Eco-Friendly Detergent Based on Exhausted Edible Vegetable Oils: Impact on Marine and Freshwater Environments, a Case Study Focusing on SARS-CoV-2

On 30 January 2020, the World Health Organization declared a public health emergency of international concern due to the rapid spread among humans, on a global scale, of SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19. Although international authorities have recommended the use of common detergents known to be effective against coronaviruses, one of the practices implemented to control the expansion of the virus has been the massive use of disinfectants on indoor and outdoor surfaces, a modality that has raised concern in the scientific community because of its impact on the aquatic environment. Considering possible future scenarios related to ongoing global change, in which further public health emergencies may become more frequent, and given the need to contribute to the identification of eco-friendly alternatives or strategies to mitigate the environmental and human health impacts of the massive use of disinfectants, the aim of this study was to quantify the effects of a liquid surface detergent based on exhausted edible oils of vegetable origin (eco-product). This was done by exposing organisms representing the main trophic levels of the marine and freshwater environment to the eco-detergent before and after a five-day biodegradation process, together with studies on biological oxygen demand and microbiology. The results indicated that the eco-product has potential antimicrobial activity and can be considered as a suitable alternative, although the use of a standardized agent for the production phase of the eco-product in liquid form is recommended to further reduce the impact on the aquatic environment. However, massive and indiscriminate use is a behavior to be discouraged, and limited and restricted use to appropriate areas and contexts is recommended.