Why airborne transmission hasn't been conclusive in case of COVID-19? An atmospheric science perspective

Ram, Kirpa; Thakur, Roseline C.; Singh, Dharmendra Kumar; Kawamura, Kimitaka; Shimouchi, Akito; Sekine, Yoshika; Nishimura, Hidekazu; Singh, Sunit K.; Pavuluri, Chandra Mouli; Singh, Ravi Shankar Prasad; Tripathi, Sachchida Nand

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145525

Cited by 48 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 80 publications

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“… ** Small droplets containing SARS-CoV-2 might also physically combine with or attach to pre-existing PM so that their behavior and fate may be governed by PM composition. Ram et al (2021) …”

Section: Recent Reviews On the Topicmentioning

confidence: 99%

Positive association between outdoor air pollution and the incidence and severity of COVID-19. A review of the recent scientific evidences

Marquès

Domingo

2022

Environmental Research

113

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In June 2020, we published a review focused on assessing the influence of various air pollutants on the transmission of SARS-CoV-2, and the severity of COVID-19 in patients infected by the coronavirus. The results of most of those reviewed studies suggested that chronic exposure to certain air pollutants might lead to more severe and lethal forms of COVID-19, as well as delays/complications in the recovery of the patients. Since then, a notable number of studies on this topic have been published, including also various reviews. Given the importance of this issue, we have updated the information published since our previous review. Taking together the previous results and those of most investigations now reviewed, we have concluded that there is a significant association between chronic exposure to various outdoor air pollutants: PM 2.5 , PM 10 , O 3 , NO 2 , SO 2 and CO, and the incidence/risk of COVID-19 cases, as well as the severity/mortality of the disease. Unfortunately, studies on the potential influence of other important air pollutants such as VOCs, dioxins and furans, or metals, are not available in the scientific literature. In relation to the influence of outdoor air pollutants on the transmission of SARS-CoV-2, although the scientific evidence is much more limited, some studies point to PM 2.5 and PM 10 as potential airborne transmitters of the virus. Anyhow, it is clear that environmental air pollution plays an important negative role in COVID-19, increasing its incidence and mortality.

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Section: Recent Reviews On the Topicmentioning

confidence: 99%

Positive association between outdoor air pollution and the incidence and severity of COVID-19. A review of the recent scientific evidences

Marquès

Domingo

2022

Environmental Research

113

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“…Nevertheless, the RT-PCR test detects only SARS-CoV-2 RNA, not the viable or infectious form of virus (Sepulcri et al 2021). Therefore, this technique cannot express the infectious ability of the virus (Ram et al 2021).…”

Section: Results Of Indoor Air Samplingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the WHO guidelines suggested that the chance of SARS-CoV-2 airborne transmission can happen under special circumstances and with aerosol-generating procedures, but there is controversy regarding the airborne transmission route of SARS-CoV-2. According to the CDC, special conditions are indoor with improper ventilation and exposure to an infected individual lasting more than 30 minutes (Ram et al 2021, The Lancet Respiratory Medicine 2020, Wilson et al 2020.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigating the presence of SARS-CoV-2 on the Surfaces, Fomites, and in Indoor Air of a referral COVID-19 Hospital in a Middle Eastern Area

Gharehchahi

Dehghani

Rafiee

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Coronavirus illness (COVID-19) is an immensely transmissible viral infectious disease caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This study aimed to assess the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in the indoor air, on the surfaces, and the fomites, and in the indoor air of a COVID-19 referral hospital in Shiraz, Iran. Indoor air sampling was conducted utilizing a standard midget impinger contained 15 ml of viral transfer medium (VTM) equipped with a sampling pump with a flow rate of 10 L min− 1 for 60 minutes. Surfaces and fomites were sampled using sterile polyester swabs. The RNA of SARS-CoV-2 was detected in about 41.2% of indoor air and 32% of swab samples. Four out of the six (66.7%) indoor air samples up to a distance of 2 meters from the patient’s bed in intensive care units (ICU-1, ICU-3), accident and emergency (A&E-2), and negative pressure room were positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA. All air samples within 2 to 5 meters from the patient’s bed were negative. This study’s results did not support the airborne SARS-CoV-2 transmission; However, it showed contamination of surfaces and fomites in the studied hospital’s wards.

