An Overview on the Role of Relative Humidity in Airborne Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in Indoor Environments
Abstract COVID-19 disease is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which originated in Wuhan, China and spread with an astonishing rate across the world. The transmission routes of SARS-CoV-2 are still debated, but recent evidence strongly suggests that COVID-19 cou...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Springer
2020-07-01
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| Series: | Aerosol and Air Quality Research |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.2020.06.0302 |
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| author | Ajit Ahlawat Alfred Wiedensohler Sumit Kumar Mishra |
| author_facet | Ajit Ahlawat Alfred Wiedensohler Sumit Kumar Mishra |
| author_sort | Ajit Ahlawat |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract COVID-19 disease is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which originated in Wuhan, China and spread with an astonishing rate across the world. The transmission routes of SARS-CoV-2 are still debated, but recent evidence strongly suggests that COVID-19 could be transmitted via air in poorly ventilated places. Some studies also suggest the higher surface stability of SARS-CoV-2 as compared to SARS-CoV-1. It is also possible that small viral particles may enter into indoor environments from the various emission sources aided by environmental factors such as relative humidity, wind speed, temperature, thus representing a type of an aerosol transmission. Here, we explore the role of relative humidity in airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 virus in indoor environments based on recent studies around the world. Humidity affects both the evaporation kinematics and particle growth. In dry indoor places i.e., less humidity (< 40% RH), the chances of airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 are higher than that of humid places (i.e., > 90% RH). Based on earlier studies, a relative humidity of 40–60% was found to be optimal for human health in indoor places. Thus, it is extremely important to set a minimum relative humidity standard for indoor environments such as hospitals, offices and public transports for minimization of airborne spread of SARS-CoV-2. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b2a7ea0049b84e01acb77c8671938019 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1680-8584 2071-1409 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2020-07-01 |
| publisher | Springer |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Aerosol and Air Quality Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-b2a7ea0049b84e01acb77c86719380192025-02-09T12:19:30ZengSpringerAerosol and Air Quality Research1680-85842071-14092020-07-012091856186110.4209/aaqr.2020.06.0302An Overview on the Role of Relative Humidity in Airborne Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in Indoor EnvironmentsAjit Ahlawat0Alfred Wiedensohler1Sumit Kumar Mishra2Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS), PermoserstraßeLeibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS), PermoserstraßeCSIR-National Physical LaboratoryAbstract COVID-19 disease is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which originated in Wuhan, China and spread with an astonishing rate across the world. The transmission routes of SARS-CoV-2 are still debated, but recent evidence strongly suggests that COVID-19 could be transmitted via air in poorly ventilated places. Some studies also suggest the higher surface stability of SARS-CoV-2 as compared to SARS-CoV-1. It is also possible that small viral particles may enter into indoor environments from the various emission sources aided by environmental factors such as relative humidity, wind speed, temperature, thus representing a type of an aerosol transmission. Here, we explore the role of relative humidity in airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 virus in indoor environments based on recent studies around the world. Humidity affects both the evaporation kinematics and particle growth. In dry indoor places i.e., less humidity (< 40% RH), the chances of airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 are higher than that of humid places (i.e., > 90% RH). Based on earlier studies, a relative humidity of 40–60% was found to be optimal for human health in indoor places. Thus, it is extremely important to set a minimum relative humidity standard for indoor environments such as hospitals, offices and public transports for minimization of airborne spread of SARS-CoV-2.https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.2020.06.0302AerosolCOVID-19SARS-CoV-2IndoorHumidity |
| spellingShingle | Ajit Ahlawat Alfred Wiedensohler Sumit Kumar Mishra An Overview on the Role of Relative Humidity in Airborne Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in Indoor Environments Aerosol and Air Quality Research Aerosol COVID-19 SARS-CoV-2 Indoor Humidity |
| title | An Overview on the Role of Relative Humidity in Airborne Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in Indoor Environments |
| title_full | An Overview on the Role of Relative Humidity in Airborne Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in Indoor Environments |
| title_fullStr | An Overview on the Role of Relative Humidity in Airborne Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in Indoor Environments |
| title_full_unstemmed | An Overview on the Role of Relative Humidity in Airborne Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in Indoor Environments |
| title_short | An Overview on the Role of Relative Humidity in Airborne Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in Indoor Environments |
| title_sort | overview on the role of relative humidity in airborne transmission of sars cov 2 in indoor environments |
| topic | Aerosol COVID-19 SARS-CoV-2 Indoor Humidity |
| url | https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.2020.06.0302 |
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