While most models of viral spread focus on human-to-human transmission, it turns out that other factors may come into play for Covid-19, including pollen emitted by trees.
Revealing simulations
In the context of work published in the journal Physics of Fluids, researchers fromAmerican Institute of Physics noticed a significant correlation between increased pollen levels and coronavirus infections. Using computer simulations, they set out to determine how the distribution of pollen could contribute to the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses.
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A realistic digital model of a willow was created to determine how the pollen produced by the tree, near which a gathering of about a hundred people (some of whom were infected with the Covid-19) took place, moved.
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« Creating a realistic environment was a big challenge “, highlighted Talib Dbouk, lead author of the study. ” The mature willow had hundreds of branches as well as thousands of leaves and pollen particles, and we also had to represent a crowd of about a hundred individuals, located about twenty meters from the tree.. »
Researchers found that when the pollen was blown by the wind and spread through crowds on a typical spring day, some of its particles bonded with those of the coronavirus, carrying the latter much further than they were. would have done it alone. According to their simulations, grains potentially carrying the virus could travel more than 50 meters and pass through crowds in less than a minute.
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“Distancing measures should take these parameters into account”
With each grain of pollen likely to carry hundreds of viral particles (knowing that the concentration of pollen per cubic meter of air can reach 1,500 grains for some trees), research suggests that pollen could have a significant impact on the spread. virus, by modifying the dynamics of human-to-human transmission.
« In the case of high concentrations of pollen grains in the air or during pollination in spring, a distance of 2 meters between individuals is largely ineffective in the open air. “, Underline the authors of the study. ” Distancing measures should take these parameters into account. »
Although this study mainly focused on the transmission of Covid-19, the researchers hope it will increase interest in the dynamics of viral fluids and pollens. Their next research will explore how these affect respiration depending on atmospheric conditions.
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