Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in the Indoor and Outdoor Areas of Urban Public Transport Systems of Three Major Cities of Portugal in 2021

Priscilla Gomes da Silva, José Gonçalves, Maria São José Nascimento, Sofia I. V. Sousa and João R. Mesquita
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Priscilla Gomes da Silva: ICBAS—Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
José Gonçalves: Department of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology, Institute of Sustainable Processes, University of Valladolid, 47011 Valladolid, Spain
Maria São José Nascimento: Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
Sofia I. V. Sousa: LEPABE—Laboratório de Engenharia de Processos, Ambiente, Biotecnologia e Energia, Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
João R. Mesquita: ICBAS—Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 10, 1-7

Abstract: Airborne transmission is mainly associated with poorly ventilated and crowded indoor environments where people stay for long periods of time. As such, public transport is often perceived as having a high risk for the transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Considering that data on the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in public transport systems are scarce, we performed air sampling for SARS-CoV-2 in indoor and outdoor spaces of public transport systems in Portugal. Air ( n = 31) and surface ( n = 70) samples were collected using a Coriolis ® Compact microbial air sampler and sterile flocked plastic swabs, respectively. Samples were extracted and analyzed through RT-qPCR. Only two air samples from an outdoor and a partially open space were found to be positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA. No positive surface samples were detected. These results indicate that the viral concentration in ambient air in public transport systems is linked to the number of people present in that environment and whether they are wearing properly fitting masks. Considering the current lifting of COVID-19 restrictions around the world, it is essential that people continue to wear masks in both indoor and outdoor environments, especially in crowded spaces. More studies on this topic are needed to fully elucidate the real risk of infection in outdoor spaces.

Keywords: SARS-CoV-2; air sampling; airborne transmission; environmental contamination; indoor air; outdoor air (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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