Resuspension of Seeded Particles Containing Live Influenza A Virus in a Full-Scale Laboratory
Many respiratory viruses, including influenza and SARS-CoV-2, are transmitted via the emission and inhalation of infectious respiratory aerosols in indoor environments. Resuspended particles from indoor surfaces and clothing can be a major source of airborne microbiological contaminants in indoor en...
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MDPI AG
2023-07-01
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| Series: | Buildings |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/13/7/1734 |
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| author | Mahender Singh Rawat Alan D. Roberts Deborah M. Brown Andrea R. Ferro |
| author_facet | Mahender Singh Rawat Alan D. Roberts Deborah M. Brown Andrea R. Ferro |
| author_sort | Mahender Singh Rawat |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Many respiratory viruses, including influenza and SARS-CoV-2, are transmitted via the emission and inhalation of infectious respiratory aerosols in indoor environments. Resuspended particles from indoor surfaces and clothing can be a major source of airborne microbiological contaminants in indoor environments; however, it is unknown whether resuspended viruses contribute substantially to disease transmission. In this study, we investigated the resuspension via human walking activity of influenza A virus H3N2 laboratory strain, which was generated through a nebulizer into a sealed, unventilated biosafety level 2 (BSL-2) laboratory. The mean airborne viral concentrations following the resuspension events (<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mn>3.7</mn><mo>×</mo><msup><mn>10</mn><mn>3</mn></msup></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> viral RNA copies <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msup><mi mathvariant="normal">m</mi><mrow><mo>−</mo><mn>3</mn></mrow></msup></semantics></math></inline-formula>) were two orders of magnitude lower than those following direct emission via the nebulizer (<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mn>1.1</mn><mo>×</mo><msup><mn>10</mn><mn>5</mn></msup></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> viral RNA copies <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msup><mi mathvariant="normal">m</mi><mrow><mo>−</mo><mn>3</mn></mrow></msup></semantics></math></inline-formula>). The calculated resuspension emission factor (normalized ratio of the airborne mass to mass available for resuspension on the surface) of <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msup><mn>10</mn><mrow><mo>−</mo><mn>3</mn></mrow></msup></semantics></math></inline-formula> was similar to reported values for 1–2 <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mi mathvariant="sans-serif">μ</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula>m particles. Thus, depending on the infectious dose and viability of the virus, resuspension of settled respiratory viruses could lead to transmission, but the risk appears to be much lower than for direct respiratory emissions. To our knowledge, this is the first full-scale experimental study designed to quantify virus resuspension. |
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| spelling | doaj.art-df10694fc27a4b2da52912d637a671b62023-11-18T18:38:07ZengMDPI AGBuildings2075-53092023-07-01137173410.3390/buildings13071734Resuspension of Seeded Particles Containing Live Influenza A Virus in a Full-Scale LaboratoryMahender Singh Rawat0Alan D. Roberts1Deborah M. Brown2Andrea R. Ferro3Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY 13699, USATrudeau Institute, 154 Algonquin Avenue, Saranac Lake, NY 12983, USATrudeau Institute, 154 Algonquin Avenue, Saranac Lake, NY 12983, USADepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY 13699, USAMany respiratory viruses, including influenza and SARS-CoV-2, are transmitted via the emission and inhalation of infectious respiratory aerosols in indoor environments. Resuspended particles from indoor surfaces and clothing can be a major source of airborne microbiological contaminants in indoor environments; however, it is unknown whether resuspended viruses contribute substantially to disease transmission. In this study, we investigated the resuspension via human walking activity of influenza A virus H3N2 laboratory strain, which was generated through a nebulizer into a sealed, unventilated biosafety level 2 (BSL-2) laboratory. The mean airborne viral concentrations following the resuspension events (<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mn>3.7</mn><mo>×</mo><msup><mn>10</mn><mn>3</mn></msup></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> viral RNA copies <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msup><mi mathvariant="normal">m</mi><mrow><mo>−</mo><mn>3</mn></mrow></msup></semantics></math></inline-formula>) were two orders of magnitude lower than those following direct emission via the nebulizer (<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mn>1.1</mn><mo>×</mo><msup><mn>10</mn><mn>5</mn></msup></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> viral RNA copies <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msup><mi mathvariant="normal">m</mi><mrow><mo>−</mo><mn>3</mn></mrow></msup></semantics></math></inline-formula>). The calculated resuspension emission factor (normalized ratio of the airborne mass to mass available for resuspension on the surface) of <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msup><mn>10</mn><mrow><mo>−</mo><mn>3</mn></mrow></msup></semantics></math></inline-formula> was similar to reported values for 1–2 <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mi mathvariant="sans-serif">μ</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula>m particles. Thus, depending on the infectious dose and viability of the virus, resuspension of settled respiratory viruses could lead to transmission, but the risk appears to be much lower than for direct respiratory emissions. To our knowledge, this is the first full-scale experimental study designed to quantify virus resuspension.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/13/7/1734resuspensioninfluenzaindoor aerosolsviral particlesbioaerosolstransmission |
| spellingShingle | Mahender Singh Rawat Alan D. Roberts Deborah M. Brown Andrea R. Ferro Resuspension of Seeded Particles Containing Live Influenza A Virus in a Full-Scale Laboratory Buildings resuspension influenza indoor aerosols viral particles bioaerosols transmission |
| title | Resuspension of Seeded Particles Containing Live Influenza A Virus in a Full-Scale Laboratory |
| title_full | Resuspension of Seeded Particles Containing Live Influenza A Virus in a Full-Scale Laboratory |
| title_fullStr | Resuspension of Seeded Particles Containing Live Influenza A Virus in a Full-Scale Laboratory |
| title_full_unstemmed | Resuspension of Seeded Particles Containing Live Influenza A Virus in a Full-Scale Laboratory |
| title_short | Resuspension of Seeded Particles Containing Live Influenza A Virus in a Full-Scale Laboratory |
| title_sort | resuspension of seeded particles containing live influenza a virus in a full scale laboratory |
| topic | resuspension influenza indoor aerosols viral particles bioaerosols transmission |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/13/7/1734 |
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