Number of COVID-19 cases required in a population to detect SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater in the province of Alberta, Canada: Sensitivity assessment

With a unique and large size of testing results of 1,842 samples collected from 12 wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) for 14 months through from low to high prevalence of COVID-19, the sensitivity of RT-qPCR detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater that correspond to the communities was computed by using Probit analysis. This study determined the number of new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population required to detect SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater at defined probabilities and provided an evidence-based framework of wastewater-based epidemiology surveillance (WBE). Input data were positive and negative test results of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater samples and the corresponding new COVID-19 case rates per 100,000 population served by each WWTP. The analyses determined that RT-qPCR-based SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection threshold at 50%, 80% and 99% probability required a median of 8 (range: 4-19), 18 (9-43), and 38 (17-97) of new COVID-19 cases /100,000, respectively. Namely, the positive detection rate at 50%, 80% and 99% probability were 0.01%, 0.02%, and 0.04% averagely for new cases in the population. This study improves understanding of the performance of WBE SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection using the large datasets and prolonged study period. Estimated COVID-19 burden at a community level that would result in a positive detection of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater is critical to support WBE application as a supplementary warning/monitoring system for COVID-19 prevention and control.     

污水新型冠状病毒监测研究进展及启示

新冠肺炎疫情暴发以来,全球多个国家和地区频繁在污水中检测出新型冠状病毒核酸. 开展基于污水流行病学的污水新型冠状病毒监测,可作为人群新冠肺炎监测的重要补充,获得的核酸浓度数据和序列突变分析结果,可为新冠肺炎疫情早期预警、早期发现无症状感染者、评估感染规模、监测人群流行趋势、开展病毒溯源调查、制定防控政策等提供科学依据. 鉴于此,本文系统介绍了国内外污水中新型冠状病毒的来源及影响病毒存活的主要因素,归纳了常用的污水新型冠状病毒富集浓缩和核酸检测方法,概括了全球已开展的监测项目、进展及现存科学问题,指出了现有研究的局限性,包括缺乏污水中新型冠状病毒的分布特征及感染性研究、预测预警模型开发与应用不足等. 为我国下一阶段新冠肺炎疫情或者未来可能出现的突发重大疫情的精准防控提供借鉴与参考,提升我国应对传染病及非传染病的预测预警、流行规模评估及精准施策的能力.      

Environmental Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in Wastewater and Groundwater in Quintana Roo,Mexico

The presence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA in wastewater has been reported as a result of fecal shedding of infected individuals. In this study, the occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA was explored in primary-treated wastewater from two municipal wastewater treatment plants in Quintana Roo, Mexico, along with groundwater from sinkholes, a household well, and submarine groundwater discharges. Physicochemical variables were obtained in situ, and coliphage densities were determined. Three virus concentration methods based on adsorption-elution and sequential filtration were used followed by RNA isolation. Quantification of SARS-CoV-2 was done by RT-qPCR using the CDC 2020 assay, 2019-nCoV_N1 and 2019-nCoV_N2. The Pepper mild mottle virus, one of the most abundant RNA viruses in wastewater was quantified by RT-qPCR and compared to SARS-CoV-2 concentrations. The use of three combined virus concentration methods together with two qPCR assays allowed the detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in 58% of the wastewater samples analyzed, whereas none of the groundwater samples were positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA. Concentrations of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater were from 1.8 × 10³ to 7.5 × 10³ genome copies per liter (GC l⁻¹), using the N1 RT-qPCR assay, and from 2.4 × 10² to 5.9 × 10³ GC l⁻¹ using the N2 RT-qPCR assay. Based on PMMoV prevalence detected in all wastewater and groundwater samples tested, the three viral concentration methods used could be successfully applied for SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection in further studies. This study represents the first detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater in southeast Mexico and provides a baseline for developing a wastewater-based epidemiology approach in the area.

     

A pilot-scale study of cryolite precipitation from high fluoride-containing wastewater in a reaction-separation integrated reactor

Fluoride removal by traditional precipitation generates huge amounts of a water-rich sludge with low quality, which has no commercial or industrial value. The present study evaluated the feasibility of recovering fluoride as low water content cryolite from industrial fluoride-containing wastewater. A novel pilot-scale reaction-separation integrated reactor was designed. The results showed that the seed retention time in the reactor was prolonged to strengthen the induced crystallization process. The particle size of cryolite increased with increasing seed retention time, which decreased the water content. The recovery rate of cryolite was above 75% under an influent fluoride concentration of 3500 mg/L, a reaction temperature of 50℃, and an influent flow of 40 L/hr. The cryolite products that precipitated from the reactor were small in volume, large in particle size, low in water content, high in crystal purity, and recyclable.     

