Airborne aerosol olfactory deposition contributes to anosmia in COVID-19.
<h4>Introduction</h4>Olfactory dysfunction (OD) affects a majority of COVID-19 patients, is atypical in duration and recovery, and is associated with focal opacification and inflammation of the olfactory epithelium. Given recent increased emphasis on airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2,...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2021-01-01
|
| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0244127 |
| _version_ | 1819030255760834560 |
|---|---|
| author | Alan D Workman Aria Jafari Roy Xiao Benjamin S Bleier |
| author_facet | Alan D Workman Aria Jafari Roy Xiao Benjamin S Bleier |
| author_sort | Alan D Workman |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <h4>Introduction</h4>Olfactory dysfunction (OD) affects a majority of COVID-19 patients, is atypical in duration and recovery, and is associated with focal opacification and inflammation of the olfactory epithelium. Given recent increased emphasis on airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the purpose of the present study was to experimentally characterize aerosol dispersion within olfactory epithelium (OE) and respiratory epithelium (RE) in human subjects, to determine if small (sub 5μm) airborne aerosols selectively deposit in the OE.<h4>Methods</h4>Healthy adult volunteers inhaled fluorescein-labeled nebulized 0.5-5μm airborne aerosol or atomized larger aerosolized droplets (30-100μm). Particulate deposition in the OE and RE was assessed by blue-light filter modified rigid endoscopic evaluation with subsequent image randomization, processing and quantification by a blinded reviewer.<h4>Results</h4>0.5-5μm airborne aerosol deposition, as assessed by fluorescence gray value, was significantly higher in the OE than the RE bilaterally, with minimal to no deposition observed in the RE (maximum fluorescence: OE 19.5(IQR 22.5), RE 1(IQR 3.2), p<0.001; average fluorescence: OE 2.3(IQR 4.5), RE 0.1(IQR 0.2), p<0.01). Conversely, larger 30-100μm aerosolized droplet deposition was significantly greater in the RE than the OE (maximum fluorescence: OE 13(IQR 14.3), RE 38(IQR 45.5), p<0.01; average fluorescence: OE 1.9(IQR 2.1), RE 5.9(IQR 5.9), p<0.01).<h4>Conclusions</h4>Our data experimentally confirm that despite bypassing the majority of the upper airway, small-sized (0.5-5μm) airborne aerosols differentially deposit in significant concentrations within the olfactory epithelium. This provides a compelling aerodynamic mechanism to explain atypical OD in COVID-19. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T06:27:15Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-cbf95e7d48f24992b7e7c58f4ba56a10 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T06:27:15Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj.art-cbf95e7d48f24992b7e7c58f4ba56a102022-12-21T19:13:06ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032021-01-01162e024412710.1371/journal.pone.0244127Airborne aerosol olfactory deposition contributes to anosmia in COVID-19.Alan D WorkmanAria JafariRoy XiaoBenjamin S Bleier<h4>Introduction</h4>Olfactory dysfunction (OD) affects a majority of COVID-19 patients, is atypical in duration and recovery, and is associated with focal opacification and inflammation of the olfactory epithelium. Given recent increased emphasis on airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the purpose of the present study was to experimentally characterize aerosol dispersion within olfactory epithelium (OE) and respiratory epithelium (RE) in human subjects, to determine if small (sub 5μm) airborne aerosols selectively deposit in the OE.<h4>Methods</h4>Healthy adult volunteers inhaled fluorescein-labeled nebulized 0.5-5μm airborne aerosol or atomized larger aerosolized droplets (30-100μm). Particulate deposition in the OE and RE was assessed by blue-light filter modified rigid endoscopic evaluation with subsequent image randomization, processing and quantification by a blinded reviewer.<h4>Results</h4>0.5-5μm airborne aerosol deposition, as assessed by fluorescence gray value, was significantly higher in the OE than the RE bilaterally, with minimal to no deposition observed in the RE (maximum fluorescence: OE 19.5(IQR 22.5), RE 1(IQR 3.2), p<0.001; average fluorescence: OE 2.3(IQR 4.5), RE 0.1(IQR 0.2), p<0.01). Conversely, larger 30-100μm aerosolized droplet deposition was significantly greater in the RE than the OE (maximum fluorescence: OE 13(IQR 14.3), RE 38(IQR 45.5), p<0.01; average fluorescence: OE 1.9(IQR 2.1), RE 5.9(IQR 5.9), p<0.01).<h4>Conclusions</h4>Our data experimentally confirm that despite bypassing the majority of the upper airway, small-sized (0.5-5μm) airborne aerosols differentially deposit in significant concentrations within the olfactory epithelium. This provides a compelling aerodynamic mechanism to explain atypical OD in COVID-19.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0244127 |
| spellingShingle | Alan D Workman Aria Jafari Roy Xiao Benjamin S Bleier Airborne aerosol olfactory deposition contributes to anosmia in COVID-19. PLoS ONE |
| title | Airborne aerosol olfactory deposition contributes to anosmia in COVID-19. |
| title_full | Airborne aerosol olfactory deposition contributes to anosmia in COVID-19. |
| title_fullStr | Airborne aerosol olfactory deposition contributes to anosmia in COVID-19. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Airborne aerosol olfactory deposition contributes to anosmia in COVID-19. |
| title_short | Airborne aerosol olfactory deposition contributes to anosmia in COVID-19. |
| title_sort | airborne aerosol olfactory deposition contributes to anosmia in covid 19 |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0244127 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT alandworkman airborneaerosololfactorydepositioncontributestoanosmiaincovid19 AT ariajafari airborneaerosololfactorydepositioncontributestoanosmiaincovid19 AT royxiao airborneaerosololfactorydepositioncontributestoanosmiaincovid19 AT benjaminsbleier airborneaerosololfactorydepositioncontributestoanosmiaincovid19 |