SARS-CoV-2: The Increasing Importance of Water Filtration against Highly Pathogenic Microbes

ACS Chem Neurosci. 2020 Sep 2;11(17):2482-2484. doi: 10.1021/acschemneuro.0c00468. Epub 2020 Aug 13.

Abstract

The presence of SARS-CoV-2 in human wastewater together with poor quality of public drinking water supplies in developing countries is of concern. Additionally, the frequent use of contaminated water for bathing, nasal irrigation, swimming, and ablution can be a risk factor in contracting infectious agents such as the brain-eating amoebae and possibly SARS-CoV-2. The use of appropriate tap water filters should be encouraged to remove pathogenic microbes, together with restrained nasal irrigation (not forcing water inside nostrils vigorously) during ritual ablution or bathing to avoid dangerous consequences for populations residing in developing countries.

Keywords: COVID-19; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; ablution; microbial removal; nasal irrigation.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Betacoronavirus* / isolation & purification
  • COVID-19
  • Coronavirus Infections / epidemiology
  • Coronavirus Infections / prevention & control*
  • Drinking Water / analysis
  • Drinking Water / standards
  • Drinking Water / virology*
  • Humans
  • Pandemics / prevention & control*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / epidemiology
  • Pneumonia, Viral / prevention & control*
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Wastewater / analysis
  • Wastewater / virology*
  • Water Purification / methods*
  • Water Purification / standards

Substances

  • Drinking Water
  • Waste Water