Study of the interactions of sneezing droplets with particulate matter in a polluted environment

Abstract

We have performed a three-dimensional numerical simulation to determine the effect of local atmospheric pollution level on the spreading characteristics of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus through ejected droplets during sneezing and coughing in an open space. Utilizing a finite volume-based numerical method, we have performed computations for various ranges of droplet diameters and sneezing speeds. The interactions between the droplets and the suspended particles are considered by taking both hydrophobic and hydrophilic wettability characteristics into account. Our computational results show that the virus-containing droplets partially affect aerosols during the path of their transmission. With the progression of time, the droplet distribution shows an asymmetric pattern. The maximum dispersion of these droplets is found for higher sneezing velocities. The droplets with a diameter of 50 μm travel a larger distance than the larger diameter droplets. We have found that an aerosol with hydrophilic wettability undergoes complete wetting by the disease-containing droplets and therefore is conducive to disease propagation. The droplet engagement duration with aerosol decreases with increase in the sneezing velocity. Our study recommends against using physical exercise centers in a closed environment such as gymnasium and indoor games during the COVID pandemic, especially in a polluted environment. The results from our work will help in deciding proper social distancing guidelines based on the local atmospheric pollution level. They may act as a precursor in controlling further spread of diseases during this unprecedented situation of the COVID pandemic.

The study of aerosolized droplets with nanometer absorbing structures using a contactless photoacoustic technique and the finite-difference time-domain method

“…1,2 Coughing and sneezing result in the generation of droplets of sizes between a few hundred nm and 100 µm. 3,4 These droplets will be suspended in the air for a few seconds to a few hours, depending on the droplet size and air ventilation. The extended presence of viruses encapsulated in droplets in poorly ventilated indoor spaces makes the virus highly transmissible.…”

Effect of Grit Size on Airborne Particle Concentration and Size Distribution during Oak Wood Sanding

“…The largest particles (10-20 µm) are deposited onto the walls of the nose and pharynx, while particles of <5 µm size usually impact smaller airways such as bronchial districts and alveoli [12]. For comparison, the range of droplet sizes of an average human when talking and coughing varies between 25 and 50 µm, and 4 and 7 µm, respectively [13,14]. The size of typical aerosols from air conditioners, and technical systems for humidification and spraying, range from 0.3 to 10 µm [15,16].…”