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“…Setti et al revealed that SARS-CoV-2 was present in PM samples obtained in the Bergamo area, the epicentre of the Italian COVID-19 epidemic (24).” Ingram et al (2021) , citing Setti et al (2020a) [48] and Martelletti and Martelletti (2020) [49]: “Particulate matter may be involved in the direct transmission of COVID-19. Setti et al showed that PM is a carrier of SARS-CoV-2 in northern Italy, indicated by the presence of viral RNA [48]; Martelletti and Martellitti [49] argue that the virus may be absorbed onto PM, thus surviving longer and becoming more aggressive in the immune system; ….” Ram et al (2021) , citing Setti et al (2020a) and other sources: “The typical RT [residence time] of PM is about a week, therefore, any association of the SARS-CoV-2 with ambient aerosols via adsorption on surfaces, especially PM2.5, would allow the droplet nuclei to stay in the atmosphere as long as a week … ( Setti et al, 2020b ; Stadnytskyi et al, 2020; van Doremalen et al, 2020 ).” …”

Section: Citation Networkmentioning

confidence: 99%

“SARS-CoV-2 is transmitted by particulate air pollution”: Misinterpretations of statistical data, skewed citation practices, and misuse of specific terminology spreading the misconception

Ishmatov

2022

Environmental Research

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In epidemiology, there are still outdated myths associated with the spread of respiratory infections. Recently, we have witnessed the origination of a new misconception, to the effect that SARS-CoV-2 is transmitted in the open air by way of particulate air pollution (atmospheric particulate matter (PM)). There is no evidence to support the idea behind this misconception. Nevertheless, more and more people are involved in animated debate and the number of studies concerning atmospheric PM as a carrier of SARS-CoV-2 is growing rapidly. In this work, the origin of the misconception was investigated, and the published papers which have contributed to the spread of this myth were analyzed. The results show that the following factors lie behind the origin and spread of the misconception: a) The specific terminology is not always clearly defined or consistently used by scientists. In particular, the terms ‘particulate matter’, ‘atmospheric aerosol particles’, ‘air pollutants’, and ‘atmospheric aerosols’ need to be clarified, and besides they are often equated to ‘infectious aerosols’, ‘virus-bearing aerosols’, ‘bio-aerosols’, ‘virus-laden particles’, ‘respiratory aerosol/droplets’, and ‘droplet nuclei’. b) Authors misinterpret statistical data and information from other sources. Interpretation of the correlation between PM levels and the increasing incidence and severity of COVID-19 infection, is often changed from “PM may reflect the indirect action of certain atmospheric conditions that maintain infectious nuclei suspended for prolonged periods, parameters that also act on atmospheric pollutants” to “PM could cause an increase in infectious droplets/aerosols containing SARS-CoV-2.” This is a dramatic change to the meaning. Moreover, it is often not taken into account that PM may reflect activities in areas with high population density and this population density at the same time contributes to the spread COVID-19. c) Skewed citation practices. Many authors cite a hypothetical conclusion from an original study, then other authors cite the papers of these authors as primary sources. This practice leads to the effect that there are many witnesses to a ‘phenomenon’ that did not ever occur. Thus, the terminology used in interdisciplinary communications should be more nuanced and defined precisely. Authors should be more careful when citing unconfirmed data (and hypotheses) as well as in interpreting statistical data so as to avoid confusion and spreading false information. This is especially important now in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Why airborne transmission hasn't been conclusive in case of COVID-19? An atmospheric science perspective

Cited by 48 publications

References 80 publications

Positive association between outdoor air pollution and the incidence and severity of COVID-19. A review of the recent scientific evidences

Positive association between outdoor air pollution and the incidence and severity of COVID-19. A review of the recent scientific evidences

Investigating the presence of SARS-CoV-2 on the Surfaces, Fomites, and in Indoor Air of a referral COVID-19 Hospital in a Middle Eastern Area

“SARS-CoV-2 is transmitted by particulate air pollution”: Misinterpretations of statistical data, skewed citation practices, and misuse of specific terminology spreading the misconception

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