19 lockdown gathered the attention of researchers across the globe ( Bhattacharya et al, 2021 ; Kumar et al, 2021 ; Petrosino et al, 2021 ), but none of the studies has attempted to analyse the status of air pollution after the unlocking of COVID-19 lockdown. The average AQI values obtained for the post lockdown phase (January 2021) have been illustrated using ArcGIS for representation purpose ( Fig.…”

Elucidating the role of environmental management of forests, air quality, solid waste and wastewater on the dissemination of SARS-CoV-2

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The waste collectors in Sindh, Pakistan: an exploratory study of the environment-friendly self-employment

“…This study also supports the point that there is no proper segregation system for different types of waste as there is in other countries. Petrosino (2021) found that many countries such as Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia (certain local governments), Japan, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Nepal, South Africa, and Thailand (Chiang Rai) all have national legislation dictating trash segregation categories and a color-coding system for garbage bins. With color coding styles, it is easier for staff handling waste to put waste items into the correct container and maintain segregation of waste during transport, storage, treatment, and disposal.…”