tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Environ Res
. 2021 Feb 17;110863.
doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.110863. Online ahead of print.
Determination of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in different particulate matter size fractions of outdoor air samples in Madrid during the lockdown
Beatriz Linillos Pradillo[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Lisa Rancan[SUP] 2 [/SUP], El?as D?az Ramiro[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Elena Vara[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Bego?a Art??ano[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Javier Arias[SUP] 4 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
Background: Previous studies described the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in outdoor air particulate matter (PM) in urban areas of northern Italy and USA. The city of Madrid was heavily affected by COVID-19 during March-June 2020. Also, this city usually displays high concentrations of PM under several atmospheric situations. This is mandatory to assess the presence of viral RNA in PM, as an indicator of epidemic recurrence. Our study was aimed at investigating the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in outdoor air samples (on PM10, PM2.5 and PM1).
Methods: six samples of PM10, PM2.5 and PM1 were collected between the May 4[SUP]th[/SUP] and 22[SUP]nd[/SUP] 2020 in Madrid, on quartz fiber filters by using MCV high volume samplers (30 m[SUP]3[/SUP] h[SUP]-1[/SUP] flow) with three inlets (Digitel DHA-80) for sampling PM10, PM2.5 and PM1. RNA extraction and amplification was performed according to the protocol recently set by Setti et al., 2020c in Italy. Up to three highly specific molecular marker genes (N1, N2, and RP) were used to test the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA.
Results: After RNA extraction and expression measurements of N1, N2 and RP genes from all the collected filters, no presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA was observed. Control test to exclude false positive results were successfully accomplished.
Conclusions: No presence of SARS-CoV-2 in quartz fiber filters samplers for PM10, PM2.5 and PM1 fractions was observed in our study carried out in Madrid during the month of May 2020. Nevertheless, the absence of viral genomes could be due to different factors including: limited social interactions and economic activities resulting in reduced circulation of the coronavirus, lower daily PM concentration in outdoor air, as well as to meteorological stability and higher temperature that characterize spring season. Further researches should be carried out during the winter, in presence of higher viral circulation and daily PM exceedances.
Keywords: Air pollution; COVID-19; Madrid; Particulate matter; SARS-CoV-2.
. 2021 Feb 17;110863.
doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.110863. Online ahead of print.
Determination of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in different particulate matter size fractions of outdoor air samples in Madrid during the lockdown
Beatriz Linillos Pradillo[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Lisa Rancan[SUP] 2 [/SUP], El?as D?az Ramiro[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Elena Vara[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Bego?a Art??ano[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Javier Arias[SUP] 4 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 33609549
- DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.110863
Abstract
Background: Previous studies described the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in outdoor air particulate matter (PM) in urban areas of northern Italy and USA. The city of Madrid was heavily affected by COVID-19 during March-June 2020. Also, this city usually displays high concentrations of PM under several atmospheric situations. This is mandatory to assess the presence of viral RNA in PM, as an indicator of epidemic recurrence. Our study was aimed at investigating the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in outdoor air samples (on PM10, PM2.5 and PM1).
Methods: six samples of PM10, PM2.5 and PM1 were collected between the May 4[SUP]th[/SUP] and 22[SUP]nd[/SUP] 2020 in Madrid, on quartz fiber filters by using MCV high volume samplers (30 m[SUP]3[/SUP] h[SUP]-1[/SUP] flow) with three inlets (Digitel DHA-80) for sampling PM10, PM2.5 and PM1. RNA extraction and amplification was performed according to the protocol recently set by Setti et al., 2020c in Italy. Up to three highly specific molecular marker genes (N1, N2, and RP) were used to test the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA.
Results: After RNA extraction and expression measurements of N1, N2 and RP genes from all the collected filters, no presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA was observed. Control test to exclude false positive results were successfully accomplished.
Conclusions: No presence of SARS-CoV-2 in quartz fiber filters samplers for PM10, PM2.5 and PM1 fractions was observed in our study carried out in Madrid during the month of May 2020. Nevertheless, the absence of viral genomes could be due to different factors including: limited social interactions and economic activities resulting in reduced circulation of the coronavirus, lower daily PM concentration in outdoor air, as well as to meteorological stability and higher temperature that characterize spring season. Further researches should be carried out during the winter, in presence of higher viral circulation and daily PM exceedances.
Keywords: Air pollution; COVID-19; Madrid; Particulate matter; SARS-CoV-2.