1. Particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) as a potential SARS-CoV-2 carrier.
- Author
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Nor NSM, Yip CW, Ibrahim N, Jaafar MH, Rashid ZZ, Mustafa N, Hamid HHA, Chandru K, Latif MT, Saw PE, Lin CY, Alhasa KM, Hashim JH, and Nadzir MSM
- Subjects
- Aerosols analysis, Aerosols chemistry, Air Microbiology, Air Pollution, Indoor, COVID-19 epidemiology, COVID-19 metabolism, COVID-19 virology, Fomites microbiology, Fomites statistics & numerical data, Hospitals, Humans, Malaysia epidemiology, Pandemics, Particulate Matter analysis, RNA, Viral, COVID-19 transmission, Environmental Monitoring methods, SARS-CoV-2 chemistry
- Abstract
The rapid spread of the SARS-CoV-2 in the COVID-19 pandemic had raised questions on the route of transmission of this disease. Initial understanding was that transmission originated from respiratory droplets from an infected host to a susceptible host. However, indirect contact transmission of viable virus by fomites and through aerosols has also been suggested. Herein, we report the involvement of fine indoor air particulates with a diameter of ≤ 2.5 µm (PM
2.5 ) as the virus's transport agent. PM2.5 was collected over four weeks during 48-h measurement intervals in four separate hospital wards containing different infected clusters in a teaching hospital in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Our results indicated the highest SARS-CoV-2 RNA on PM2.5 in the ward with number of occupants. We suggest a link between the virus-laden PM2.5 and the ward's design. Patients' symptoms and numbers influence the number of airborne SARS-CoV-2 RNA with PM2.5 in an enclosed environment.- Published
- 2021
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