Scientific

Infectious Aerosol Position Document statements | Short-list references associated with Position Document

Infectious Aerosol Position Document statements

1. Airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2
   Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 through the air is sufficiently likely that airborne exposure to the virus should be controlled. Changes to building operations, including the operation of heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning systems, can reduce airborne exposures
2. Operation of heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning systems to reduce SARS-CoV-2 transmission
   Ventilation and filtration provided by heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning systems can reduce the airborne concentration of SARS-CoV-2 and thus the risk of transmission through the air. Unconditioned spaces can cause thermal stress to people that may be directly life threatening and that may also lower resistance to infection. In general, disabling of heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning systems is not a recommended measure to reduce the transmission of the virus

Short-list references associated with Position Document

Airborne Infectious Aerosol Transmission

• Detection of Air and Surface Contamination by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in Hospital Rooms of Infected Patients. Chia P Y et al.
• Seasonality of Respiratory Viral Infections. Moriyama M et al. Annu. Rev. Virol. (2020) 7:2.1–2.19
• Aerosol and surface stability of SARS-CoV-2 as compared to SARS-CoV-1. DoremalenN v et al. NEJM (2020)
• Deposition of respiratory virus pathogens on frequently touched surfaces at airports. IkonenN et al. BMC Inf. Dis. (2018) 18:437-443
• The effects of temperature and relative humidity on the viability of the SARS coronavirus. Chan KH et al. Advances in Virology (2011) ID 734690

Virus Viability and IAQ

• Effects of humidity and other factors on the generation and sampling of a coronavirus aerosol. Kim S W et al. Aerobiologia(2007) 23:239–248
• Transmission of SARS and MERVs coronaviruses and influenza virus in healthcare settings: the possible role of dry surface contamination. Otter J A et al. Journal of Hospital Infection (2016) 92:235–250
• Microbes at surface-air interfaces: RH, surface hygroscopicity and oligotrophy for resistance. Stone W et al. Front. Microbiol. (2016) 7:1563
• Humidity as a non-pharmaceutical intervention for influenza. A. Reiman J et al. (2018) PLoSONE 13(9): e0204337.
• Seasonality of Respiratory Viral Infections. Moriyama M et al. Annu. Rev. Virol. (2020) 7:2.1–2.19
• Mechanistic insights into the effect of humidity on airborne influenza virus survival, transmission and incidence. Marr L et al. J.R. Soc. Interface (2018) 16:20180298.
• The effects of temperature and relative humidity on the viability of the SARS coronavirus. Chan KH et al. Advances in Virology (2011) ID 734690

Human Immune System and IAQ

• Low ambient humidity impairs barrier function and innate resistance against influenza infection. Kudo E et al. PNAS (2019) April 4.
• Seasonality of Respiratory Viral Infections. Moriyama M et al. Annu. Rev. Virol. (2020) 7:2.1–2.19
• The effects of indoor-air relative humidity on health outcomes and cognitive function in residents in a long-term care facility. Taylor S and TasiM. Indoor Air (2018) Paper #744

Information on these pages is provided as a service to the public. While every effort is made to provide accurate and reliable information, this is advisory, is provided for informational purposes only. These are not intended and should not be relied upon as official statements of ASHRAE.