Investigating the Role of Environmental Factors on the Survival, Stability, and Transmission of SARS-CoV-2, and Their Contribution to COVID-19 Outbreak: A Review

Leili Mohammadi, Ahmad Mehravaran, Zahra Derakhshan, Ehsan Gharehchahi, Elza Bontempi, Mohammad Golaki, Razieh Khaksefidi, Mohadeseh Motamed-Jahromi, Mahsa Keshtkar, Amin Mohammadpour (), Hamid Dahmardeh () and Samuel Asumadu Sarkodie
Additional contact information
Leili Mohammadi: Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Research Institute of Cellular and Molecular Sciences in Infectious Diseases, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan 98167-43463, Iran
Ahmad Mehravaran: Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Infectious Disease and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Resistance Tuberculosis Institute, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan 98167-43463, Iran
Zahra Derakhshan: Research Center for Health Sciences, Department of Environmental Health, School of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz 71348-14336, Iran
Ehsan Gharehchahi: Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz 71348-14336, Iran
Elza Bontempi: INSTM and Chemistry for Technologies Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Brescia, Via Branze 38, 25123 Brescia, Italy
Mohammad Golaki: Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz 71348-14336, Iran
Razieh Khaksefidi: Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz 71348-14336, Iran
Mohadeseh Motamed-Jahromi: Department of Medical-Surgical Nursing, Nursing School, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa 74616-86688, Iran
Mahsa Keshtkar: Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas 79196-93116, Iran
Amin Mohammadpour: Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz 71348-14336, Iran
Hamid Dahmardeh: Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan 98167-43463, Iran
Samuel Asumadu Sarkodie: Nord University Business School (HHN), P.O. Box 1490, 8049 Bodø, Norway

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 18, 1-16

Abstract: Studies conducted in the last four years show conflicting findings on the role of the environment in the survival, stability, and transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Based on the current evidence, the factors that affect the severity of COVID-19 include host interaction, environmental stability, virus volume, stability, transmission, social interactions, and restriction measures. Moreover, the persistence of the virus depends on different environmental conditions, videlicet temperature, humidity, pH, salinity, and solar radiation. The outbreak of respiratory viruses is related mainly to temperature and humidity, and geographical locations (latitude). In SARS-CoV-2, mainly temperature and humidity seem to play a fundamental role. Moreover, studies have indicated that social health factors such as equitable health systems, hygiene, and underlying diseases have played a pivotal role in the incidence and outbreak of COVID-19. Therefore, addressing health issues associated with reducing SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks plays an essential role in global health. In contrast, the environmental stimuli of the COVID-19 outbreak are mainly unknown. Given the ongoing threat of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to understand the stimuli to respond quickly to emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants while implementing long-term and sustainable control strategies. This review discusses the role of environmental factors and health conditions in the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2.

Keywords: environmental health; COVID-19 outbreak; SARS-CoV-2 spread; ambient conditions; waste; SARS-CoV-2 survival and transmission (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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