April 2, 2021

Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment for Airborne Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 via Breathing, Speaking, Singing, Coughing, and Sneezing

Category: Article Summary

Topic: Transmission In a Wisco

Keywords (Tags): modeling, transmission

• Risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission via aerosols beyond 1.5 meters can be low depending on the activity by which they are expelled, according to a risk assessment model using published data on expelled droplets by various activities and in vitro estimates of an infectious dose. In a 100m3 room after 20 minutes of exposure from breathing, speaking, singing, coughing or sneezing by an infected person, at 107 RNA copies/mL in mucus, the mean illness risks were estimated to be below 0.1%. Risks exceeded 1% after 2 hours of exposure at 108 RNA copies/mL in mucus in the singing, coughing, and sneezing scenarios. Higher air exchanges per hour reduced risks of illness by several factors.

Schijven et al. (Apr 1, 2021). Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment for Airborne Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 via Breathing, Speaking, Singing, Coughing, and Sneezing. Environmental Health Perspectives. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP7886