常温下短程硝化实现及稳定性试验研究

以自配模拟氨氮废水为研究对象,在全程硝化污泥的基础上通过控制低曝气量和提高反应器进水pH值,在较低的DO质量浓度和较高pH值条件下完成了短程硝化污泥的驯化,系统中的NO2--N积累率稳定在95%以上;逐渐提高硝化阶段的曝气量、降低进水溶液的pH值,短程硝化过程没有被破坏;稳定的短程硝化系统改为定时控制,过度曝气6 d后,NO2--N的积累率仅剩43.7%,硝化类型由短程硝化转变为全程硝化。     

高效生物吸附剂处理含铬废水

将菌株(R32)和复合菌群(Fh01)2种生物吸附剂与活性污泥进行复合使用,观察了柱式生物曝气法对高浓度含铬模拟水样和含铬电镀废水的生物吸附效果.结果表明,这2种吸附剂性能稳定,对进水pH值适应范围广,当pH值为1.0～7.0时,R32对50.0mg/L铬的去除率达71%～86%;当pH值为1.0～5.0时,Fh01对铬的去除率均在60%以上.R32对铬浓度、进水速度、处理时间等因素均具有较好的适应性.而Fh01对低浓度含铬废水的处理效率高,当总Cr浓度为5.0～20.0mg/L时,对铬的去除率达100%.R32和Fh01串联曝气处理效果理想,吸附2h后,对总Cr,Cu2+,CODCr浓度分别为78.3,2.29,45.0mg/L的电镀废水的去除率分别高达94.0%,99.2%,74.5%.     

浑河中游沈阳区域水污染控制与治理的难点和关键技术——“浑河中游水污染控制与水环境综合整治技术集成与示范”专栏序言

针对浑河中游沈阳区域工业园区难生物降解制药废水处理、污泥处理处置、城市河流水环境的湿地净化,以及水环境评价和污染源解析等问题,国家科技重大水专项浑河中游课题开展了大量研究.为了提高制药园区废水可生化性、优选物化预处理工艺技术,选取典型污染物乙酰氨基酚作为处理对象,研究其物化预处理过程中的转化规律与机理;针对污泥安全处理处置和资源化利用难题,研发生物干化技术和利用沸石减少温室气体排放和氮素损失的技术;针对复合型人工湿地效率提升需求,研究潮汐流-潜流组合工艺系统中不同单元的菌群功能特征;为科学制定河流治理技术策略,研究形成主成分分析、聚类分析、三维荧光光谱等河流水环境特色研究方法,并在其他流域如武水河进行应用.这些技术难点和关键技术研究,不仅支持了浑河中游水污染控制与治理,也可为当前流域区域水环境治理提供借鉴.     

进水浓度对UASB颗粒污泥形成的影响研究

采用人工葡萄糖配水,在相同的操作条件下,研究了进水浓度对UASB反应器颗粒污泥形成的影响。试验结果表明,9000mg/L COD的高浓度进水能够培养出良好的颗粒污泥,颗粒直径1.0—2.5mm(大多为2.0mm),SVI 16.03 ml/g,沉降性能良好.颗粒化过程在二个多月的试验周期内基本完成。反应器容积负荷达30.8kg COD/m~3·d,COD去除率大于85％.而采用1000mg/L COD的低浓度进水,也能培养出颗粒污泥但过程较慢,颗粒直径较小,约0.5—1.5mm,反应器容积负荷最高为10.2kg COD/m~3·d,COD去除率约75％。本文还就处理实际废水时的操作控制技术进行了分析讨论。     

正交优化制备污泥水解蛋白质的实验研究

以武汉市污水处理厂剩余活性污泥为原料,在不同加水量、温度和催化条件下水解制备水解蛋白质,并通过正交试验优化了剩余污泥水解的反应条件。结果表明,当时间固定在6h时,以固液比(此为鲜泥与加水量的质量之比)为1∶2,温度1200℃,盐酸催化(pH为1.5)为水解反应的最佳条件。本研究为污泥水解蛋白液的制备及污泥处理的减量化、无害化和资源化提供了理论支持和数值依据。     

含盐工业废水生化处理耐盐污泥驯化及其机制

通过比较在高盐和低盐条件下活性污泥驯化过程,研究了含盐工业废水生化处理耐盐污泥驯化的可行性、特点及其生物学过程.结果表明以盐份作为选择压力可以驯化出具有高降解活性的耐盐污泥,在NaCl浓度为45 000mg/L,容积负荷为1.6kgCODCr/(m³d)时,其COD_Cr去除率可达到96.6%.对耐盐污泥的驯化过程中的微生物优势生理群变化分析显示,随着进水盐浓度的增加,耐盐苯乙酸降解微生物生理群数量在15d时间内从10⁹cfu/(gVSS)上升到10¹¹cfu/(g.VSS),成为污泥中的优势生理群.     

