Dismantling myths on the airborne transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2)

Julian W. Tang; William P. Bahnfleth; Philomena M. Bluyssen; Giorgio Buonanno; Jose L. Jimenez; Jarek Kurnitski; Yuguo Li; Shelly Miller; Chandra Sekhar; Lidia Morawska; Linsey C Marr; Arsen Krikor Melikov; William W. Nazaroff; Peter V. Nielsen; Raymond Tellier; Pawel Wargocki; Stephanie J. Dancer

doi:10.1016/j.jhin.2020.12.022

Dismantling myths on the airborne transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2)

Julian W. Tang, William P. Bahnfleth, Philomena M. Bluyssen, Giorgio Buonanno, Jose L. Jimenez, Jarek Kurnitski, Yuguo Li, Shelly Miller, Chandra Sekhar, Lidia Morawska, Linsey C Marr, Arsen Krikor Melikov, William W. Nazaroff, Peter V. Nielsen, Raymond Tellier, Pawel Wargocki, Stephanie J. Dancer^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review › peer-review

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Abstract

The Covid-19 pandemic has caused untold disruption and enhanced mortality rates around the world. Understanding the mechanisms for transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is key to preventing further spread but there is confusion over the meaning of "airborne" whenever transmission is discussed. Scientific ambivalence originates from evidence published many years ago, which has generated mythological beliefs that obscure current thinking. This article gathers together and explores some of the most commonly held dogmas on airborne transmission in order to stimulate revision of the science in the light of current evidence. Six 'myths' are presented, explained, and ultimately refuted on the basis of recently published papers and expert opinion from previous work related to similar viruses. There is little doubt that SARS-CoV-2 is transmitted via a range of airborne particle sizes subject to all the usual ventilation parameters and human behaviour. Experts from specialties encompassing aerosol studies, ventilation, engineering, physics, virology and clinical medicine have joined together to present this review, in order to consolidate the evidence for airborne transmission mechanisms and offer justification for modern strategies for prevention and control of Covid-19 in healthcare and community.

Original language	English
Journal	Journal of Hospital Infection
Volume	110
Pages (from-to)	89-96
ISSN	0195-6701
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2020.12.022
Publication status	Published - 2021

Keywords

Virus
SARS-CoV-2
Covid-19
Air
Transmission
Aerosol

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1016/j.jhin.2020.12.022

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Tang, J. W., Bahnfleth, W. P., Bluyssen, P. M., Buonanno, G., Jimenez, J. L., Kurnitski, J., Li, Y., Miller, S., Sekhar, C., Morawska, L., Marr, L. C., Melikov, A. K., Nazaroff, W. W., Nielsen, P. V., Tellier, R., Wargocki, P., & Dancer, S. J. (2021). Dismantling myths on the airborne transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). Journal of Hospital Infection, 110, 89-96. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2020.12.022

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title = "Dismantling myths on the airborne transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2)",

abstract = "The Covid-19 pandemic has caused untold disruption and enhanced mortality rates around the world. Understanding the mechanisms for transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is key to preventing further spread but there is confusion over the meaning of {"}airborne{"} whenever transmission is discussed. Scientific ambivalence originates from evidence published many years ago, which has generated mythological beliefs that obscure current thinking. This article gathers together and explores some of the most commonly held dogmas on airborne transmission in order to stimulate revision of the science in the light of current evidence. Six 'myths' are presented, explained, and ultimately refuted on the basis of recently published papers and expert opinion from previous work related to similar viruses. There is little doubt that SARS-CoV-2 is transmitted via a range of airborne particle sizes subject to all the usual ventilation parameters and human behaviour. Experts from specialties encompassing aerosol studies, ventilation, engineering, physics, virology and clinical medicine have joined together to present this review, in order to consolidate the evidence for airborne transmission mechanisms and offer justification for modern strategies for prevention and control of Covid-19 in healthcare and community.",

