Scientists at the University of Bristol have made critical discoveries about the reasons why airborne viruses lose their infectivity. Their findings, published in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface today, shed light on how cleaner air can kill the virus more quickly, emphasizing the importance of opening windows. This research has the potential to shape future strategies for mitigating the spread of new viruses.
In the first study to examine differences in the airborne stability of various variants of SARS-CoV-2 in inhalable particles, researchers from Bristol’s School of Chemistry have demonstrated that the virus has become less capable of surviving in the air as it has evolved from the original strain to the delta variant.
Dr. Allen Haddrell, the lead author of the study and Senior Research Associate in Bristol’s School of Chemistry, explained, “There has been much debate about how and why viruses lose their infectivity once they circulate in airborne particles, which are exhaled when infected individuals breathe, speak, or cough.”
For their research, the team utilized a cutting-edge bioaerosol technology instrument they developed called CELEBS (Controlled Electrodynamic Levitation and Extraction of Bioaerosols onto a Substrate). This allowed them to examine the survival of different SARS-CoV-2 variants in laboratory-generated airborne particles that simulate exhaled aerosols. Over a 40-minute period, they investigated how environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, particle composition, and the presence of acidic vapors affect virus infectivity.
By manipulating the gaseous content of the air, the team confirmed that the aerostability of the virus is determined by the alkaline pH of the aerosol droplets containing the virus. They also found that each variant of SARS-CoV-2 has different stabilities while in the air, and this stability is linked to their sensitivities to alkaline pH conditions.
The high pH of exhaled SARS-CoV-2 virus droplets is a major factor in the loss of infectiousness. Therefore, reducing acid content in the air, such as by opening a window for fresh air with lower carbon dioxide levels, significantly accelerates the virus’s demise.
Dr. Haddrell added, “Our results indicate that the high pH of exhaled aerosols is responsible for the loss of viral infectivity. Any gas that affects the pH of aerosols may play a role in the virus’s longevity in the air. For example, acidic vapors released by bleach may increase the stability of SARS-CoV-2 in the air, while alkaline vapors released by ammonia may have the opposite effect.”
These findings provide valuable insights into why and how aerosolized viruses lose their infectivity, enabling the development of better strategies to mitigate the risk. Jonathan Reid, Director of the Bristol Aerosol Research Centre and Professor of Physical Chemistry at the University of Bristol, and one of the corresponding authors, remarked, “Numerous factors influence the transmission of airborne viruses, which are often complicated by physical and environmental parameters like temperature, humidity, air movement, and UV light. Our findings expand our understanding of how environmental factors affect the airborne stability of SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses, which will aid in the design of improved safety and mitigation strategies to reduce disease transmission. We now plan to further explore the role of pH by studying the impact of carbon dioxide on the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission.”
More information: “Differences in Airborne Stability of SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern is Impacted by Alkalinity of Surrogates of Respiratory Aerosol,” Journal of the Royal Society Interface (2023). DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2023.0062. royalsocietypublishing.org/doi … .1098/rsif.2023.0062
Citation: Scientists discover critical factors that determine the survival of airborne viruses (2023, June 20) retrieved 20 June 2023 from https://phys.org/news/2023-06-scientists-critical-factors-survival-airborne.html
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