Numerical simulation for spatial distribution of water aerosol produced from nozzle spray and health risk related to Legionella pneumophila in spray scenarios

Peng-Cheng Xu; Chong-Miao Zhang; Xiaochang C Wang

doi:10.1016/j.watres.2022.118304

Numerical simulation for spatial distribution of water aerosol produced from nozzle spray and health risk related to Legionella pneumophila in spray scenarios

Water Res. 2022 Jun 1:216:118304. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.118304. Epub 2022 Mar 16.

Authors

Peng-Cheng Xu¹, Chong-Miao Zhang², Xiaochang C Wang³

Affiliations

¹ School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, China; Key Lab of Northwest Water Resource, Environment and Ecology, Ministry of Education, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, China; Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, China; International Science and Technology Cooperation Center for Urban Alternative Water Resources Development, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, China.
² School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, China; Key Lab of Northwest Water Resource, Environment and Ecology, Ministry of Education, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, China; Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, China; International Science and Technology Cooperation Center for Urban Alternative Water Resources Development, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, China. Electronic address: cmzhang@xauat.edu.cn.
³ School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, China; Key Lab of Northwest Water Resource, Environment and Ecology, Ministry of Education, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, China; International Science and Technology Cooperation Center for Urban Alternative Water Resources Development, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, China.

PMID: 35325820
DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.118304

Abstract

Water spray facilities are widely used in public places for sprinkling or beautifying the environment. However, the potential health risk induced by water aerosols increasingly calls for attention. In this study, the spatial distribution of water aerosols was investigated through the molecular sieve adsorption method, and predicted by discrete phase model (DPM). On this basis, the health risk regarding Legionella pneumophila for specific spray scenarios was evaluated by quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA). The results showed that the original droplet size can be described by the Rosin_Rommaler distribution (R²>0.99). The spatial distribution of water aerosols produced from a nozzle spray can be well predicted by the DPM. The concentration of water aerosols showed a sharp decline within 5 m from the nozzle and was not significantly different within 5 m (p>0.05) as for various spray scenarios. However, the difference was significant outside 5 m (p<0.05). Furthermore, a safe contact distance of exceeding 8 m is proposed in spray scenarios considering the risk threshold of 0.0001. Sensitivity analysis demonstrated the concentration of Legionella pneumophila in water aerosols as the critical factor affecting the health risk.

Keywords: Spray; Water aerosol; computational fluid dynamics (CFD); quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA).

MeSH terms

Aerosols / analysis
Computer Simulation
Legionella pneumophila*
Water
Water Microbiology

Substances

Aerosols
Water