Identification of chemical markers of COVID-19 pandemic in wastewater: health surveillance and environmental impacts

• Grant number: 20/10918-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: January 01, 2021
• End date: August 06, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Sanitary Engineering - Environmental Sanitation
• Principal Investigator: Valdemar Luiz Tornisielo
• Grantee: Joyce Cristale
• Host Institution: Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura (CENA). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 14/17774-1 - Influence of the secondary effluent composition on the disinfection by advanced oxidation processes, AP.JP
• Associated scholarship(s): 22/13264-5 - Development of a wastewater-based epidemiology method for assessment of human exposure to neonicotinoids, BE.EP.PD

Abstract

This research project aims to identify chemical markers and generate data based on wastewater epidemiology in order to obtain population-level information on behavior and public health during the COVID-19 pandemic in the São Paulo State. The presence of drugs used for treatment of COVID-19, psychotropic drugs and substances present in cleaning and personal care products will be evaluated in raw and treated wastewater samples collected during the pandemic in the interior of the São Paulo State. From the large database generated in this study, it will be possible to identify changes in the consumption profile of drugs for treatment of COVID-19 and psychological diseases during the pandemic. It will also be assessed whether, during the pandemic, there is a change in the usage profile of cleaning and personal care products, and whether it is possible to establish relationships between these changes and the spread of the disease in the region. In addition, the determination of the substances included in this study in treated effluents will allow estimating the impact of the pandemic on the emission of these substances in the receiving water bodies, generating knowledge about the impact of pandemics on the aquatic ecosystem related to emerging contaminants. As a result of this study, it is expected to generate knowledge based on wastewater epidemiology that can be used to face pandemics and also to strengthen this research area in the São Paulo State. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

STELZER, VICTOR BEREZIN; DA SILVA, AMANDA ARAUJO; PENTEADO, CARMENLUCIA SANTOS GIORDANO; CRISTALE, JOYCE. Organophosphate esters in inert landfill soil: A case study. WASTE MANAGEMENT & RESEARCH, v. N/A, p. 8-pg., 2023-08-28. (20/10918-9)

BARBACENA, RAISSA OLIVIA; CRISTALE, JOYCE; BARATA, CARLOS; LACORTE, SILVIA; DANTAS, RENATO F.. GC-HRMS analysis to evaluate the effectiveness of ozone disinfection in the removal of micropollutants from wastewater. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE-WATER RESEARCH & TECHNOLOGY, v. N/A, p. 13-pg., 2023-01-17. (22/00454-0, 20/10918-9)