Wastewater solids drive comparability of sampling methods for SARS-CoV-2 wastewater and environmental surveillance

• Published in: Journal of environmental chemical engineering 2025-02, Vol.13 (1), p.115374, Article 115374
• Main Authors: Kabir, Md Pervez, Renouf, Elizabeth, Pisharody, Lakshmi, Mercier, Élisabeth, D’Aoust, Patrick M., Wan, Shen, Hegazy, Nada, Nguyen, Tram, Wong, Chandler, Addo, Felix, Tomalty, Emma, Graber, Tyson E., Delatolla, Robert
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Autosampler; Linear fixed effects model; Passive sampling; Primary sludge; Solids content
• ISSN: 2213-3437
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jece.2025.115374

Passive sampling has proven to be a reliable and cost-effective method in wastewater and environmental surveillance (WES) during the COVID-19 pandemic. In passive sampling, wastewater solids were collected from the wastewater networks, homogenized in solutes and analyzed the supernatant to measure the SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentrations in wastewater. However, the direct impact of wastewater solids content collected via passive sampling on SARS-CoV-2 RNA measurements has not been previously evaluated. In this study, we analyzed wastewater solids collected using Auto, Torpedo, COSCa-ball samplers, and primary sludge samples from a wastewater treatment plant to measure SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentrations in wastewater. Results showed significant variation (p  0.05) to autosampler and primary sludge samples. To evaluate the influences of wastewater solids content on SARS-CoV-2 RNA measurement, we used a linear mixed-effects model. The model demonstrated that wastewater solids content had no direct effect on SARS-CoV-2 RNA measurements across the sampling methods and primary sludge samples. Overall, this study established a standardized experimental approach for implementing passive samplers as a viable alternative to conventional autosampler in WES for emerging pathogens. [Display omitted] •Wastewater solids were evaluated for SARS-CoV-2 RNA measurements across sampling methods.•Wastewater solids content varied among Auto, Torpedo, COSCa-ball sampler and primary sludge samples.•SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentrations in solid mass fraction or PMMoV-normalized unit from passive samplers can be compared to autosampler and primary sludge samples.•Wastewater solids content had no direct influence on SARS-CoV-2 RNA measurements.