MOE Key Laboratory of Deep Earth Science and Engineering, College of Architecture and Environment, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Department of Solid Waste Treatment Technology, Sichuan Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Pollution Control for Heavy Metals, Sichuan Academy of Environmental Sciences, Chengdu, China.
Infect Dis Now. 2021 May;51(3):219-227. doi: 10.1016/j.idnow.2020.11.001. Epub 2020 Dec 30.
The novel human coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has been responsible for a worldwide pandemic. Although media transmission through contaminated surfaces is one of the most recognized ways of transmission, the study on the number and viability of viruses surviving on a surface after leaving the host represents a "blind spot" in current research. In this paper we have reviewed studies on the physical process of droplet evaporation on media surfaces, and analyzed the recent literature related to experiments on the decay of the viral concentration and infectious activity of SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses on those surface and in the air. The huge differences in the risk of media transmission of large saliva and sputum droplets were analyzed in terms of time elapsed. Due to the rapid decrease of water content in the evaporated droplets and the increased concentration of each component, the living environment of the virus tended to deteriorate sharply, and virus concentration plummeted within a few minutes. Although a virus can be detected in a matter of hours, tens of hours, or days, the risk of transmission is negligible compared to when it first left the host. This study suggests that the key to prevention and control is to start from the source, the earlier the better. It is extremely important to develop good public health habits, wear masks, and wash hands frequently. That said, excessive disinfection and sterilization of surfaces during a later period may have adverse effects.
新型人类冠状病毒 SARS-CoV-2 引发了全球性大流行。尽管通过受污染的表面进行媒介传播是最被认可的传播方式之一，但关于病毒离开宿主后在表面存活的数量和存活能力的研究代表了当前研究中的一个“盲点”。在本文中，我们回顾了关于液滴在介质表面蒸发的物理过程的研究，并分析了最近关于 SARS-CoV-2 和其他病毒在这些表面和空气中的浓度衰减和感染活性的实验相关文献。根据时间的推移，分析了大唾液和痰液飞沫在媒介传播方面的巨大风险差异。由于蒸发液滴中的水分迅速减少，每个成分的浓度增加，病毒的生存环境急剧恶化，病毒浓度在几分钟内骤降。虽然在数小时、数十小时或数天内可以检测到病毒，但与病毒最初离开宿主时相比，传播风险可以忽略不计。本研究表明，防控的关键在于从源头入手，越早越好。养成良好的公共卫生习惯、戴口罩和勤洗手至关重要。也就是说，在后期对表面进行过度消毒和杀菌可能会产生不良影响。
