Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment of Contracting COVID-19 Derived from Measured and Simulated Aerosol Particle Transmission in Aircraft Cabins.
Journal
Environmental health perspectives
ISSN: 1552-9924
Titre abrégé: Environ Health Perspect
Pays: United States
ID NLM: 0330411
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
08 2023
08 2023
Historique:
medline:
18
8
2023
pubmed:
17
8
2023
entrez:
17
8
2023
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
SARS-CoV-2 can be effectively transmitted between individuals located in close proximity to each other for extended durations. Aircraft provide such conditions. Although high attack rates during flights were reported, little was known about the risk levels of aerosol transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in aircraft cabins. The major objective was to estimate the risk of contracting COVID-19 from transmission of aerosol particles in aircraft cabins. In two single-aisle and one twin-aisle aircraft, dispersion of generated aerosol particles over a seven-row economy class cabin section was measured under cruise and taxi conditions and simulated with a computational fluid dynamic model under cruise conditions. Using the aerosol particle dispersion data, a quantitative microbial risk assessment was conducted for scenarios with an asymptomatic infectious person expelling aerosol particles by breathing and speaking. Effects of flight conditions were evaluated using generalized additive mixed models. Aerosol particle concentration decreased with increasing distance from the infectious person, and this decrease varied with direction. On a typical flight with an average shedder, estimated mean risk of contracting COVID-19 ranged from Our findings indicate that the risk of contracting COVID-19 by aerosol transmission in an aircraft cabin is low, but it will not be zero. Testing before boarding may help reduce the chance of a (super)shedder boarding an aircraft and mask use further reduces aerosol transmission in the aircraft cabin. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP11495.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
SARS-CoV-2 can be effectively transmitted between individuals located in close proximity to each other for extended durations. Aircraft provide such conditions. Although high attack rates during flights were reported, little was known about the risk levels of aerosol transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in aircraft cabins.
OBJECTIVES
The major objective was to estimate the risk of contracting COVID-19 from transmission of aerosol particles in aircraft cabins.
METHODS
In two single-aisle and one twin-aisle aircraft, dispersion of generated aerosol particles over a seven-row economy class cabin section was measured under cruise and taxi conditions and simulated with a computational fluid dynamic model under cruise conditions. Using the aerosol particle dispersion data, a quantitative microbial risk assessment was conducted for scenarios with an asymptomatic infectious person expelling aerosol particles by breathing and speaking. Effects of flight conditions were evaluated using generalized additive mixed models.
RESULTS
Aerosol particle concentration decreased with increasing distance from the infectious person, and this decrease varied with direction. On a typical flight with an average shedder, estimated mean risk of contracting COVID-19 ranged from
DISCUSSION
Our findings indicate that the risk of contracting COVID-19 by aerosol transmission in an aircraft cabin is low, but it will not be zero. Testing before boarding may help reduce the chance of a (super)shedder boarding an aircraft and mask use further reduces aerosol transmission in the aircraft cabin. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP11495.
Identifiants
pubmed: 37589660
doi: 10.1289/EHP11495
pmc: PMC10434022
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
87011Références
Risk Anal. 2021 May;41(5):705-709
pubmed: 33818802
Eur Respir J. 2020 Jun 18;55(6):
pubmed: 32350103
Emerg Infect Dis. 2020 Nov;26(11):2617-2624
pubmed: 32946369
Sci Rep. 2019 Feb 20;9(1):2348
pubmed: 30787335
Euro Surveill. 2020 Oct;25(42):
pubmed: 33094715
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2021 Aug 24;118(34):
pubmed: 34376550
J Aerosol Med Pulm Drug Deliv. 2011 Jun;24(3):137-47
pubmed: 21361786
Nat Med. 2020 May;26(5):676-680
pubmed: 32371934
JAMA Netw Open. 2021 Dec 1;4(12):e2137257
pubmed: 34905008
Emerg Infect Dis. 2020 Jul;26(7):1628-1631
pubmed: 32240078
Emerg Infect Dis. 2020 Nov;26(11):2705-2708
pubmed: 32822289
Lancet. 2020 Jun 27;395(10242):1973-1987
pubmed: 32497510
Sci Rep. 2021 Dec 2;11(1):23329
pubmed: 34857807
Build Environ. 2021 Sep;202:108049
pubmed: 34155419
Indoor Air. 2017 Jan;27(1):179-190
pubmed: 26945674
Euro Surveill. 2020 Feb;25(8):
pubmed: 32127124
Emerg Infect Dis. 2020 Dec;26(12):2872-2880
pubmed: 32990563
PLoS One. 2021 Dec 1;16(12):e0246916
pubmed: 34851965
J R Soc Interface. 2022 Nov;19(196):20210865
pubmed: 36382379
Environ Res. 2021 Nov;202:111679
pubmed: 34265349
Influenza Other Respir Viruses. 2022 Jan;16(1):63-71
pubmed: 34605181
BMJ. 2010 May 21;340:c2424
pubmed: 20495017
Sci Total Environ. 2021 Mar 25;762:143056
pubmed: 33268249
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2021 Jan 26;118(4):
pubmed: 33431650
Environ Health Perspect. 2021 Apr;129(4):47002
pubmed: 33793301
Lancet Infect Dis. 2020 May;20(5):553-558
pubmed: 32171059
J Air Transp Manag. 2022 Mar;99:102175
pubmed: 34876782
Open Forum Infect Dis. 2020 Sep 13;7(10):ofaa430
pubmed: 33123609
Infect Dis (Lond). 2020 Nov - Dec;52(12):891-901
pubmed: 32735163
Clin Infect Dis. 2021 Feb 16;72(4):604-610
pubmed: 32726405
J Travel Med. 2021 Oct 11;28(7):
pubmed: 34480171
Sci Adv. 2020 Sep 2;6(36):
pubmed: 32917603
N Engl J Med. 2003 Dec 18;349(25):2416-22
pubmed: 14681507
Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2020 Nov;41(11):1258-1265
pubmed: 32507114
Environ Sci Technol. 2020 Jul 21;54(14):8539-8546
pubmed: 32539352
Emerg Infect Dis. 2021 Mar;27(3):687-693
pubmed: 33400642
Indoor Air. 2011 Feb;21(1):3-11
pubmed: 21208287
Sci Transl Med. 2020 Dec 9;12(573):
pubmed: 33229462
Sci Total Environ. 2021 Feb 1;754:142163
pubmed: 32911141