CSIR-Covid-19-Bulletin-25-August-2020

CSIR-NISCAIR
CSIR-NISCAIR
COVID-19 Bulletin
COVID-19 Bulletin
Corona Research Snapshot
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Role of particulate matter could be
multifaceted in providing surfaces for
pathogen transmission
Amid the discussions about whether SARS-
CoV-2 is airborne and what are the underlying
mechanisms behind the processes,
scientists are trying to understand the role
of particulate matter (PM) which is almost
omnipresent in different concentrations
worldwide. Scientists are still exploring the
SARS-CoV-2 survival and transmission
from air and water-borne channels and
its interactions with other environmental
factors, surfaces and chemicals. The role
of particulate matter is very important to
understand the process of coronavirus
transmission and survival. Scientists from
CSIR-NEERI, Nagpur have explored the
survival of SARS-CoV-2 in air and water and
its transmission though both the mediums.
They found an appreciable role of particulate
matter, its chemical constituents and surface
characteristics in transmission of the SARS-
CoV-2. The researchers also suggested
possible gaps in the understanding of
survival and transmission mechanism for
further research. The details of the study
have been published in Science of Total
Environment (Elsevier) after peer review.
Source: Science of Total Environment; DOI:
10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141486; 2020
Figure Courtesy: Wathore et al.; Science of Total Environment; 2020
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