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Speech can produce jet-like transport relevant to asymptomatic spreading of virus

https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2012156117

Abkarian, Manouk ; Mendez, Simon ; Xue, Nan ; Yang, Fan ; Stone, Howard_A ( September 2020 , Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences)

Significance
Medical reports and news sources raise the possibility that flows created during breathing, speaking, laughing, singing, or exercise could be the means by which asymptomatic individuals contribute to spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. We use experiments and simulations to quantify how exhaled air is transported in speech. Phonetic characteristics introduce complexity to the airflow dynamics and plosive sounds, such as “P,” produce intense vortical structures that behave like “puffs” and rapidly reach 1 m. However, speech, corresponding to a train of such puffs, creates a conical, turbulent, jet-like flow and easily produces directed transport over 2 m in 30 s of conversation. This work should inform public health guidance for risk reduction and mitigation strategies of airborne pathogen transmission.

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Towards improved social distancing guidelines: Space and time dependence of virus transmission from speech-driven aerosol transport between two individuals

https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevFluids.5.122501

Yang, Fan ; Pahlavan, Amir A. ; Mendez, Simon ; Abkarian, Manouk ; Stone, Howard A. ( December 2020 , Physical Review Fluids)
null (Ed.)
Full Text Available
Stretching and break-up of saliva filaments during speech: A route for pathogen aerosolization and its potential mitigation

https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevFluids.5.102301

Abkarian, M. ; Stone, H. A. ( October 2020 , Physical Review Fluids)
null (Ed.)
Full Text Available