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Searching for SARS-COV-2 on Particulate Matter: A Possible Early Indicator of COVID-19 Epidemic Recurrence

Author

Listed:
  • Leonardo Setti

    (Department of Industrial Chemistry, University of Bologna, 40136 Bologna, Italy)

  • Fabrizio Passarini

    (Interdepartmental Centre for Industrial Research “Renewable Sources, Environment, Blue Growth, Energy”, University of Bologna, 47921 Rimini, Italy)

  • Gianluigi De Gennaro

    (Department of Biology, University of Bari, 70121 Bari, Italy)

  • Pierluigi Barbieri

    (Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy)

  • Alberto Pallavicini

    (Department of Life Sciences—University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy)

  • Maurizio Ruscio

    (Division of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital Giuliano Isontina (ASU GI), 34127 Trieste, Italy)

  • Prisco Piscitelli

    (Italian Society of Environmental Medicine (SIMA), 20149 Milan, Italy
    UNESCO Chair on Health Education and Sustainable Development, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy)

  • Annamaria Colao

    (UNESCO Chair on Health Education and Sustainable Development, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy)

  • Alessandro Miani

    (Italian Society of Environmental Medicine (SIMA), 20149 Milan, Italy
    UNESCO Chair on Health Education and Sustainable Development, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy
    Department of Environmental Sciences and Policy, University of Milan, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milan, Italy)

Abstract

A number of nations were forced to declare a total shutdown due to COVID-19 infection, as extreme measure to cope with dramatic impact of the pandemic, with remarkable consequences both in terms of negative health outcomes and economic loses. However, in many countries a “Phase-2” is approaching and many activities will re-open soon, although with some differences depending on the severity of the outbreak experienced and SARS-COV-2 estimated diffusion in the general population. At the present, possible relapses of the epidemic cannot be excluded until effective vaccines or immunoprophylaxis with human recombinant antibodies will be properly set up and commercialized. COVD-19-related quarantines have triggered serious social challenges, so that decision makers are concerned about the risk of wasting all the sacrifices imposed to the people in these months of quarantine. The availability of possible early predictive indicators of future epidemic relapses would be very useful for public health purposes, and could potentially prevent the suspension of entire national economic systems. On 16 March, a Position Paper launched by the Italian Society of Environmental Medicine (SIMA) hypothesized for the first time a possible link between the dramatic impact of COVID-19 outbreak in Northern Italy and the high concentrations of particulate matter (PM 10 and PM 2.5 ) that characterize this area, along with its well-known specific climatic conditions. Thereafter, a survey carried out in the U.S. by the Harvard School of Public Health suggested a strong association between increases in particulate matter concentration and mortality rates due to COVID-19. The presence of SARS-COV-2 RNA on the particulate matter of Bergamo, which is not far from Milan and represents the epicenter of the Italian epidemic, seems to confirm (at least in case of atmospheric stability and high PM concentrations, as it usually occurs in Northern Italy) that the virus can create clusters with the particles and be carried and detected on PM 10 . Although no assumptions can be made concerning the link between this first experimental finding and COVID-19 outbreak progression or severity, the presence of SARS-COV-2 RNA on PM 10 of outdoor air samples in any city of the world could represent a potential early indicator of COVID-19 diffusion. Searching for the viral genome on particulate matter could therefore be explored among the possible strategies for adopting all the necessary preventive measures before future epidemics start.

Suggested Citation

  • Leonardo Setti & Fabrizio Passarini & Gianluigi De Gennaro & Pierluigi Barbieri & Alberto Pallavicini & Maurizio Ruscio & Prisco Piscitelli & Annamaria Colao & Alessandro Miani, 2020. "Searching for SARS-COV-2 on Particulate Matter: A Possible Early Indicator of COVID-19 Epidemic Recurrence," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-5, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:9:p:2986-:d:350323
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. C. Bambang Dwi Kuncoro & Cornelia Adristi & Moch Bilal Zaenal Asyikin, 2022. "Smart Wireless Particulate Matter Sensor Node for IoT-Based Strategic Monitoring Tool of Indoor COVID-19 Infection Risk via Airborne Transmission," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-23, November.
    2. Kristijan Lavtižar & Alenka Fikfak & Rok Fink, 2023. "Overlooked Impacts of Urban Environments on the Air Quality in Naturally Ventilated Schools Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-16, February.
    3. Lorenzo Gianquintieri & Maria Antonia Brovelli & Andrea Pagliosa & Rodolfo Bonora & Giuseppe Maria Sechi & Enrico Gianluca Caiani, 2021. "Geospatial Correlation Analysis between Air Pollution Indicators and Estimated Speed of COVID-19 Diffusion in the Lombardy Region (Italy)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-18, November.
    4. Muhammad Azher Hassan & Tariq Mehmood & Ehtisham Lodhi & Muhammad Bilal & Afzal Ahmed Dar & Junjie Liu, 2022. "Lockdown Amid COVID-19 Ascendancy over Ambient Particulate Matter Pollution Anomaly," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-31, October.
    5. Quim Zaldo-Aubanell & Ferran Campillo i López & Albert Bach & Isabel Serra & Joan Olivet-Vila & Marc Saez & David Pino & Roser Maneja, 2021. "Community Risk Factors in the COVID-19 Incidence and Mortality in Catalonia (Spain). A Population-Based Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-20, April.
    6. Sergio A. Chillon & Mikel Millan & Iñigo Aramendia & Unai Fernandez-Gamiz & Ekaitz Zulueta & Xabier Mendaza-Sagastizabal, 2021. "Natural Ventilation Characterization in a Classroom under Different Scenarios," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-13, May.
    7. Marc Garbey & Guillaume Joerger & Shannon Furr, 2020. "A Systems Approach to Assess Transport and Diffusion of Hazardous Airborne Particles in a Large Surgical Suite: Potential Impacts on Viral Airborne Transmission," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-23, July.
    8. Patrick Connerton & João Vicente de Assunção & Regina Maura de Miranda & Anne Dorothée Slovic & Pedro José Pérez-Martínez & Helena Ribeiro, 2020. "Air Quality during COVID-19 in Four Megacities: Lessons and Challenges for Public Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-24, July.
    9. Alberto Pivato & Gianni Formenton & Francesco Di Maria & Tatjana Baldovin & Irene Amoruso & Tiziano Bonato & Pamela Mancini & Giusy Bonanno Ferraro & Carolina Veneri & Marcello Iaconelli & Lucia Bonad, 2022. "SARS-CoV-2 in Atmospheric Particulate Matter: An Experimental Survey in the Province of Venice in Northern Italy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-14, August.
    10. Barouch Giechaskiel & Tero Lähde & Sawan Gandi & Stefan Keller & Philipp Kreutziger & Athanasios Mamakos, 2020. "Assessment of 10-nm Particle Number (PN) Portable Emissions Measurement Systems (PEMS) for Future Regulations," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-16, May.
    11. Samuel Domínguez-Amarillo & Jesica Fernández-Agüera & Sonia Cesteros-García & Roberto Alonso González-Lezcano, 2020. "Bad Air Can Also Kill: Residential Indoor Air Quality and Pollutant Exposure Risk during the COVID-19 Crisis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-33, September.
    12. Joseph Ching & Mizuo Kajino, 2020. "Rethinking Air Quality and Climate Change after COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-11, July.

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