Vertical outbreak of COVID-19 in high-rise buildings: The role of sewer stacks and prevention measures.

Guo, Y; Li, X; Luby, S; Jiang, G

Vertical outbreak of COVID-19 in high-rise buildings: The role of sewer stacks and prevention measures.

Guo, Y Li, X

Luby, S Jiang, G

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Publisher:: Elsevier
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Curr Opin Environ Sci Health, 2022, 29, pp. 100379-100379
Issue Date:: 2022-10

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Guo, Y
dc.contributor.author	Li, X https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1768-9556
dc.contributor.author	Luby, S
dc.contributor.author	Jiang, G
dc.date.accessioned	2023-03-08T23:54:47Z
dc.date.available	2022-07-04
dc.date.available	2023-03-08T23:54:47Z
dc.date.issued	2022-10
dc.identifier.citation	Curr Opin Environ Sci Health, 2022, 29, pp. 100379-100379
dc.identifier.issn	2468-5844
dc.identifier.issn	2468-5844
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/166730
dc.description.abstract	COVID-19 outbreaks in high-rise buildings suggested the transmission route of fecal-aerosol-inhalation due to the involvement of viral aerosols in sewer stacks. The vertical transmission is likely due to the failure of water traps that allow viral aerosols to spread through sewer stacks. This process can be further facilitated by the chimney effect in vent stack, extract ventilation in bathrooms, or wind-induced air pressure fluctuations. To eliminate the risk of such vertical disease spread, the installation of protective devices is highly encouraged in high-rise buildings. Although the mechanism of vertical pathogen spread through drainage pipeline has been illustrated by tracer gas or microbial experiments and numerical modeling, more research is needed to support the update of regulatory and design standards for sewerage facilities.
dc.format	Print-Electronic
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	Elsevier
dc.relation.ispartof	Curr Opin Environ Sci Health
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.coesh.2022.100379
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess
dc.title	Vertical outbreak of COVID-19 in high-rise buildings: The role of sewer stacks and prevention measures.
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	29
utslib.location.activity	Netherlands
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology/School of Civil and Environmental Engineering
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CTWW - Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater Treatment
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access	*
pubs.consider-herdc	false
dc.date.updated	2023-03-08T23:54:45Z
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	29

Abstract:

COVID-19 outbreaks in high-rise buildings suggested the transmission route of fecal-aerosol-inhalation due to the involvement of viral aerosols in sewer stacks. The vertical transmission is likely due to the failure of water traps that allow viral aerosols to spread through sewer stacks. This process can be further facilitated by the chimney effect in vent stack, extract ventilation in bathrooms, or wind-induced air pressure fluctuations. To eliminate the risk of such vertical disease spread, the installation of protective devices is highly encouraged in high-rise buildings. Although the mechanism of vertical pathogen spread through drainage pipeline has been illustrated by tracer gas or microbial experiments and numerical modeling, more research is needed to support the update of regulatory and design standards for sewerage facilities.

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:

http://hdl.handle.net/10453/166730