Impulse dispersion of aerosols during playing wind instruments

Area of Science:

• Aerosol science
• Respiratory biomechanics
• Musical acoustics

Background:

• Musical activities, particularly wind instrument playing and singing, are recognized as high-risk for SARS-CoV-2 transmission due to significant aerosol generation.
• Wind instruments expel saliva droplets and aerosol particles that can remain airborne and potentially infectious.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify and compare the primary impulse dispersion of aerosols generated during the playing of various wind instruments.
• To establish a baseline for aerosol dispersion from wind instruments relative to breathing and speaking.

Main Methods:

• Nine professional musicians (3 trumpeters, 3 flautists, 3 clarinetists) played Beethoven's 9th symphony.
• Aerosol particles from an e-cigarette marked inhaled air volume.
• Expelled aerosol clouds were captured by multi-angle cameras and analyzed for dimensions and dynamics.

Main Results:

• Flutes exhibited the largest aerosol dispersion, reaching a maximum forward distance of 1.88 meters.
• Aerosol expulsion occurred in multiple directions from flutes, including upwards/downwards at the mouthpiece and along the instrument's key plane.
• Trumpets and clarinets showed lower frontal and lateral aerosol dispersion (1.2m and 1.0m respectively), with reduced side expulsion.

Conclusions:

• Wind instrument playing, especially the flute, generates significant aerosol dispersion, posing potential transmission risks.
• Understanding aerosol dynamics in wind instrument performance is crucial for developing effective mitigation strategies.
• Variations in aerosol dispersion exist among different wind instruments, necessitating instrument-specific safety considerations.