Recently emerged infectious disease caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has emphasized the importance of tracking early trends of viral outbreaks to prevent future catastrophic situations. Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) has emerged as a feasible approach to predict occurrence of community infections. Because human excreta contain biomarkers related to multiple aspects of risk factors, raw sewage water becomes an ideal source of information. Currently available WBE predictions are predominantly based on monitoring of viral RNA using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques. However, analysis of viral RNA in wastewater can be limited to viruses that are discharged from human excreta at concentrations high enough to be detected by PCR. Hence it is important to monitor alternative virus-associated factors such as related therapeutic drugs to complement information provided by clinical diagnostics. Over-the-counter drugs used in self-medication to manage symptoms such as fever, cough, and headache is expected to play a major role in building models of early warning systems in this study. Antiviral drugs used to treat several viral infections such as SARS-CoV-2, influenza, HIV and other related pharmaceutically active compounds such as antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs and analgesics were quantified in raw municipal wastewater. Sampling campaigns were conducted weekly from January to July 2021 at 4 selected municipal sewerage systems located in Western New York, where raw sewage water samples were collected. The analysis was performed utilizing liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry methods to quantify for 64 pharmaceutical residues. Caffeine load was used to estimate the population equivalents of each sewer shed. Results showed a spike in wastewater-based concentrations of acetaminophen, at a minimum of a week prior to the spikes of clinical cases in all location, complementing for the results of PCR analysis data. This demonstrates the applicability of wastewater-based concentrations of analgesics for early warning of viral outbreaks.

Complementing viral RNA detection techniques with pharmaceutical monitoring for early-warning of viral outbreaks through wastewater-based epidemiology

ACS Spring 2022

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.