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1/ This paper is very interesting:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-38808-z
It summarises some of the literature on the aerosolisation of particles during speech and reports impact of increasing speech volume on aerosolisation. Here's my summary:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-38808-z
It summarises some of the literature on the aerosolisation of particles during speech and reports impact of increasing speech volume on aerosolisation. Here's my summary:
2/
smaller particles (~1μm) are aerosolised during breathing and talking (N.B. #COVID19 virus is 100-160 nm in size so these particles are big enough to carry the virus)
smaller particles (~1μm) are aerosolised during breathing and talking (N.B. #COVID19 virus is 100-160 nm in size so these particles are big enough to carry the virus)
3/
these smaller particles are potentially more infectious than the larger particles (~50μm) produced during coughing and sneezing, because they stay in the air for longer
smaller particles have more chance of penetrating deeper into the lungs
these smaller particles are potentially more infectious than the larger particles (~50μm) produced during coughing and sneezing, because they stay in the air for longersmaller particles have more chance of penetrating deeper into the lungs
4/
speech can release a larger numbers of particles compared to coughing (counting aloud produces 2-10x more particles than 1 cough)
there is a linear correlation: increasing particle emission with increasing speech volume
speech can release a larger numbers of particles compared to coughing (counting aloud produces 2-10x more particles than 1 cough)there is a linear correlation: increasing particle emission with increasing speech volume
5/
particles are the same size (~1μm) regardless of speech volume
on average speaking loudly resulted in 10x more particle emission than speaking quietly
some participants were superemitters but there were no trends for gender, age, BMI
particles are the same size (~1μm) regardless of speech volumeon average speaking loudly resulted in 10x more particle emission than speaking quietlysome participants were superemitters but there were no trends for gender, age, BMI
6/
Hypthesised mechanism of action: vocal fold vibration and adduction at the larynx resulting in a 'fluid-film burst' mechanism and particle emission
Hypthesised mechanism of action: vocal fold vibration and adduction at the larynx resulting in a 'fluid-film burst' mechanism and particle emission
7/
My question is: should we be wearing FFP3 for all SLT assessment and interventions with COVID-19 suspected and positive patients?
What do #wespeechies think?
My question is: should we be wearing FFP3 for all SLT assessment and interventions with COVID-19 suspected and positive patients?
What do #wespeechies think?