CAST工艺处理低温低碳氮比市政污水中试研究

我国北方某县城采用CAST工艺处理市政污水,由于工业废水、洗浴及供暖的地热水直接排放到市政管网,导致污水厂实际进水C/N在1.4左右,且水质波动较大,改造前污水厂CAST工艺中污泥浓度过低,出水碳氮磷等指标均不达标。中试研究将原来的CAST池进行了改造,改造后的CAST工艺通过优化填料加入量及位置、控制污泥龄、增加负荷等策略,在不添加化学药剂的情况下,可高效处理低温、低C/N比市政污水,且抗冲击负荷能力强,出水COD及氮、磷等指标可稳定优于一级A标准。     

驯化活性污泥SBR工艺处理乳制品废水研究

乳制品废水直接采用生物法处理在现有研究中较少,为验证处理效果,将4阶段驯化后的活性污泥投加到SBR中,进行了低浓度乳制品废水的直接生物降解试验,主要考察了对COD、NH4-N的去除效果,结果显示:活性污泥驯化期间,COD、NH4-N平均去除率分别为93%、90%;驯化后的活性污泥处理效果稳定,当进水COD为1654 mg/L、NH4-N为115 mg/L时,出水COD、NH4-N分别为66 mg/L、2 mg/L,达到《污水综合排放标准》(GB 8978-1996)一级排放标准,证明了用驯化活性污泥直接处理低浓度乳制品废水是可行的.     

螺旋霉素废水处理过程中菌群结构、水质特征及抗性基因之间关系分析

抗生素制药废水常含有大量抗生素抗性基因（antibiotic resistance genes,ARG）,传播抗性污染的风险高于城市污水,但目前人们对抗生素制药废水处理过程中ARG转归影响机制研究尚有不足.本研究采用高通量测序考察某螺旋霉素制药废水厂A²O工艺过程中菌群结构变化,并通过多种统计学分析方法考察菌群结构、水质特征及ARG之间的相互关系.结果表明,生物处理单元中污泥的菌群结构受进水水质影响较小,其中厌氧和缺氧池中均以产甲烷菌与硫酸盐还原菌为优势菌,好氧池和二沉池中优势菌群的功能较为复杂;A²O系统对常规污染物去除效果较好,但不能稳定削减潜在致病菌丰度.水质特征、菌群结构和ARG之间存在显著相互影响关系,其中废水处理过程中生物量、NH₄⁺-N和化学需氧量（chemical oxygen demand,COD）与ARG和可移动遗传元件（mobile genetic elements,MGE）的分布密切相关.在水相和泥相中对ARG和MGE产生显著影响的菌属不同,而且泥相中有更多的潜在致病菌与ARG显著相关性,即污泥中微生物同时获得耐药性和致病性的可能性比水相中高.本研究可为今后抗生素制药废水处理过程的抗性污染控制提供科学参考.     

低温下活性污泥膨胀的微生物群落结构研究

采用水质参数指标测定和高通量测序技术,探讨了郑州某污水处理厂冬季间歇性污泥膨胀机制.结果表明该厂活性污泥的污泥容积指数(SVI值)的变化与季节温度变化有显著的负相关性,1~4月及12月易发生污泥膨胀,但是不影响出水水质.高通量测序技术分析发现污泥膨胀月份泥样的微生物群落结构要显著不同于未膨胀月份.该厂发生丝状菌污泥膨胀的优势丝状菌为腐螺旋菌科Saprospiraceae和黄杆菌科Flavobacterium.因此,低温导致活性污泥微生物群落结构变化是引起该厂活性污泥膨胀的原因.     

Inhibition and recovery of nitrification in treating real coal gasification wastewater with moving bed biofilm reactor

Moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) was used to treat real coal gasification wastewater. Nitrification of the MBBR was inhibited almost completely during start-up period. Sudden increase of influent total NH3 concentration was the main factor inducing nitrification inhibition. Increasing DO concentration in the bulk liquid (from 2 to 3 mg/L) had little e ect on nitrification recovery. Nitrification of the MBBR recovered partially by the addition of nitrifying sludge into the reactor and almost ceased within 5 days. Nitrification ratio of the MBBR achieved 65% within 12 days by increasing dilute ratio of the influent wastewater with tap water. The ratio of nitrification decreased to 25% when influent COD concentration increased from 650 to 1000 mg/L after nitrification recovery and recovered 70% for another 4 days.     

