biostudies-literatureUnknown32(1)Cowie B<h4>Background and aim</h4>COVID-19 can be transmitted through aerosolised respiratory particles. The degree to which exercise enhances aerosol production has not been previously assessed. We aimed to quantify the size and concentration of aerosol particles and evaluate the impact of physical distance and surgical mask wearing during high intensity exercise (HIE).<h4>Methods</h4>Using a prospective observational crossover study, three healthy volunteers performed high intensity cardiopulmonary exercise testing at 80% of peak capacity in repeated 5-minute bouts on a cycle ergometer. Aerosol size and concentration was measured at 35, 150 and 300 cm from the participants in an anterior and lateral direction, with and without a surgical face mask, using an Aerodynamic Particle Sizer (APS) and Heart, lung & circulation67-78https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9710566biostudies-literatureAerosol Generation During High Intensity Exercise-Implications for COVID-19 Transmission.PMC9710566Cowie BDhillon RLa Gerche AYule AWard JJanssens KMcGain FFoulkes SWadlow IHumphries RfalseAerosol Generation During High Intensity Exercise-Implications for COVID-19 Transmission.<h4>Background and aim</h4>COVID-19 can be transmitted through aerosolised respiratory particles. The degree to which exercise enhances aerosol production has not been previously assessed. We aimed to quantify the size and concentration of aerosol particles and evaluate the impact of physical distance and surgical mask wearing during high intensity exercise (HIE).<h4>Methods</h4>Using a prospective observational crossover study, three healthy volunteers performed high intensity cardiopulmonary exercise testing at 80% of peak capacity in repeated 5-minute bouts on a cycle ergometer. Aerosol size and concentration was measured at 35, 150 and 300 cm from the participants in an anterior and lateral direction, with and without a surgical face mask, using an Aerodynamic Particle Sizer (APS) and 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z2023 Jan2025-06-01T00:11:01.76Z2025-02-19T00:47:30.298ZS-EPMC97105663646307710.1016/j.hlc.2022.10.014