Journal article
Modeling airborne transmission of viral genome using computational fluid dynamics simulation: A case study for SARS-CoV-2 virus
Journal of environmental health science and engineering, v 23(2), 30
28 Aug 2025
PMID: 40895349
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Predicting indoor air quality during infectious disease conditions relies on models simulating particle materials (PM)/bioaerosols distribution. Understanding the thermo-fluid properties of exhaled air is crucial for comprehending disease transmission dynamics. This study employs a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model to simulate cough-induced particle dispersion in a closed space. Furthermore, the number of released particles and the presence of SARS-CoV-2 viral genomes by a cough were assessed (in eight COVID-19 patients). According to the CFD model, in the first 30 s of cough, the vertical height and lateral breadth of the particles’ dispersion were up to 138cm and 92cm, respectively. As the distance from the patient's respiratory zone increased, the lateral distribution width of particles expanded, reaching 1.3 m at 2.4 m away. Larger droplets (> 62.5µ) were deposited at shorter distances, while smaller particles remained airborne longer. The comparison of experimental and simulated results focused on particle dispersion at specific distances from the patient, particularly in the 2.5µ range. The distribution pattern of PM
2.5
and PM
10
at a distance of 1 and 2 m for women, not men, is similar to the distribution pattern of PM in CFD modeling. Viral genome detection was more prevalent in particles near the left side of the body, especially within the first 20 min post-cough, exhibiting a correlation with CFD predictions.
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Details
- Title
- Modeling airborne transmission of viral genome using computational fluid dynamics simulation: A case study for SARS-CoV-2 virus
- Creators
- Somayeh Soleimani-Alyar - Iran University of Medical SciencesIgor Burstyn - Drexel UniversityRasoul Yarahmadi - Iran University of Medical SciencesAlireza Alipoor - Shiraz University
- Publication Details
- Journal of environmental health science and engineering, v 23(2), 30
- Publisher
- Springer Nature
- Number of pages
- 16
- Grant note
- Air Pollution Research Center of Iran University of Medical Sciences
The authors are grateful to the Air Pollution Research Center of Iran University of Medical Sciences and Pars Plasma Bonyan Company (Knowledge-Based Co.) for their material and moral support in implementing the research.
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Environmental and Occupational Health
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:001565072200002
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-105015540352
- Other Identifier
- 991022084535504721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Engineering, Environmental
- Environmental Sciences