Environmental dissemination of respiratory viruses: dynamic interdependencies of respiratory droplets, aerosols, aerial particulates, environmental surfaces, and contribution of viral re-aerosolization
During the recent pandemic of COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2), influential public health agencies such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have favored the view that SARS CoV-2 spreads predominantly via droplets. Many experts in aerobiology have...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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PeerJ Inc.
2023-11-01
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| Series: | PeerJ |
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| Online Access: | https://peerj.com/articles/16420.pdf |
| _version_ | 1827632610544713728 |
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| author | M. Khalid Ijaz Syed A. Sattar Raymond W. Nims Stephanie A. Boone Julie McKinney Charles P. Gerba |
| author_facet | M. Khalid Ijaz Syed A. Sattar Raymond W. Nims Stephanie A. Boone Julie McKinney Charles P. Gerba |
| author_sort | M. Khalid Ijaz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | During the recent pandemic of COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2), influential public health agencies such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have favored the view that SARS CoV-2 spreads predominantly via droplets. Many experts in aerobiology have openly opposed that stance, forcing a vigorous debate on the topic. In this review, we discuss the various proposed modes of viral transmission, stressing the interdependencies between droplet, aerosol, and fomite spread. Relative humidity and temperature prevailing determine the rates at which respiratory aerosols and droplets emitted from an expiratory event (sneezing, coughing, etc.) evaporate to form smaller droplets or aerosols, or experience hygroscopic growth. Gravitational settling of droplets may result in contamination of environmental surfaces (fomites). Depending upon human, animal and mechanical activities in the occupied space indoors, viruses deposited on environmental surfaces may be re-aerosolized (re-suspended) to contribute to aerosols, and can be conveyed on aerial particulate matter such as dust and allergens. The transmission of respiratory viruses may then best be viewed as resulting from dynamic virus spread from infected individuals to susceptible individuals by various physical states of active respiratory emissions, instead of the current paradigm that emphasizes separate dissemination by respiratory droplets, aerosols or by contaminated fomites. To achieve the optimum outcome in terms of risk mitigation and infection prevention and control (IPAC) during seasonal infection peaks, outbreaks, and pandemics, this holistic view emphasizes the importance of dealing with all interdependent transmission modalities, rather than focusing on one modality. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T14:47:59Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0734009b6da54b75a42cbc58ded04825 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2167-8359 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T14:47:59Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | PeerJ Inc. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PeerJ |
| spelling | doaj.art-0734009b6da54b75a42cbc58ded048252023-11-26T15:05:06ZengPeerJ Inc.PeerJ2167-83592023-11-0111e1642010.7717/peerj.16420Environmental dissemination of respiratory viruses: dynamic interdependencies of respiratory droplets, aerosols, aerial particulates, environmental surfaces, and contribution of viral re-aerosolizationM. Khalid Ijaz0Syed A. Sattar1Raymond W. Nims2Stephanie A. Boone3Julie McKinney4Charles P. Gerba5Global Research & Development for Lysol and Dettol, Reckitt Benckiser LLC, Montvale, NJ, United States of AmericaDepartment of Biochemistry, Microbiology & Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, CanadaSyner-G BioPharma, Boulder, CO, United States of AmericaWater & Energy Sustainable Technology Center, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States of AmericaGlobal Research & Development for Lysol and Dettol, Reckitt Benckiser LLC, Montvale, NJ, United States of AmericaWater & Energy Sustainable Technology Center, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States of AmericaDuring the recent pandemic of COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2), influential public health agencies such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have favored the view that SARS CoV-2 spreads predominantly via droplets. Many experts in aerobiology have openly opposed that stance, forcing a vigorous debate on the topic. In this review, we discuss the various proposed modes of viral transmission, stressing the interdependencies between droplet, aerosol, and fomite spread. Relative humidity and temperature prevailing determine the rates at which respiratory aerosols and droplets emitted from an expiratory event (sneezing, coughing, etc.) evaporate to form smaller droplets or aerosols, or experience hygroscopic growth. Gravitational settling of droplets may result in contamination of environmental surfaces (fomites). Depending upon human, animal and mechanical activities in the occupied space indoors, viruses deposited on environmental surfaces may be re-aerosolized (re-suspended) to contribute to aerosols, and can be conveyed on aerial particulate matter such as dust and allergens. The transmission of respiratory viruses may then best be viewed as resulting from dynamic virus spread from infected individuals to susceptible individuals by various physical states of active respiratory emissions, instead of the current paradigm that emphasizes separate dissemination by respiratory droplets, aerosols or by contaminated fomites. To achieve the optimum outcome in terms of risk mitigation and infection prevention and control (IPAC) during seasonal infection peaks, outbreaks, and pandemics, this holistic view emphasizes the importance of dealing with all interdependent transmission modalities, rather than focusing on one modality.https://peerj.com/articles/16420.pdfSARS-CoV-2Aerosol transmissionDroplet transmissionAerial particulate matterDirect transmissionRespiratory virus |
| spellingShingle | M. Khalid Ijaz Syed A. Sattar Raymond W. Nims Stephanie A. Boone Julie McKinney Charles P. Gerba Environmental dissemination of respiratory viruses: dynamic interdependencies of respiratory droplets, aerosols, aerial particulates, environmental surfaces, and contribution of viral re-aerosolization PeerJ SARS-CoV-2 Aerosol transmission Droplet transmission Aerial particulate matter Direct transmission Respiratory virus |
| title | Environmental dissemination of respiratory viruses: dynamic interdependencies of respiratory droplets, aerosols, aerial particulates, environmental surfaces, and contribution of viral re-aerosolization |
| title_full | Environmental dissemination of respiratory viruses: dynamic interdependencies of respiratory droplets, aerosols, aerial particulates, environmental surfaces, and contribution of viral re-aerosolization |
| title_fullStr | Environmental dissemination of respiratory viruses: dynamic interdependencies of respiratory droplets, aerosols, aerial particulates, environmental surfaces, and contribution of viral re-aerosolization |
| title_full_unstemmed | Environmental dissemination of respiratory viruses: dynamic interdependencies of respiratory droplets, aerosols, aerial particulates, environmental surfaces, and contribution of viral re-aerosolization |
| title_short | Environmental dissemination of respiratory viruses: dynamic interdependencies of respiratory droplets, aerosols, aerial particulates, environmental surfaces, and contribution of viral re-aerosolization |
| title_sort | environmental dissemination of respiratory viruses dynamic interdependencies of respiratory droplets aerosols aerial particulates environmental surfaces and contribution of viral re aerosolization |
| topic | SARS-CoV-2 Aerosol transmission Droplet transmission Aerial particulate matter Direct transmission Respiratory virus |
| url | https://peerj.com/articles/16420.pdf |
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