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

J. W. Tang; W. P. Bahnfleth; P. M. Bluyssen; G. Buonanno; J. L. Jimenez; J. Kurnitski; Y. Li; S. Miller; C. Sekhar; L. Morawska; L. C. Marr; A. K. Melikov; W. W. Nazaroff; Peter V. Nielsen; R. Tellier; P. Wargocki; S. J. Dancer

doi:10.1016/j.jhin.2020.12.022

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

J. W. Tang, W. P. Bahnfleth, P. M. Bluyssen, G. Buonanno, J. L. Jimenez, J. Kurnitski, Y. Li, S. Miller, C. Sekhar, L. Morawska, L. C. Marr, A. K. Melikov, W. W. Nazaroff, Peter V. Nielsen, R. Tellier, P. Wargocki, S. J. Dancer^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

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

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Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused untold disruption throughout the world. Understanding the mechanisms for transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (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 collates 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 produce this review to consolidate the evidence for airborne transmission mechanisms, and offer justification for modern strategies for prevention and control of COVID-19 in health care and the community.

Original language	English
Journal	Journal of Hospital Infection
Volume	110
Pages (from-to)	89-96
Number of pages	8
ISSN	0195-6701
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2020.12.022
Publication status	Published - Apr 2021

Bibliographical note

Keywords

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

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10.1016/j.jhin.2020.12.022

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7805396/pdf/main.pdf

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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-2 (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-2 (SARS-CoV-2)",

abstract = "The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused untold disruption throughout the world. Understanding the mechanisms for transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is key to preventing further spread, but there is confusion over the meaning of {\textquoteleft}airborne{\textquoteright} whenever transmission is discussed. Scientific ambivalence originates from evidence published many years ago which has generated mythological beliefs that obscure current thinking. This article collates 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 {\textquoteleft}myths{\textquoteright} 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 produce this review to consolidate the evidence for airborne transmission mechanisms, and offer justification for modern strategies for prevention and control of COVID-19 in health care and the community.",

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author = "Tang, {J. W.} and Bahnfleth, {W. P.} and Bluyssen, {P. M.} and G. Buonanno and Jimenez, {J. L.} and J. Kurnitski and Y. Li and S. Miller and C. Sekhar and L. Morawska and Marr, {L. C.} and Melikov, {A. K.} and Nazaroff, {W. W.} and Nielsen, {Peter V.} and R. Tellier and P. Wargocki and Dancer, {S. J.}",

year = "2021",

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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-2 (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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AU - Bluyssen, P. M.

AU - Buonanno, G.

AU - Jimenez, J. L.

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AU - Li, Y.

AU - Miller, S.

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AU - Marr, L. C.

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AU - Nazaroff, W. W.

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AB - The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused untold disruption throughout the world. Understanding the mechanisms for transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (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 collates 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 produce this review to consolidate the evidence for airborne transmission mechanisms, and offer justification for modern strategies for prevention and control of COVID-19 in health care and the community.

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KW - Transmission

KW - Virus

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M3 - Review article

C2 - 33453351

AN - SCOPUS:85101173190

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-2 (SARS-CoV-2)

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

Access to Document

AUB Link

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