Air, surface, and wastewater surveillance of SARS-CoV-2; a multimodal evaluation of COVID-19 detection in a built environment
Our research demonstrates that aerosol sampling can detect COVID-19 positive individuals in a real world lobby setting during very short occupancy periods. We demonstrate the effectiveness of rooftop exhaust aerosol, surface, and wastewater environmental surveillance in monitoring viral load in building occupants, both at the building scale and with ventilation zone-level resolution for aerosols. We provide actionable data for researchers, health officials and building managers who seek to determine which monitoring method is best for their building or study. This study is relevant in the fields of epidemiology, exposure sciences, biomonitoring, virology, public health, and healthy building design and management.
Authors
- Kevin Van Den Wymelenberg (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0336-5537)
- Christine Kelly (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3239-7714)
- Patrick F. Horve (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9318-9249)
- Tyler S. Radniecki (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5295-3562)
- Leslie Dietz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5623-1524)
- Mark Fretz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3712-9724)
- Devrim Kaya (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7115-0845)
- Garis Bowles
- Dale Northcutt
- Jason Stenson
- Casey Kanalos
- Hooman Parhizkar (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0392-9459)
- Oumaima Hachimi
- Michael Harry
- Shana Jaaf
- Andreas Olsen Martinez (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4003-6318)
- D G Mickle
- Isaac Martinotti
Institutions
- University of Nebraska–Lincoln (US)
- Oregon State University (US)
- Los Alamos National Laboratory (US)
- Oregon Health & Science University (US)
- University of Oregon (US)
- San Diego State University (US)
- Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute (US)
- San Diego State University, Imperial Valley Campus (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology
- Published
- 2025-03-01
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41370-025-00757-3
- Citations
- 4
- Primary Topic
- Infection Control and Ventilation
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 6.07
Funders
- National Science Foundation
- University of Oregon
- Los Alamos National Laboratory