Résumé
We are in unprecedented times with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has impacted public health, the economy and our society on a global scale. In addition, the impacts of COVID-19 permeate into our environment and wildlife as well. Here, we discuss the essential role of wastewater treatment and management during these times. A consequence of poor wastewater management is the discharge of untreated wastewater carrying infectious SARS-CoV-2 into natural water systems that are home to marine mammals. Here, we predict the susceptibility of marine mammal species using a modelling approach. We identified that many species of whale, dolphin and seal, as well as otters, are predicted to be highly susceptible to infection by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. In addition, geo-mapping highlights how current wastewater management in Alaska may lead to susceptible marine mammal populations being exposed to the virus. Localities such as Cold Bay, Naknek, Dillingham and Palmer may require additional treatment of their wastewater to prevent virus spillover through sewage. Since over half of these susceptibility species are already at risk worldwide, the release of the virus via untreated wastewater could have devastating consequences for their already declining populations. For these reasons, we discuss approaches that can be taken by the public, policymakers and wastewater treatment facilities to reduce the risk of virus spillover in our natural water systems. Thus, we indicate the potential for reverse zoonotic transmission of COVID-19 and its impact on marine wildlife; impacts that can be mitigated with appropriate action to prevent further damage to these vulnerable populations.
Langue d'origine | English |
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Numéro d'article | 143346 |
Journal | Science of the Total Environment |
Volume | 760 |
DOI | |
Statut de publication | Published - mars 15 2021 |
Note bibliographique
Funding Information:We would like to thank Paul Wade (Marine Mammal Laboratory, NOAA) for his comments and helpful insight on the Cook Inlet beluga whales, as well as Jeremie Saunders and the SickBoy Podcast hosted by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) for drawing attention to this work and the risks of COVID-19 transmission through wastewater. This work is supported by a Discovery Grant and Alliance Grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) ( RGPIN-04034 ) to G.D. and ( ALLRP 554503-20 ) to A.S and G.G., and S.M. is supported by a Killam Doctoral Award , as well as a Nova Scotia Graduate Scholarship and Dalhousie University 's Presidents Award.
Funding Information:
We would like to thank Paul Wade (Marine Mammal Laboratory, NOAA) for his comments and helpful insight on the Cook Inlet beluga whales, as well as Jeremie Saunders and the SickBoy Podcast hosted by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) for drawing attention to this work and the risks of COVID-19 transmission through wastewater. This work is supported by a Discovery Grant and Alliance Grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) (RGPIN-04034) to G.D. and (ALLRP 554503-20) to A.S and G.G. and S.M. is supported by a Killam Doctoral Award, as well as a Nova Scotia Graduate Scholarship and Dalhousie University's Presidents Award.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 Elsevier B.V.
ASJC Scopus Subject Areas
- Environmental Engineering
- Environmental Chemistry
- Waste Management and Disposal
- Pollution
PubMed: MeSH publication types
- Journal Article