Academic Journal
An Overview on the Role of Relative Humidity in Airborne Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in Indoor Environments
| Title: | An Overview on the Role of Relative Humidity in Airborne Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in Indoor Environments |
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| Authors: | Ajit Ahlawat, Alfred Wiedensohler, Sumit Kumar Mishra |
| Source: | Aerosol and Air Quality Research, Vol 20, Iss 9, Pp 1856-1861 (2020) |
| Publisher Information: | Springer, 2020. |
| Publication Year: | 2020 |
| Collection: | LCC:Science |
| Subject Terms: | Aerosol, COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Indoor, Humidity, Science |
| More Details: | 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. |
| Document Type: | article |
| File Description: | electronic resource |
| Language: | English |
| ISSN: | 1680-8584 2071-1409 |
| Relation: | https://doaj.org/toc/1680-8584; https://doaj.org/toc/2071-1409 |
| DOI: | 10.4209/aaqr.2020.06.0302 |
| Access URL: | https://doaj.org/article/b2a7ea0049b84e01acb77c8671938019 |
| Accession Number: | edsdoj.b2a7ea0049b84e01acb77c8671938019 |
| Database: | Directory of Open Access Journals |
| ISSN: | 16808584 20711409 |
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| DOI: | 10.4209/aaqr.2020.06.0302 |
| Published in: | Aerosol and Air Quality Research |
| Language: | English |