Poliovirus retention in 75-cm soil cores after sewage and rainwater application

Area of Science:

• Environmental Microbiology
• Soil Science
• Virology

Background:

• Understanding virus transport in soil is crucial for assessing groundwater contamination risks.
• Poliovirus serves as a surrogate for studying the behavior of various enteric viruses in soil environments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify the adsorption rate of poliovirus in Long Island soils.
• To investigate viral mobilization and movement following soil rinsing with different liquids.

Main Methods:

• In situ field cores (10.1 x 75 cm) were used to simulate soil conditions.
• Poliovirus LSc 2ab was inoculated into cores using seeded sewage effluent.
• Cores were fractionated, and viral plaque-forming units were analyzed at 5-cm intervals.

Main Results:

• A significant 96% of viruses were adsorbed within the top 25 cm of soil.
• Less than 0.22% of viruses were detected in core filtrates, indicating minimal downward movement.
• While large-scale mobilization was absent, localized movement occurred, especially after rainwater rinsing, with viruses being resorbed at lower depths.

Conclusions:

• Long Island soils demonstrate high efficacy in adsorbing poliovirus, suggesting effective removal of enteric viruses.
• Soil rinsing studies indicate limited viral mobilization, with viruses being retained or resorbed, reinforcing the protective role of soil.
• These findings support the use of soil as a natural barrier against viral contamination of water resources.