Disinfection threatens aquatic ecosystems
By Hong Zhang, Wenzhong Tang, Yushun Chen, Wei Yin
Science10 Apr 2020 : 146-147
In an effort to contain the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), China has been applying chlorine disinfectants to both indoor and outdoor spaces. To minimize opportunities for the severe acute respiratory syndrome–coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)—the virus that causes COVID-19—to thrive, China has dispensed at least 2000 tons of disinfectants in Wuhan City alone (
1). These chemicals can get into sewage systems and pollute drinking water resources (
1). Both the direct runoff and indirect sewage effluents will eventually end up in lakes and rivers, putting aquatic ecosystems at risk (
2)....
