| NSF Org: |
CBET Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems |
| Recipient: |
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| Initial Amendment Date: | April 30, 2020 |
| Latest Amendment Date: | April 30, 2020 |
| Award Number: | 2031227 |
| Award Instrument: | Standard Grant |
| Program Manager: |
Ron Joslin
rjoslin@nsf.gov (703)292-7030 CBET Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems ENG Directorate for Engineering |
| Start Date: | May 15, 2020 |
| End Date: | April 30, 2022 (Estimated) |
| Total Intended Award Amount: | $200,000.00 |
| Total Awarded Amount to Date: | $200,000.00 |
| Funds Obligated to Date: |
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| History of Investigator: |
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| Recipient Sponsored Research Office: |
4000 CENTRAL FLORIDA BLVD ORLANDO FL US 32816-8005 (407)823-0387 |
| Sponsor Congressional District: |
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| Primary Place of Performance: |
Orlando FL US 32816-8005 |
| Primary Place of
Performance Congressional District: |
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| Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): |
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| Parent UEI: |
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| NSF Program(s): | COVID-19 Research |
| Primary Program Source: |
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| Program Reference Code(s): |
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| Program Element Code(s): |
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| Award Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Fund Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Assistance Listing Number(s): | 47.041 |
ABSTRACT
Airborne transmitted pathogens such as COVID-19 have caused large scale infections, death, health system overloads, and severe economic damage. Such airborne transmission paths can be associated with droplets ejected from natural human respiratory functions such as sneezing, coughing, speaking, and breathing. Even in the context of social distancing and face masks, there are several essential functions associated with hospitals, grocery stores, transit, and other essential confined workplaces that force interactions and fuel pathogen transmission. One potential method to reduce the transmission of airborne pathogens is to reduce the number of small droplets formed from the human respiratory function. It is generally known that small droplets (such as fog, mist, etc.) can remain suspended for long time periods. Such droplets enable transmitting pathogens for long time periods. Since large droplets (such as rain) are prone to fall from the air, pathogens in these droplets are less susceptible to airborne transmission paths. The aim of this research is to alter the host?s fluid properties such that droplets formed during human respiratory functions remain larger, travel shorter distances, and fall reducing the propensity for airborne transmission.
The project seeks to quantify the droplet character formed during human respiratory function when the host?s saliva properties are altered. Simple fluids-related solutions associated with altering the fluid properties of the host such as formulated confections (lozenges/gum/candy) will change saliva droplet breakup modes resulting in larger droplets that travel shorter distances and fall. The aim is to understand how fluid properties can reduce metrics associated with a pathogen?s airborne transmission path. During the human respiratory function, droplets are formed through complex processes driven by a pulsed, turbulent jet with many underlying interfacial instabilities. These processes have not been studied from the aspect of altering the host?s salvia fluid properties. The project will develop this knowledge gap using a combination of experiments and numerical predictions oriented around answering three specific studies: (i) Understanding the role of viscosity and surface tension in droplet characteristics, (ii) Evaluating how aerating saliva alters droplet characteristics, and (iii) Determining safe compounds that reduce airborne transmission while remaining comfortable to a person. In addressing these scientific questions, this effort aims to develop a new tool to reduce the transmissibility of COVID-19 (and other airborne pathogens). The effort is tailored to inform the public, scientists, and engineers (through press, fast-track publications, and professional meetings) of the developed science within a timeline that enables product development and wide-scale implementation that supports the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
PUBLICATIONS PRODUCED AS A RESULT OF THIS RESEARCH
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PROJECT OUTCOMES REPORT
Disclaimer
This Project Outcomes Report for the General Public is displayed verbatim as submitted by the Principal Investigator (PI) for this award. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this Report are those of the PI and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation; NSF has not approved or endorsed its content.
This overall efforts focus on understanding the fluid dynamics of transmission processes associated with airborne pathogens and the COVID-19 pandemic. The effort uses a combination of experiments, computational fluid dynamics (CFD), and Wells-Riley transmission probablilty models. These studies indicate the efficacy of common approaches such as masks, ventilation system design, and social distancing. We also explore novel approaches, specifically, orally based foods that can also alter ones saliva properties to function as a novel mitigation method.
In general, we find that all these methods show benefit, however, perhaps the least impactful and most harmful to societal function is social distancing. The effort expands well beyond these established methods and develops novel understanding and methods for control. A few unexpected findings is the relationship of age, health, and transmission. This includes that transmission in children is reduced through their lower emission rate and pulmory rates. But we also find that elderly, ill, an women may be less likely to transmit pathogen-carrying droplets/aerosols. In addition, we found the unexpected relationships of transmission and the ingestion of foods, which can promote or inhibit the formation of droplets. These processes will be discussed in relation to underlying fluid dynamic processes. These factors are all critical to passive control of the transmission events. Results from these studies will be summarized in the presentation.
Last Modified: 08/30/2022
Modified by: Michael P Kinzel
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