From: mk_thisisit
Understanding the airborne transmission of viruses significantly changed the course of the pandemic and how it was controlled [00:00:00]. This understanding led to changes in control measures, such as emphasizing ventilation and mask usage [06:25:00].
Early Research and Challenges
For 20 years, research was conducted on the spread of viruses in particles exhaled or originating from the respiratory system [02:15:15], [02:21:00]. This research began after the SARS 1 epidemic in 2003 [02:29:00]. Numerous publications demonstrated the distribution of these particles and their behavior in the air [02:35:00].
Despite the ongoing research, securing funding for studies on removing these infectious particles from the air was nearly impossible [03:00:00]. One research application was even postponed because a reviewer stated that “transmission through the air is not possible” [03:19:00].
Pandemic Response and Impact
When the pandemic began and the WHO initially claimed the virus was not airborne, a decision was made to act [03:35:00], recognizing it was no longer an academic discussion but about “saving the world” [03:48:00]. The focus on hand disinfection was seen as inadequate given that the virus was airborne [03:57:00].
Leveraging knowledge gained over years [04:05:00], a group of scientists from various fields, including physicists and construction engineers, was organized within three days to address the issue [04:22:00], [04:35:00]. This group sent a petition to the WHO [04:52:00].
Although the WHO initially rejected the publication, it was subsequently published three months later [06:09:00], [06:16:00]. The day after its appearance, the WHO accepted it, which began to change the approach to pandemic control [06:19:00]. This led to the adoption of measures like ventilation and the use of masks to remove the virus from the air [06:28:00], undoubtedly saving many lives [06:36:00], [06:40:00].
Broader Implications: Air Quality and Health
The discussion about virus transmission also highlights the broader impacts of air quality on human health [06:52:00]. While the respiratory system is commonly associated with air pollution, there is actually no organ in the human body for which air quality does not have negative effects [07:20:00], [07:26:00].
Pollutants, whether particles or gases, penetrate the circulatory system and reach all parts of the body [07:43:00]. Air quality is a major cause of stroke [08:08:00], and air pollution can cause cancer [08:51:00]. Furthermore, it affects the reproductive system and nervous system [08:41:00].
E-cigarettes and Traditional Cigarettes
There are controversies surrounding e-cigarettes [09:01:00]. While some claim they are less dangerous, or even a transition to quitting smoking [09:56:00], others argue they are just as dangerous, if not more so, than traditional cigarettes [09:05:00], [09:09:00]. In both cases, pollutants are inhaled into the lungs, causing negative effects [09:24:00], [09:42:00]. It is difficult to say which is better or worse, as both are equally bad [10:49:00].
Aircraft Emissions
The impact of airplanes on air quality is estimated to be about 1% of total pollution [11:13:00].