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Table 4 Average rate of droplets detected during respiratory hygiene/cough etiquette maneuvers in 31 participants

From: Effectiveness of cough etiquette maneuvers in disrupting the chain of transmission of infectious respiratory diseases

Size/maneuver

Sleeve

Tissue

Hand

Surgical mask

Control n = 44

N <0.5 μm

4.13E + 07

6.22E + 07

5.13E + 07

4.40E + 07

1.99E + 07

0.5 μm < N <1.0 μm

5.36E + 05

5.78E + 05

5.29E + 05

3.40E + 05

3.58E + 05

1.0 μm < N <2.5 μm

7.76E + 04

8.47E + 04

5.50E + 04

5.05E + 04

4.16E + 04

2.5 μm < N <10 μm

8.52E + 04

1.12E + 05

6.64E + 04

6.53E + 04

4.18E + 04

10 μm < N < 100 μm

4.98E + 03

6.10E + 03

4.66E + 03

6.12E + 03

2.64E + 03

N >100 μm

0

0

0

0

0

  1. Unit: # droplets/cc/second.
  2. Control: Size and number of droplets expelled by healthy non-smokers when coughing. Data acquired from an expanding unobstructed cough aerosol.
  3. CE data: The short distance from the mouth to the barrier prevents the expansion of the cough plume, and the shape of the barrier redirects a more concentrated flow across the measurement zone. The non-expanding concentrated plume would bring droplets travelling in the periphery closer to the center of the plume increasing the number of droplets accounted for.
  4. Particles deposited within the fiber network of tissues and surgical masks during the manufacturing process might be dislodged when coughing, hence increasing the number of items detected by the system.