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Published on: August 22, 2018
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On pollen and airborne virus transmission
Talib Dbouk1, Dimitris Drikakis1
1University of Nicosia, Nicosia CY-2417, Cyprus.
Physics of Fluids (Woodbury, N.Y. : 1994)
|August 2, 2021
Summary
Airborne pollen grains can capture and transport viruses like SARS-CoV-2, increasing COVID-19 transmission risk outdoors. Current social distancing guidelines may be insufficient during high pollen seasons.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Virology
- Aerobiology
Background:
- Airborne pollen grains can harbor and transport viruses, including coronaviruses (CoVs).
- High pollen concentrations occur during specific seasons, potentially coinciding with increased virus circulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of airborne pollen in virus transmission.
- To model the transport of pollen grains and associated virus particles.
- To assess the efficacy of current social distancing measures during high pollen periods.
Main Methods:
- Computational multiphysics and multiscale modeling and simulations were employed.
- A prototype problem simulated the transport of 10^4 airborne pollen grains.
- Environmental conditions of high pollen concentration seasons were considered.
Main Results:
- Airborne pollen grains can effectively capture and transport virus particles, such as SARS-CoV-2.
- Pollen grains were shown to increase the transmission rate of coronaviruses in human groups.
- Simulations indicated that 2-meter social distancing may be inadequate outdoors during high pollen seasons.
Conclusions:
- Airborne pollen poses a significant risk for virus transmission, particularly for respiratory viruses like COVID-19.
- Public health guidelines on social distancing may need revision to account for pollen-virus interactions.
- Further research into the synergistic effects of pollen and airborne pathogens is warranted.
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