TY - JOUR
T1 - Wastewater solids drive comparability of sampling methods for SARS-CoV-2 wastewater and environmental surveillance
AU - Kabir, Md Pervez
AU - Renouf, Elizabeth
AU - Pisharody, Lakshmi
AU - Mercier, Élisabeth
AU - D'Aoust, Patrick M.
AU - Wan, Shen
AU - Hegazy, Nada
AU - Nguyen, Tram
AU - Wong, Chandler
AU - Addo, Felix
AU - Tomalty, Emma
AU - Graber, Tyson E.
AU - Delatolla, Robert
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 The Authors
PY - 2025/2/1
Y1 - 2025/2/1
N2 - Passive sampling has proven to be a reliable and cost-effective method in wastewater and environmental surveillance (WES) during the COVID-19 pandemic. In passive sampling, wastewater solids were collected from the wastewater networks, homogenized in solutes and analyzed the supernatant to measure the SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentrations in wastewater. However, the direct impact of wastewater solids content collected via passive sampling on SARS-CoV-2 RNA measurements has not been previously evaluated. In this study, we analyzed wastewater solids collected using Auto, Torpedo, COSCa-ball samplers, and primary sludge samples from a wastewater treatment plant to measure SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentrations in wastewater. Results showed significant variation (p < 0.05) in wastewater solids content (i.e., TS and VS) across Auto, Torpedo, COSCa-ball samplers, and primary sludge samples. Despite differences in solids content, SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentrations in wastewater solids from passive samplers can be effectively compared (p > 0.05) to autosampler and primary sludge samples. To evaluate the influences of wastewater solids content on SARS-CoV-2 RNA measurement, we used a linear mixed-effects model. The model demonstrated that wastewater solids content had no direct effect on SARS-CoV-2 RNA measurements across the sampling methods and primary sludge samples. Overall, this study established a standardized experimental approach for implementing passive samplers as a viable alternative to conventional autosampler in WES for emerging pathogens.
AB - Passive sampling has proven to be a reliable and cost-effective method in wastewater and environmental surveillance (WES) during the COVID-19 pandemic. In passive sampling, wastewater solids were collected from the wastewater networks, homogenized in solutes and analyzed the supernatant to measure the SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentrations in wastewater. However, the direct impact of wastewater solids content collected via passive sampling on SARS-CoV-2 RNA measurements has not been previously evaluated. In this study, we analyzed wastewater solids collected using Auto, Torpedo, COSCa-ball samplers, and primary sludge samples from a wastewater treatment plant to measure SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentrations in wastewater. Results showed significant variation (p < 0.05) in wastewater solids content (i.e., TS and VS) across Auto, Torpedo, COSCa-ball samplers, and primary sludge samples. Despite differences in solids content, SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentrations in wastewater solids from passive samplers can be effectively compared (p > 0.05) to autosampler and primary sludge samples. To evaluate the influences of wastewater solids content on SARS-CoV-2 RNA measurement, we used a linear mixed-effects model. The model demonstrated that wastewater solids content had no direct effect on SARS-CoV-2 RNA measurements across the sampling methods and primary sludge samples. Overall, this study established a standardized experimental approach for implementing passive samplers as a viable alternative to conventional autosampler in WES for emerging pathogens.
KW - Autosampler
KW - Linear fixed effects model
KW - Passive sampling
KW - Primary sludge
KW - Solids content
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85214477827&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jece.2025.115374
DO - 10.1016/j.jece.2025.115374
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85214477827
SN - 2213-2929
VL - 13
JO - Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering
JF - Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering
IS - 1
M1 - 115374
ER -