TY - JOUR

T1 - Assessment of wastewater derived pollution using viral monitoring in two estuaries

AU - Farkas, Kata

AU - Mannion, Finn

AU - Sorby, Rees

AU - Winterbourn, Ben

AU - Allender, Susan

AU - Gregory, Charlie G M

AU - Holding, Phoebe

AU - Thorpe, Jamie M

AU - Malham, Shelagh K

AU - Le Vay, Lewis

N1 - Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

PY - 2024/3/1

Y1 - 2024/3/1

N2 - Human wastewater-derived pollution of the environment is an emerging health risk that increases the number of waterborne and foodborne illnesses globally. To better understand and mitigate such health risks, we investigated the prevalence of faecal indicator bacteria, Escherichia coli, and indicator virus (crAssphage) along with human and animal enteric viruses (adenoviruses, noroviruses, sapoviruses, hepatitis E virus) in shellfish and water samples collected from two shellfish harvesting areas in the UK. Human noroviruses were detected at higher detection rates in oyster and water samples compared to mussels with peaks during the autumn-winter seasons. Human enteric viruses were sporadically detected during the warmer months, suggesting potential introduction by tourists following the relaxation of COVID-19 lockdown measures. Our results suggest that viral indicators are more suitable for risk assessment and source tracking than E. coli. The detection of emerging hepatitis and sapoviruses, support the need for comprehensive viral monitoring in shellfish harvesting areas.

AB - Human wastewater-derived pollution of the environment is an emerging health risk that increases the number of waterborne and foodborne illnesses globally. To better understand and mitigate such health risks, we investigated the prevalence of faecal indicator bacteria, Escherichia coli, and indicator virus (crAssphage) along with human and animal enteric viruses (adenoviruses, noroviruses, sapoviruses, hepatitis E virus) in shellfish and water samples collected from two shellfish harvesting areas in the UK. Human noroviruses were detected at higher detection rates in oyster and water samples compared to mussels with peaks during the autumn-winter seasons. Human enteric viruses were sporadically detected during the warmer months, suggesting potential introduction by tourists following the relaxation of COVID-19 lockdown measures. Our results suggest that viral indicators are more suitable for risk assessment and source tracking than E. coli. The detection of emerging hepatitis and sapoviruses, support the need for comprehensive viral monitoring in shellfish harvesting areas.

U2 - 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116081

DO - 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116081

M3 - Article

C2 - 38354589

VL - 200

JO - Marine pollution bulletin

JF - Marine pollution bulletin

SN - 0025-326X

M1 - 116081

ER -