| NSF Org: |
AGS Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences |
| Recipient: |
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| Initial Amendment Date: | June 28, 2020 |
| Latest Amendment Date: | June 28, 2020 |
| Award Number: | 2037541 |
| Award Instrument: | Standard Grant |
| Program Manager: |
Sylvia Edgerton
sedgerto@nsf.gov (703)292-8522 AGS Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences GEO Directorate for Geosciences |
| Start Date: | August 1, 2020 |
| End Date: | July 31, 2022 (Estimated) |
| Total Intended Award Amount: | $199,997.00 |
| Total Awarded Amount to Date: | $199,997.00 |
| Funds Obligated to Date: |
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| History of Investigator: |
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| Recipient Sponsored Research Office: |
104 AIRPORT DR STE 2200 CHAPEL HILL NC US 27599-5023 (919)966-3411 |
| Sponsor Congressional District: |
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| Primary Place of Performance: |
104 AIRPORT DR STE 2200 CHAPEL HILL NC US 27599-1350 |
| 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): | Atmospheric Chemistry |
| 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): | 47.050 |
ABSTRACT
This RAPID project seeks to improve the understanding of the airborne transmission of (SARS) CoV-2, the virus behind the COVID-19 pandemic, via sub-micron airborne particles. Chamber experiments will be conducted to help determine how long (SARS) CoV-2 remains viable in sub-micron aerosol and how atmospheric oxidation, particle size, and other environmental conditions affect viability. The team includes well-established infectious-disease scientists, coronavirus microbiologists and aerosol scientists with a unique combination of techniques and instruments.
The two objectives of this research are to: (1) Conduct controlled chamber experiments using a non-pathogenic model coronavirus embedded in submicron aerosol in the presence/absence of ozone (O3) and hydroxyl (OH) radicals (separately) to examine how viability is influenced by atmospheric oxidation; and (2) Measure the concentrations of (SARS) CoV-2 and non-pathogenic T3 bacteriophage in aerosol with a novel BioSpot sampler and a gelatin filter sampler in at least 2 locations (e.g., wastewater treatment plant, hospital, daycare, nursing home, grocery store, classroom), and if viable viruses are detected to examine the ability of airborne O3 or OH radical treatment to inactivate the airborne (SARS) CoV-2 virus.
This research is expected to lead to a better understanding of the viability of coronaviruses in sub-micron aerosol. It is anticipated that this effort will provide information relevant to the improved design of mitigation measures and shared indoor/outdoor spaces that are more resilient to respiratory virus transmission and more conducive to protecting public health.
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.
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.
The ultimate goals of this work were safer practices as we live with COVID-19 and development of future intellectual capacity at the intersection between aerosols, viruses and chemistry. Aerosols are emitted when talking, singing, breathing and coughing. They are emitted in a concentrated plume and dilute with distance. However, there are few measurements of CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, and other enveloped viruses in aerosols.
We found that measurable quantities of CoV-2 can be present in residential indoor air more than 6 feet from persons who test positive for COVID-19. Very high concentrations of ozone (1000 ppb) are needed to reduce the viability of an enveloped virus within a time frame relevant indoors, and proteins in respiratory fluid help protect aerosolized viruses. The presence of CoV-2 in aerosol is consistent with the existence of COVID-19 superspreader events, events that cannot convincingly be explained by close contact. It is also consistent with the observation that COVID-19 transmission is much more likely to occur indoors, where ventilation is restricted. The presence of CoV-2 in aerosols supports the use of masks as an effective tool to reduce transmission.
This grant also facilitated student training and public education about
aerosol-borne viruses. We gave talks and webinars and developed a unit for an undergraduate class about aerosols and COVID-19 transmission. We developed infrastructure that can be used to further understanding as to how aerosol composition, virus structure and environmental properties (e.g., oxidants, relative humidity) affect aerosol transmission of infectious diseases. We developed an interdisciplinary team of environmental microbiologists, indoor air experts, aerosol scientists and virologists who are interested in continuing to work together on aerosol-transmission of a variety of diseases.
Last Modified: 11/30/2022
Modified by: Barbara J Turpin
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