An Overview on the Role of Relative Humidity in Airborne Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in Indoor Environments
An Overview on the Role of Relative Humidity in Airborne Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in Indoor Environments
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DOI：
10.4209/aaqr.2020.06.0302
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发表时间：
2020-09-01
影响因子：
4
通讯作者：
Mishra, Sumit Kumar
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Ahlawat, Ajit;Wiedensohler, Alfred;Mishra, Sumit Kumar
COVID-19疾病是由严重急性呼吸道综合征冠状病毒2（SARS-CoV-2）引起的，它起源于中国武汉，并以惊人的速度在全球传播。SARS-CoV-2的传播途径仍有争议，但最近的证据强烈表明，COVID-19可能在通风不良的地方通过空气传播。一些研究还表明SARS-CoV-2的表面稳定性高于SARS-CoV-1。小的病毒颗粒也可能在环境因素如相对湿度、风速、温度的帮助下从各种排放源进入室内环境，因此代表一种气溶胶传播。在这里，我们根据世界各地最近的研究，探讨室内环境中相对湿度在SARS-CoV-2病毒空气传播中的作用。湿度影响蒸发运动学和颗粒生长。在干燥的室内场所，湿度较低（<40%RH），SARS-CoV-2的空气传播机会高于潮湿的地方（即，> 90%RH）。根据早期的研究，40-60%的相对湿度被认为是室内环境中人体健康的最佳选择。因此，为医院、办公室和公共交通工具等室内环境设定最低相对湿度标准，以最大限度地减少SARS-CoV-2的空气传播是极其重要的。
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.