An investigation for airflow and deposition of PM2.5 contaminated with SAR-CoV-2 virus in healthy and diseased human airway

Wei-Hsin Chen; Justus Kavita Mutuku; Zhe-Wei Yang; Chii-Jong Hwang; Wen Jhy Lee; Veeramuthu Ashokkumar

doi:10.1016/j.envres.2021.111096

An investigation for airflow and deposition of PM_2.5 contaminated with SAR-CoV-2 virus in healthy and diseased human airway

Environ Res. 2021 Jun:197:111096. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.111096. Epub 2021 Mar 29.

Authors

Wei-Hsin Chen¹, Justus Kavita Mutuku², Zhe-Wei Yang³, Chii-Jong Hwang³, Wen Jhy Lee⁴, Veeramuthu Ashokkumar⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 701, Taiwan; Research Center for Smart Sustainable Circular Economy, Tunghai University, Taichung, 407, Taiwan; Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Chin-Yi University of Technology, Taichung, 411, Taiwan. Electronic address: weihsinchen@gmail.com.
² Center for Environmental Toxin and Emerging- Contaminant Research, Cheng Shiu University, Taiwan; Super Micro Research and Technology Center, Cheng Shiu University, Taiwan; Department of Environmental Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 701, Taiwan.
³ Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 701, Taiwan.
⁴ Department of Environmental Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 701, Taiwan.
⁵ Center of Excellence in Catalysis for Bioenergy and Renewable Chemicals (CBRC), Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand.

PMID: 33794172
DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.111096

Abstract

This study is motivated by the amplified transmission rates of the SAR-CoV-2 virus in areas with high concentrations of fine particulates (PM_2.5) as reported in northern Italy and Mexico. To develop a deeper understanding of the contribution of PM_2.5 in the propagation of the SAR-CoV-2 virus in the population, the deposition patterns and efficiencies (DEs) of PM_2.5 laced with the virus in healthy and asthmatic airways are studied. Physiologically correct 3-D models for generations 10-12 of the human airways are applied to carry out a numerical analysis of two-phase flow for full breathing cycles. Two concentrations of PM_2.5 are applied for the simulation, i.e., 30 μg⋅m^-3 and 80 μg⋅m^-3 for three breathing statuses, i.e., rest, light exercise, and moderate activity. All the PM_2.5 injected into the control volume is assumed to be 100% contaminated with the SAR-CoV-2 virus. Skewed air-flow phenomena at the bifurcations are proportional to the Reynolds number at the inlet, and their intensity in the asthmatic airway exceeded that of the healthy one. Upon exhalation, two peak air-flow vectors from daughter branches combine to form one big vector in the parent generation. Asthmatic airway models has higher deposition efficiencies (DEs) for contaminated PM_2.5 as compared to the healthy one. Higher DEs arise in the asthmatic airway model due to complex secondary flows which increase the impaction of contaminated PM_2.5 on airways' walls.

Keywords: Asthma; Deposition efficiency; Full breathing cycle; PM2.5; SAR-CoV-2 virus; Transient two-phase flow.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Asthma*
Computer Simulation
Humans
Italy
Lung*
Mexico
Models, Biological
Particulate Matter / toxicity

Substances

Particulate Matter