Effect of relative humidity on hydrogen peroxide production in water droplets

Mist is generated by ultrasonic cavitation of water (Fisher Biograde, pH 5.5-6.5) at room temperature (20-25 °C) in open air with nearly constant temperature (22-25 °C) but varying relative humidity (RH; 24-52%) over the course of many months. Water droplets in the mist are initially about 7 μm in diameter at about 50% RH. They are collected, and the concentration of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) is measured using commercial peroxide test strips and by bromothymol blue oxidation. The quantification method is based on the Fenton chemistry of dye degradation to determine the oxidation capacity of water samples that have been treated by ultrasonication. It is found that the hydrogen peroxide concentration varies nearly linearly with RH over the range studied, reaching a low of 2 parts per million (ppm) at 24% RH and a high of 6 ppm at 52% RH. Some possible public health implications concerning the transmission of respiratory viral infections are suggested for this threefold change in H₂O₂ concentration with RH.