AUTHOR=Li Xia , Sun Bingxin , Lyu Keyang , Chen Jiayu , Zhang Yunjian , Sun Yu , Li Chenguang , Sui Tianzhuo , Wang Xinxin , Hu Yu , Wang Qin , Xu Dongqun 

TITLE=Research on the relationship between architectural features in northeast China and vertical aerosol transmission of COVID-19

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health

VOLUME=Volume 10 - 2022

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2022.1052610

DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2022.1052610

ISSN=2296-2565

ABSTRACT=During the COVID-19 pandemic, clusters of infected cases have occurred in the vertical layouts of many buildings in northeast China. It is speculated that vertical aerosol transmission occurred. The houses in northeast China have well airtightness, and the range hoods may be used for a long time when cooking. The path and influencing factors of aerosol vertical transmission are worth studying. In order to elucidate the transmission path of the viral aerosols, we selected a multistoried apartment and a high-rise building in Changchun City, Jilin Province, China to carry out in-depth investigation and on-site simulation experiments. According to the epidemiological investigation information of infected cases, building structures, drainage, ventilation, etc., we used the fluorescent microspheres to simulate the behaviors of infected persons such as breathing and toilet flushing after defecation to discharge simulated viruses, tracked and monitored them. The field simulation experiment confirmed the fluorescent microspheres aerosol could transmission to other room by vertical aerosol transmission pathway of toilet flush-sewage pipe-floor drain without water seal in two types of buildings. Our study shows that, whether it is a multistoried apartment or a high-rise residential building, when there is no U-shaped trap or no water seal of floor drain, there is a transmission path of ‘excretion of virus through feces-toilet flushing-sewage pipe-floor drain without water seal’, which will cause the viral aerosols vertical transmission across floors during the pandemic of the COVID-19. Moreover, the negative pressure by turning on the range hood when closing the doors and windows will increase the aerosol transmission. Based on this, the prevention and control measures for residential buildings in northeast China were put forward during the COVID-19 pandemic.