keywords = "Virus, SARS-CoV-2, Covid-19, Air, Transmission, Aerosol",

author = "Tang, {Julian W.} and Bahnfleth, {William P.} and Bluyssen, {Philomena M.} and Giorgio Buonanno and Jimenez, {Jose L.} and Jarek Kurnitski and Yuguo Li and Shelly Miller and Chandra Sekhar and Lidia Morawska and Marr, {Linsey C} and Melikov, {Arsen Krikor} and Nazaroff, {William W.} and Nielsen, {Peter V.} and Raymond Tellier and Pawel Wargocki and Dancer, {Stephanie J.}",

year = "2021",

doi = "10.1016/j.jhin.2020.12.022",

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Tang, JW, Bahnfleth, WP, Bluyssen, PM, Buonanno, G, Jimenez, JL, Kurnitski, J, Li, Y, Miller, S, Sekhar, C, Morawska, L, Marr, LC, Melikov, AK, Nazaroff, WW, Nielsen, PV, Tellier, R, Wargocki, P & Dancer, SJ 2021, 'Dismantling myths on the airborne transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2)', Journal of Hospital Infection, vol. 110, pp. 89-96. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2020.12.022

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T1 - Dismantling myths on the airborne transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2)

AU - Tang, Julian W.

AU - Bahnfleth, William P.

AU - Bluyssen, Philomena M.

AU - Buonanno, Giorgio

AU - Jimenez, Jose L.

AU - Kurnitski, Jarek

AU - Li, Yuguo

AU - Miller, Shelly

AU - Sekhar, Chandra

AU - Morawska, Lidia

AU - Marr, Linsey C

AU - Melikov, Arsen Krikor

AU - Nazaroff, William W.

AU - Nielsen, Peter V.

AU - Tellier, Raymond

AU - Wargocki, Pawel

AU - Dancer, Stephanie J.

PY - 2021

Y1 - 2021

N2 - The Covid-19 pandemic has caused untold disruption and enhanced mortality rates around the world. Understanding the mechanisms for transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is key to preventing further spread but there is confusion over the meaning of "airborne" whenever transmission is discussed. Scientific ambivalence originates from evidence published many years ago, which has generated mythological beliefs that obscure current thinking. This article gathers together and explores some of the most commonly held dogmas on airborne transmission in order to stimulate revision of the science in the light of current evidence. Six 'myths' are presented, explained, and ultimately refuted on the basis of recently published papers and expert opinion from previous work related to similar viruses. There is little doubt that SARS-CoV-2 is transmitted via a range of airborne particle sizes subject to all the usual ventilation parameters and human behaviour. Experts from specialties encompassing aerosol studies, ventilation, engineering, physics, virology and clinical medicine have joined together to present this review, in order to consolidate the evidence for airborne transmission mechanisms and offer justification for modern strategies for prevention and control of Covid-19 in healthcare and community.

AB - The Covid-19 pandemic has caused untold disruption and enhanced mortality rates around the world. Understanding the mechanisms for transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is key to preventing further spread but there is confusion over the meaning of "airborne" whenever transmission is discussed. Scientific ambivalence originates from evidence published many years ago, which has generated mythological beliefs that obscure current thinking. This article gathers together and explores some of the most commonly held dogmas on airborne transmission in order to stimulate revision of the science in the light of current evidence. Six 'myths' are presented, explained, and ultimately refuted on the basis of recently published papers and expert opinion from previous work related to similar viruses. There is little doubt that SARS-CoV-2 is transmitted via a range of airborne particle sizes subject to all the usual ventilation parameters and human behaviour. Experts from specialties encompassing aerosol studies, ventilation, engineering, physics, virology and clinical medicine have joined together to present this review, in order to consolidate the evidence for airborne transmission mechanisms and offer justification for modern strategies for prevention and control of Covid-19 in healthcare and community.

KW - Virus

KW - SARS-CoV-2

KW - Covid-19

KW - Air

KW - Transmission

KW - Aerosol

U2 - 10.1016/j.jhin.2020.12.022

DO - 10.1016/j.jhin.2020.12.022

M3 - Review

C2 - 33453351

SN - 0195-6701

VL - 110

SP - 89

EP - 96

JO - Journal of Hospital Infection

JF - Journal of Hospital Infection

ER -

Dismantling myths on the airborne transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2)

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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