Vertical Concentration Gradient of Influenza Viruses Resuspended from Floor Dust
| dc.contributor.author | Khare, Peeyush | en |
| dc.contributor.committeechair | Marr, Linsey C. | en |
| dc.contributor.committeemember | Eubank, Stephen G. | en |
| dc.contributor.committeemember | Battaglia, Francine | en |
| dc.contributor.department | Civil and Environmental Engineering | en |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2014-07-22T08:00:14Z | en |
| dc.date.available | 2014-07-22T08:00:14Z | en |
| dc.date.issued | 2014-07-21 | en |
| dc.description.abstract | Resuspended floor dust constitutes up to sixty percent of the total particulate matter in indoor air. This fraction may also include virus-laden particles that settle on the floor after being emitted by an infected individual. This research focuses on predicting the concentration of influenza A viruses in resuspended dust, generated by people walking in a room, at various heights above the floor. Using a sonic anemometer, we measured the velocity field from floor to ceiling at 10-cm intervals to estimate the magnitude of turbulence generated by walking. The resulting eddy diffusion coefficients varied between 0.06 m2 s-1 and 0.20 m2 s-1 and were maximal at ~0.75-1 m above the floor, approximately the height of the swinging hand. We used these coefficients in an atmospheric transport model to predict virus concentrations as a function of the carrier particle size and height in the room. Results indicate that the concentration of resuspended viruses at 1 m above the floor is about seven times the concentration at 2 m. Thus, shorter people may be exposed to higher concentrations of pathogens in resuspended dust indoors. This study illuminates the possibility that particle resuspension could be a mode of disease transmission. It also emphasizes the importance of considering resuspension of particulate matter when designing ventilation systems and flooring in hospitals and residences. | en |
| dc.description.degree | Master of Science | en |
| dc.format.medium | ETD | en |
| dc.identifier.other | vt_gsexam:2841 | en |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10919/49662 | en |
| dc.publisher | Virginia Tech | en |
| dc.rights | In Copyright | en |
| dc.rights.uri | http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ | en |
| dc.subject | walking | en |
| dc.subject | eddy diffusivity | en |
| dc.subject | influenza A virus | en |
| dc.subject | indoor | en |
| dc.title | Vertical Concentration Gradient of Influenza Viruses Resuspended from Floor Dust | en |
| dc.type | Thesis | en |
| thesis.degree.discipline | Civil Engineering | en |
| thesis.degree.grantor | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | en |
| thesis.degree.level | masters | en |
| thesis.degree.name | Master of Science | en |
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