2024/01/01 by Yu Liu, Lei Cao, Yu Xia +4 · 1 voice
Chemistry · Environmental Science · Mathematics · Medicine · #2019-20 coronavirus outbreak #Biology #COVID-19 epidemiological studies #COVID-19 impact on air quality #Chemistry #Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) #Environmental science #Humidity #Infection Control and Ventilation #Infectivity #Medicine #Meteorology #Physics #Relative humidity #Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) #Virology #Virus
paper · pdf · doi:10.1017/qrd.2024.7
published in QRB Discovery 5, e6 (Cambridge University Press)
openalex publication_date 2024/01/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01
Water droplets containing the SARS-CoV-2 virus, responsible for coronavirus 2019 transmission, were introduced into a controlled-temperature and -humidity chamber. The SARS-CoV-2 virus with green fluorescent protein tag in droplets was used to infect Caco-2 cells, with viability assessed through flow cytometry and microscopic counting. Whereas temperature fluctuations within typical indoor ranges (20°C-30°C) had minimal impact, we observed a notable decrease in infection rate as the surrounding air's relative humidity increased. By investigating humidity levels between 20% and 70%, we identified a threshold of ≥40% relative humidity as most effective in diminishing SARS-CoV-2 infectivity. We also found that damage of the viral proteins under high relative humidity may be responsible for the decrease in their activity. This outcome supports previous research demonstrating a rise in the concentration of reactive oxygen species within water droplets with elevated relative humidity.