Longitudinal analysis of built environment and aerosol contamination associated with isolated COVID-19 positive individuals

Patrick F Horve; Leslie G Dietz; Garis Bowles; Georgia MacCrone; Andreas Olsen-Martinez; Dale Northcutt; Vincent Moore; Liliana Barnatan; Hooman Parhizkar; Kevin G Van Den Wymelenberg

doi:10.1038/s41598-022-11303-8

Longitudinal analysis of built environment and aerosol contamination associated with isolated COVID-19 positive individuals

Sci Rep. 2022 May 5;12(1):7395. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-11303-8.

Authors

Patrick F Horve^{1

2}, Leslie G Dietz², Garis Bowles², Georgia MacCrone², Andreas Olsen-Martinez², Dale Northcutt^{2

3}, Vincent Moore², Liliana Barnatan², Hooman Parhizkar^{3

4}, Kevin G Van Den Wymelenberg^{5

6

7}

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Molecular Biology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403, USA.
² Biology and the Built Environment Center, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403, USA.
³ Energy Studies in Buildings Laboratory, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403, USA.
⁴ Institute for Health and the Built Environment, University of Oregon, Portland, OR, 97209, USA.
⁵ Biology and the Built Environment Center, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403, USA. kevinvdw@uoregon.edu.
⁶ Energy Studies in Buildings Laboratory, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403, USA. kevinvdw@uoregon.edu.
⁷ Institute for Health and the Built Environment, University of Oregon, Portland, OR, 97209, USA. kevinvdw@uoregon.edu.

Abstract

The indoor environment is the primary location for the transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), largely driven by respiratory particle accumulation in the air and increased connectivity between the individuals occupying indoor spaces. In this study, we aimed to track a cohort of subjects as they occupied a COVID-19 isolation dormitory to better understand the impact of subject and environmental viral load over time, symptoms, and room ventilation on the detectable viral load within a single room. We find that subject samples demonstrate a decrease in overall viral load over time, symptoms significantly impact environmental viral load, and we provide the first real-world evidence for decreased aerosol SARS-CoV-2 load with increasing ventilation, both from mechanical and window sources. These results may guide environmental viral surveillance strategies and be used to better control the spread of SARS-CoV-2 within built environments and better protect those caring for individuals with COVID-19.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

Aerosols
Built Environment
COVID-19*
Humans
SARS-CoV-2
Ventilation

Substances

Aerosols