How does relative humidity (RH) affect the viability of airborne human rhinovirus-16 (HRV-16), and what mechanism underlies this dependence?
Environ Sci Technol · 2020 · PMID 33332096 · DOI 10.1021/acs.est.0c06197
The survival of airborne common cold virus (HRV-16) is significantly higher when aerosols are in a solid, effloresced state or within a specific humidity range, compared to a liquid, deliquesced state.
The question
How does relative humidity (RH) affect the viability of airborne human rhinovirus-16 (HRV-16), and what mechanism underlies this dependence?
What they tested
The 'efflorescence/deliquescence divergent infectivity' (EDDI) model accurately predicts the RH-dependent survival of airborne human rhinovirus-16 (HRV-16).
How they did it
The efflorescence and deliquescence RH of aerosols nebulized from a protein-enriched saline carrier fluid, simulating human respiratory fluid, were measured. The RH range of the aerosols' hygroscopic hysteresis zone was found to be 38-68%. Carrier fluid containing HRV-16 was nebulized into sub-hysteresis (effloresced/solid) or super-hysteresis (deliquesced/liquid) zone air before transitioning the RH into the intermediate hysteresis zone. Surviving fractions (SFs) of the virus were measured 15 minutes post nebulization. SFs were also measured for aerosols introduced directly into the sub-hysteresis, super-hysteresis, and hysteresis zones without transition.
What they found
For transitioned aerosols in the hysteresis zone, SFs were higher for effloresced aerosols (0.17 ± 0.02) than for deliquesced aerosols (0.005 ± 0.005). For non-transitioned aerosols, SFs were 0.18 ± 0.06 in the sub-hysteresis zone, 0.05 ± 0.02 in the super-hysteresis zone, and 0.20 ± 0.05 in the hysteresis zone, showing a V-shaped SF/RH dependence.
| Effloresced (Transitioned) | 0.17 | |
|---|---|---|
| Deliquesced (Transitioned) | 0.005 | |
| Sub-Hysteresis (Non-Transitioned) | 0.18 | |
| Super-Hysteresis (Non-Transitioned) | 0.05 | |
| Hysteresis (Non-Transitioned) | 0.2 |
Surviving fractions of HRV-16 after 15 minutes in different relative humidity conditions, showing higher survival for effloresced aerosols and a V-shaped dependence for non-transitioned aerosols.
What it means
The EDDI model's prediction of enhanced survival in the hysteresis zone for effloresced carrier aerosols was confirmed. The viability of airborne HRV-16 is significantly influenced by the effloresced or deliquesced state of the aerosol, with higher survival observed when aerosols are in an effloresced state or within the hysteresis zone.
Limitations
The study used a simulated human respiratory fluid and measured survival at a single time point (15 minutes post nebulization).
The paper at a glance
| Title | Susceptibility of an Airborne Common Cold Virus to Relative Humidity |
|---|---|
| Journal | Environ Sci Technol |
| Year | 2020 |
| PMID | 33332096 ↗ |
| DOI | 10.1021/acs.est.0c06197 ↗ |
| Topic | Environment, air, water & exposures |
Read the source: PubMed record (authors, abstract, full citation) ↗ · Publisher via doi.org ↗
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Smart Humidity Monitor
Research links low indoor humidity to impaired airway mucociliary clearance and weakened innate antiviral defense, greater survival and airborne transmission of influenza and other respiratory viruses, and irritation of the eyes, skin, and airways;
Relative humidity (RH) is the amount of water vapor in the air expressed as a percentage of the maximum…
Research describes the compound or intervention studied. It is not a claim about any specific product.
Molecules & mechanisms in this paper
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Cite this page
These citations point at this summary. To cite the original paper with its full author list, use the PubMed record or doi.org.
Magellan Longevity. (2026). How does relative humidity (RH) affect the viability of airborne human rhinovirus-16 (HRV-16), and what mechanism underlies this dependence? [Plain-English summary of Environ Sci Technol 2020, PMID 33332096, DOI 10.1021/acs.est.0c06197]. Magellan Longevity. https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d33332096.html@misc{magellan_d33332096,
title = {How does relative humidity (RH) affect the viability of airborne human rhinovirus-16 (HRV-16), and what mechanism underlies this dependence?},
author = {{Magellan Longevity}},
year = {2026},
howpublished = {\url{https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d33332096.html}},
note = {Plain-English summary of PubMed PMID 33332096; DOI 10.1021/acs.est.0c06197; Environ Sci Technol 2020. Reviewed by Gabriel Radu, DO},
urldate = {2026-08-11}
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