Detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the Danube River in Serbia associated with the discharge of untreated wastewaters.

ABSTRACT: In Serbia less than 13% of collected municipal wastewaters is being treated before their release in the environment. This includes all municipal wastewater discharges from Belgrade (capital city of Serbia; population 1,700,000). Previous research has identified the impacts of raw wastewater discharges from Belgrade on the Danube River, and this study investigated if such discharges also provided a pathway for SARS-CoV-2 RNA material. Samples were collected during the most critical circumstances that occurred so far within the COVID-19 pandemics in Serbia. Grab and composite samples were collected in December 2020, during the peak of the third wave (in terms of reported cases) at the site which receives the wastewater loads in Belgrade. Grab samples collected upstream and downstream of Belg

SUBMITTER: Kolarevic S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9754897 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature