tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Int J Environ Res Public Health
. 2020 Sep 23;17(19):E6960.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph17196960.
Minimum Sizes of Respiratory Particles Carrying SARS-CoV-2 and the Possibility of Aerosol Generation
Byung Uk Lee[SUP] 1 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
This study calculates and elucidates the minimum size of respiratory particles that are potential carriers of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2); furthermore, it evaluates the aerosol generation potential of SARS-CoV-2. The calculations are based on experimental results and theoretical models. In the case of maximum viral-loading derived from experimental data of COVID-19 patients, 7.18 ? 10[SUP]-4[/SUP]% of a respiratory fluid particle from a COVID-19 patient is occupied by SARS-CoV-2. Hence, the minimum size of a respiratory particle that can contain SARS-CoV-2 is calculated to be approximately 4.7 μm. The minimum size of the particles can decrease due to the evaporation of water on the particle surfaces. There are limitations to this analysis: (a) assumption that the viruses are homogeneously distributed in respiratory fluid particles and (b) considering a gene copy as a single virion in unit conversions. However, the study shows that high viral loads can decrease the minimum size of respiratory particles containing SARS-CoV-2, thereby increasing the probability of aerosol generation of the viruses. The aerosol generation theory created in this study for COVID-19 has the potential to be applied to other contagious diseases that are caused by respiratory infectious microorganisms.
Keywords: COVID-19; MERS; Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus; SARS; SARS-CoV-2 bioaerosol; aerosol; aerosol suspension time; aerosol transmission; air infection; airborne transmission; bioaerosol; contagious disease; droplet; minimum size; nosocomial infection; respiratory particle; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; viral infection; virus transmission.
. 2020 Sep 23;17(19):E6960.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph17196960.
Minimum Sizes of Respiratory Particles Carrying SARS-CoV-2 and the Possibility of Aerosol Generation
Byung Uk Lee[SUP] 1 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 32977575
- DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17196960
Abstract
This study calculates and elucidates the minimum size of respiratory particles that are potential carriers of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2); furthermore, it evaluates the aerosol generation potential of SARS-CoV-2. The calculations are based on experimental results and theoretical models. In the case of maximum viral-loading derived from experimental data of COVID-19 patients, 7.18 ? 10[SUP]-4[/SUP]% of a respiratory fluid particle from a COVID-19 patient is occupied by SARS-CoV-2. Hence, the minimum size of a respiratory particle that can contain SARS-CoV-2 is calculated to be approximately 4.7 μm. The minimum size of the particles can decrease due to the evaporation of water on the particle surfaces. There are limitations to this analysis: (a) assumption that the viruses are homogeneously distributed in respiratory fluid particles and (b) considering a gene copy as a single virion in unit conversions. However, the study shows that high viral loads can decrease the minimum size of respiratory particles containing SARS-CoV-2, thereby increasing the probability of aerosol generation of the viruses. The aerosol generation theory created in this study for COVID-19 has the potential to be applied to other contagious diseases that are caused by respiratory infectious microorganisms.
Keywords: COVID-19; MERS; Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus; SARS; SARS-CoV-2 bioaerosol; aerosol; aerosol suspension time; aerosol transmission; air infection; airborne transmission; bioaerosol; contagious disease; droplet; minimum size; nosocomial infection; respiratory particle; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; viral infection; virus transmission.