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Assessment of Personal Exposure to Airborne SARS-CoV-2 Using Wearable PDMS Passive Air Samplers
DONG GAO, Darryl Angel, Kayley DeLay, Elizabeth Lin, Jordan Peccia, Krystal Godri Pollitt, Yale University
Abstract Number: 594
Working Group: Infectious Aerosols in the Age of COVID-19
Abstract
Exhaled respiratory droplets and aerosols can carry infectious viruses and have been recognized as an important mode of transmission for COVID-19. Virus-containing aerosols can remain suspended in the air over long distances and time. Airborne SARS-CoV-2 particles have previously been detected with active air samplers which typically draw air through a filter using a pump. Wearable passive samplers may be a more effective alternative to conventional active samplers in exposure and health effects studies, given their simplicity, low cost, and portability. In this study, we used a wearable low-cost sampling device for detecting personal SARS-CoV-2 exposure to inform individuals of their potential risk of COVID-19 infection. This device passively concentrated airborne constituents onto a polymeric membrane made of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) while being worn by an individual. The collection efficiency of virus-laden aerosol on PDMS was tested within a custom rotating drum using the Phi6 bacteriophage as a surrogate for SARS-CoV-2. To further demonstrate application of the PDMS sampler as a quantitative exposure assessment tool, the samplers were distributed in occupational groups that are potentially at high risk for infection, including healthcare workers and restaurant employees. The constituents were extracted from the PDMS after a 5-day continuous collection and analyzed for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA by Droplet Digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR). The results indicated uptake of SARS-CoV-2 by PDMS personal samplers in hospital and restaurant settings, suggesting that the PDMS-based passive sampler may serve as a useful exposure assessment tool for airborne SARS-CoV-2 in a real-world high-risk setting.