Latest News

  • Home
  • Food & Health
  • Six feet distancing not enough to stop coronavirus transmission in light winds: Study
Six feet distancing not enough to stop coronavirus transmission in light winds: Study
Tuesday, June 9, 2020 IST
Six feet distancing not enough to stop coronavirus transmission in light winds: Study

The current physical distancing guidelines of 6 feet may be insufficient to prevent COVID-19 transmission, according to a study which says a mild cough in low wind speeds can propel saliva droplets by as much as 18 feet.

 
 

Researchers, including those from the University of Nicosia in Cyprus, said a good baseline for studying the airborne transmission of viruses, like the one behind the COVID-19 pandemic, is a deeper understanding of how particles travel through the air when people cough.
 
In the study, published in the journal Physics of Fluids, they said even with a slight breeze of about four kilometres per hour (kph), saliva travels 18 feet in 5 seconds.
 
"The droplet cloud will affect both adults and children of different heights," said study co-author Dimitris Drikakis from the University of Nicosia.
 
According to the scientists, shorter adults and children could be at higher risk if they are located within the trajectory of the saliva droplets.
 
They said saliva is a complex fluid, which travels suspended in a bulk of surrounding air released by a cough, adding that many factors affect how saliva droplets travel in the air.
 
These factors, the study noted, include the size and number of droplets, how they interact with one another and the surrounding air as they disperse and evaporate, how heat and mass are transferred, and the humidity and temperature of the surrounding air.
 
In the study, the scientists created a computer simulation to examine the state of every saliva droplet moving through the air in front of a coughing person.
 
The model considered the effects of humidity, dispersion force, interactions of molecules of saliva and air, and how the droplets change from liquid to vapour and evaporate, along with a grid representing the space in front of a coughing person.
 
Each grid, the scientists said, holds information about variables like pressure, fluid velocity, temperature, droplet mass, and droplet position.

 
 

The study analysed the fates of nearly 1,008 simulated saliva droplets, and solved as many as 3.7 million equations.
 
"The purpose of the mathematical modelling and simulation is to take into account all the real coupling or interaction mechanisms that may take place between the main bulk fluid flow and the saliva droplets, and between the saliva droplets themselves," explained Talib Dbouk, another co-author of the study.
 
However, the researchers added that further studies are needed to determine the effect of ground surface temperature on the behaviour of saliva in air.
 
They also believe that indoor environments, especially ones with air conditioning, may significantly affect the particle movement through air.
 
This work is important since it concerns safety distance guidelines, and advances the understanding of the transmission of airborne diseases, Drikakis said. 
 

 
 
 
 
 

Related Topics

 
 
 

Trending News & Articles

 Article
12 Early Signs Of Lung Cancer To Never Ignore

Lung cancer is usually not noticeable during the early stages. Most people are diagnosed when the disease is at an advanced stage. According to Cancer.org, it is ...

Recently posted . 7K views . 2 min read
 

 Article
11 Surprising Benefits Of Wood Apple Or Bael Fruit

The health benefits of wood apple include [1] relief from constipation, indigestion, peptic ulcer, piles, respiratory problems, diarrhea, and dysentery. It also b...

Recently posted . 4K views . 2 min read
 

 Article
10 Amazing Benefits Of Bael (Kaitha)

Bael, also known as the “Wood Apple”, is a species native to India. The bael tree is considered to be sacred to the Hindus. A famous drink known as sh...

Recently posted . 4K views . 2 min read
 

 Article
These 7 Remedies Can Remove The Milia (Milk Spots) From Your Face

Do you know what milia are? Milia is a skin condition which causes the appearance of small white hard bumps on the skin which usually appear on the face, neck or ch...

Recently posted . 4K views . 2 min read
 

 
 

More in Food & Health

 Article
17 Inspiring Quotes for Success from the World's Wealthiest People

There are remarkably powerful lessons to be learned about success from those who have already achieved it.  

Recently posted. 735 views . 0 min read
 

 Article
Summer Special: Pickled Raw Mango Jam Or Chunda Recipe To Liven Up Your Meals (Watch Video)

Highlights   • Chunda is a popular raw mango preparation consumed across India 

Recently posted. 842 views . 2 min read
 

 Article
Cycling, walking in nature may improve your mental health

Those commuting through natural environments on a daily basis had on average a 2.74 point higher mental health score compared to those who commuted through natural ...

Recently posted. 687 views . 1 min read
 

 Video
Quick and tasty egg hacks.



Recently posted . 878 views
 

 Reviews
Air Mattress Reviews



Recently posted . 1K views . 199 min read
 

 Reviews
Top 5 Best Wet Grinders in India



Recently posted . 1K views . 45 min read
 

 Article
4 Harmful Effects Of Mobile Phones On Kids

Do you let the youngest members of your house use your cell phone? Does your child spend long hours talking on the phone? Do you think it is harmless to give the mo...

Recently posted. 1K views . 1 min read
 

 Article
Mushroom Magic Recipe

Ingredients: 1.200 gms Fresh Mushrooms cut into quarters 2.1 1/2 inch ginger chopped very fine 3.4-5 cloves of ...

Recently posted. 838 views . 6 min read
 

 
 
 

   Prashnavali

  Thought of the Day

Change your habits and it will brings some light in your life. Must follow this awesome quotes given
APJ Abdul Kalam

Be the first one to comment on this story

Close
Post Comment
Shibu Chandran
2 hours ago

Serving political interests in another person's illness is the lowest form of human value. A 70+ y old lady has cancer.

November 28, 2016 05:00 IST
Shibu Chandran
2 hours ago

Serving political interests in another person's illness is the lowest form of human value. A 70+ y old lady has cancer.

November 28, 2016 05:00 IST
Shibu Chandran
2 hours ago

Serving political interests in another person's illness is the lowest form of human value. A 70+ y old lady has cancer.

November 28, 2016 05:00 IST
Shibu Chandran
2 hours ago

Serving political interests in another person's illness is the lowest form of human value. A 70+ y old lady has cancer.

November 28, 2016 05:00 IST


ads
Back To Top