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Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in the indoor air and surfaces of subway trains in Mashhad, Iran

  • Environmental Microbiology - Research Paper
  • Published:
Brazilian Journal of Microbiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Introduction

Millions of passengers around the world are concerned with the possibility of SARS-CoV-2 contamination on public transportation. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the presence of SARS-CoV-2 virus in indoor air and subway surfaces in Mashhad.

Methods

In this study, air and surface sampling were done at two times in the morning (7–8:30 a.m.) and evening (3:30–5 p.m.), simultaneously in two wagons for men and women in line 1 of Mashhad Metro in March 2021 to detect the virus and measure the concentration of particulate matter. Totally, 30 air and 30 metro samples were collected and examined by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

Results

The results showed that three and two cases in the air and surface samples were infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, respectively. There was a significant relationship between the mean concentration of suspended particles PM1 (particulate matter smaller than 1 μm) with PM2.5 (particulate matter smaller than 2.5 μm) and PM10 (particulate matter smaller than 10 μm) (p < 0. 05). There was also a significant relationship between the mean concentration of suspended particles PM2.5 and PM10. The results showed that the mean PM2.5 measured in the indoor air of the Mashhad metro wagon had a significant relationship with WHO and US EPA and national standards, and its value was higher than the standards (p < 0.05). The average particle concentrations of PM1, PM2.5, and PM10 were equal to 40.46, 42.61, and 48.31 μg/m3.

Conclusion

According to the results of the pollution detected in this study, COVID-19 may be transmitted by air and environmental surfaces. Our study emphasizes the need for continuous assessment of the presence of the virus in public transportation. Detection of viral RNA in subways indicates the necessity of adequate disinfection in public settings, strictness in disinfection methods, strengthening of educational activities for sanitary measures, physical spacing plan, and increasing ventilation of wagons.

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Data availability

The datasets analyzed during the current study are available in the Table 1 repository.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad City Train Company.

Funding

This work was supported for the MSC dissertation by Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran (Grant numbers [990526]).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Student Research Committee, Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

    Hanieh Mortazavi

  2. Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

    Maryam Sarkhosh, Ali Asghar Najafpoor & Mojtaba Davoudi

  3. UNESCO-UNISA Africa Chair in Nanosciences and Nanotechnology, College of Graduate Studies, University of South Africa, Muckleneuk Ridge, PO Box 392, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa

    Shohreh Azizi

  4. Nanosciences African Network (NANOAFNET), iThemba LABS-National Research Foundation, 1 Old Faure Road, Somerset West 7129, PO Box 722, Somerset West, Western Cape, 7131, South Africa

    Shohreh Azizi

  5. Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

    Seyed Saeed Tabatabaee & Hamid Heidarian Miri

  6. Infant Research Centre, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland

    Hamid Heidarian Miri

  7. Institute for Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability (iNanoWS), School of Science, College of Science, Engineering and Technology (CSET), University of South Africa, Florida Campus, Johannesburg, 1709, South Africa

    Ilunga Kamika

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  1. Hanieh Mortazavi
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  2. Maryam Sarkhosh
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Contributions

All authors (H.M., M.S., A.A.N., S.S.T., M.D., S.A., H.H.M., I.K.) contributed to the conceptualization, design of methodology, and acquisition of funds for the project. H.M. conducted the investigation process, performed the formal analysis, and wrote the original draft. All authors contributed to review and editing of the draft.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Maryam Sarkhosh.

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Ethics approval and consent to participate

This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Mashhad  University of Medical Sciences (Code: IR.MUMS.REC.1399.594).

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The authors confirm that the final version of the manuscript has been reviewed, approved, and agreed for publication by all authors.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Mortazavi, H., Sarkhosh, M., Najafpoor, A.A. et al. Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in the indoor air and surfaces of subway trains in Mashhad, Iran. Braz J Microbiol 54, 1865–1873 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42770-023-01089-w

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