Minimum Sizes of Respiratory Particles Carrying SARS-CoV-2 and the Possibility of Aerosol Generation

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, 8.97 × 10-5% 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 9.3 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.

Errataetall:

ErratumIn: Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Nov 09;18(22):. - PMID 34832025

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2020

Erschienen:

2020

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:17

Enthalten in:

International journal of environmental research and public health - 17(2020), 19 vom: 23. Sept.

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Lee, Byung Uk [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext

Themen:

Aerosol
Aerosol suspension time
Aerosol transmission
Aerosols
Air infection
Airborne transmission
Bioaerosol
COVID-19
Contagious disease
Droplet
Journal Article
MERS
Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus
Minimum size
Nosocomial infection
Respiratory particle
Review
SARS
SARS-CoV-2 bioaerosol
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
Viral infection
Virus transmission

Anmerkungen:

Date Completed 05.10.2020

Date Revised 17.03.2022

published: Electronic

ErratumIn: Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Nov 09;18(22):. - PMID 34832025

Citation Status MEDLINE

doi:

10.3390/ijerph17196960

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

NLM31548330X