Ambient carbon dioxide concentration correlates with SARS-CoV-2 aerostability and infection risk.

ABSTRACT: An improved understanding of the underlying physicochemical properties of respiratory aerosol that influence viral infectivity may open new avenues to mitigate the transmission of respiratory diseases such as COVID-19. Previous studies have shown that an increase in the pH of respiratory aerosols following generation due to changes in the gas-particle partitioning of pH buffering bicarbonate ions and carbon dioxide is a significant factor in reducing SARS-CoV-2 infectivity. We show here that a significant increase in SARS-CoV-2 aerostability results from a moderate increase in the atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration (e.g. 800 ppm), an effect that is more marked than that observed for changes in relative humidity. We model the likelihood of COVID-19 transmission on the ambient concentr

SUBMITTER: Haddrell A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11045827 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature