Environmental pollution
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Environmental pollution · May 2021
ReviewThe role of respiratory droplet physicochemistry in limiting and promoting the airborne transmission of human coronaviruses: A critical review.
Whether virulent human pathogenic coronaviruses (SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2) are effectively transmitted by aerosols remains contentious. Transmission modes of the novel coronavirus have become a hot topic of research with the importance of airborne transmission controversial due to the many factors that can influence virus transmission. Airborne transmission is an accepted potential route for the spread of some viral infections (measles, chickenpox); however, aerosol features and infectious inoculum vary from one respiratory virus to another. ⋯ Nevertheless, laboratory nebulized virus-laden aerosols might not accurately model the complexity of human carrier aerosols in studying airborne viral transport. In summary, there is disagreement on whether wild coronaviruses can be transmitted via an airborne path and display seasonal patterns. Further studies are therefore required to provide supporting evidence for the role of airborne transmission and assumed mechanisms underlying seasonality.
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Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic metal found in tobacco, air and food. Recent cross-sectional studies have suggested that Cd negatively impacts physical performance, but the prospective association is uncertain. ⋯ Our results support the role of Cd as a risk factor for physical function impairments in older adults.