Investigating the bacterial community and amoebae population in rural domestic wastewater reclamation for irrigation

Reclamation of domestic wastewater for agricultural irrigation is viewed as a sustainable option to create an alternative water source and address water scarcity. Free-living amoebae(FLA), which are amphizoic protozoa, are widely distributed in various environmental sources. The FLA could cause considerable environmental and health risks. However, little information is available on the risk of these protozoa. In this study, we evaluated the feasibility using rural domestic wastewater for agricultural irrigation, and analyzed dynamic changes of the microbial community structure and FLA populations in raw and treated wastewater, as well as the phyllosphere and rhizosphere of lettuce production sites that were irrigated with different water sources. The bacterial community dynamics were analyzed by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism(T-RFLP). The bacterial community structures in the influent were similar to that in the effluent, while in some cases relative abundances varied significantly. The populations of Acanthamoeba spp. and Hartmannella vermiformis in the anaerobically treated wastewater were significantly higher than in the raw wastewater. The vegetables could harbor diverse amoebae, and the abundances of Acanthamoeba spp. and H. vermiformis in the rhizosphere were significantly higher than in the phyllosphere. Accordingly, our studies show insight into the distribution and dissemination of amoebae in wastewater treatment and irrigation practices.     

常温下EGSB反应器处理环氧树脂生产废水

在常温下研究利用EGSB反应器处理环氧树脂生产废水的启动运行。结果表明：水力负荷和污泥负荷是影响EGSB反应器处理效果的重要参数,水力负荷在0.8～3 m/h,进水COD浓度在2500～7500 mg/L的范围内,COD的去除率在80%以上;运行时反应器内的污泥负荷稳定在0.4 kgCOD/（kgSS·d）左右,通过提高水力负荷,有利于污泥的生长;污泥经过启动驯化后能够适应EGSB反应器的运行条件。     

上流式厌氧污泥反应器(UASB)处理榨菜腌制废水的研究

针对榨菜废水高盐度、高有机物浓度的特点,使用UASB厌氧反应器对该废水进行处理,考察了进水盐度和pH值、接种污泥、处理负荷和反应器内温度、碱度、氧化还原电位等因素对COD去除率的影响,通过对进水中上述因素的控制,发现UASB反应器的COD去除率可以达到45%.在有机负荷不超过15.0 kgCOD/(m3 ·d)的情况下逐渐提高负荷培养颗粒化污泥、盐度不超过46.0 g/L条件下逐渐提高进水盐度以驯化和培养耐盐、嗜盐微生物,是UASB反应器高效运行的关键.运行后期,耐盐微生物出现在颗粒污泥中.     

Mechanisms and evidence of vertical transmission of infections in pregnancy including SARS-CoV-2s

There remain unanswered questions concerning mother-to-child-transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Despite reports of neonatal COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2 has not been consistently isolated in perinatal samples, thus definitive proof of transplacental infection is still lacking. To address these questions, we assessed investigative tools used to confirm maternal-fetal infection and known protective mechanisms of the placental barrier that prevent transplacental pathogen migration. Forty studies of COVID-19 pregnancies reviewed suggest a lack of consensus on diagnostic strategy for congenital infection. Although real-time polymerase chain reaction of neonatal swabs was universally performed, a wide range of clinical samples was screened including vaginal secretions (22.5%), amniotic fluid (35%), breast milk (22.5%) and umbilical cord blood. Neonatal COVID-19 was reported in eight studies, two of which were based on the detection of SARS-CoV-2 IgM in neonatal blood. Histological examination demonstrated sparse viral particles, vascular malperfusion and inflammation in the placenta from pregnant women with COVID-19. The paucity of placental co-expression of ACE-2 and TMPRSS2, two receptors involved in cytoplasmic entry of SARS-CoV-2, may explain its relative insensitivity to transplacental infection. Viral interactions may utilise membrane receptors other than ACE-2 thus, tissue susceptibility may be broader than currently known. Further spatial-temporal studies are needed to determine the true potential for transplacental migration.     

镇江市新区第二污水处理厂入网企业废水毒性试验

镇江市新区第二污水厂进水主要是新区化工园区的混合化工废水,针对生化系统经常遭受异常进水或毒性物质冲击的情况,提出了以耗氧速率(OUR)及COD去除率和硝化速率评价污水可生物降解性的方法,以提高活性污泥系统的处理效率和运行管理水平。研究结果表明,六类化工企业废水的毒性大小顺序为农药类﹥电子类﹥染料类﹥造纸类﹥橡胶类﹥酒精类。