SARS-CoV-2 surveillance in indoor and outdoor size-segregated aerosol samples

We aimed to determine the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in indoor and outdoor size-segregated aerosol samples (PM10-2.5, PM2.5). Five outdoor daily samples were collected between November and December 2020 in an urban/industrial area with relatively high PM10 levels (Maliaño, Santander, Spain) by using...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Real Bolt, Álvaro del|||0000-0002-1057-461X, Expósito Monar, Andrea|||0000-0002-5465-5913, Ruiz Azcona, Laura|||0000-0003-2213-2728, Santibáñez Margüello, Miguel|||0000-0003-2634-615X, Fernández Olmo, Ignacio|||0000-0001-6096-5160
Format: article
Publication Date:2022
Country:España
Institution:Universidad de Cantabria (UC)
Repository:UCrea Repositorio Abierto de la Universidad de Cantabria
Language:English
OAI Identifier:oai:repositorio.unican.es:10902/26465
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10902/26465
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:COVID-19
SARS-CoV-2
Particulate matter (PM)
Aerosol
Environmental surveillance
Low-volume air sampling
Description
Summary:We aimed to determine the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in indoor and outdoor size-segregated aerosol samples (PM10-2.5, PM2.5). Five outdoor daily samples were collected between November and December 2020 in an urban/industrial area with relatively high PM10 levels (Maliaño, Santander, Spain) by using a PM impactor (air flowrate of 30 L/min). In a non-hospital indoor sampling surveillance context, 8 samples in classrooms and 6 samples in the central library-Paraninfo of the University of Cantabria (UC) were collected between April and June 2021 by using personal PM samplers (air flowrate of 3 L/min). Lastly, 8 samples in the pediatric nasopharyngeal testing room at Liencres Hospital, 6 samples from different single occupancy rooms of positive patients, and 2 samples in clinical areas of the COVID plant of the University Hospital Marqués de Valdecilla (HUMV) were collected between January and May 2021. N1, N2 genes were used to test the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA by RT-qPCR. SARS-CoV-2 positive detection was only obtained from one fine fraction (PM2.5) sample, corresponding to one occupancy room, where a patient with positive PCR and cough was present. Negative results found in other sampling areas such as the pediatric nasopharyngeal testing rooms should be interpreted in terms of air sampling volume limitation and good ventilation.

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