Air Pollutant PM2.5 a Potential SARS CoV 2 Carrier
"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 (PM2.5) 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 the 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."
"Therefore, we recommend that all possible precautions against airborne transmission in indoor environments should be taken seriously."
Adapted from an article published in Nature Portfolio (Scientific Report) (2021) 11:2508