COVID-19’s Best Friend: Low Humidity
Can coronavirus be impacted by the air we breathe?
Coronavirus is all in the news this year. As of writing, nearly 1 million people have been affected. More than 200,000 people in the United States alone are infected, followed by Italy at 110,000 and Spain at 105,000.
Yale University researchers have pinpointed a key reason why people are likely to get sick and die during the winter months: low humidity.
The seasonal cycle of respiratory viral diseases has been widely recognized for thousands of years, as annual epidemics of the common cold and influenza disease hit the human population like clockwork in the winter season in temperate regions, with an increase in disease and mortality in the winter months. Dry air combined with cold temperature is known to enable viral transmission.
The Yale research team, led by Dr Akiko Iwasaki, found that low humidity hindered the immune response of a genetically modified mouse exposed to the Influenza A virus. They also discovered a reduction in the ability of airway cells to repair damage caused by the virus in the lungs. This is significant — it offers insight as to why COVID-19 is more severe in countries with low humidity, e.g. the US and Europe, compared to those with high humidity where the cases are lower and more controlled, e.g. Malaysia and Colombia.
While humidity is not the only factor in flu outbreaks, it is an important factor that should be considered. When infected with the coronavirus, the respiratory mucosal barrier in our body loses its immune capability, allowing invading pathogens and particles to enter our bloodstream. Thus, the drier air, lower ambient humidity, impairs tissue repairs and decreases mucociliary clearance (our immune system’s ability to fight viruses).
A separate research conducted by Condair on the effects of air temperature and indoor relative humidity on COVID-19’s survival on surfaces further proves Iwasaki’s theories. The research, led by Walter Hugentobler, proves that the greatest level of virus inactivation took place at 50%RH (high humidity) while the lowest level of virus inactivation took place at 20%RH (low humidity). In other words, the drier the air, the more aggressive a virus is.
Humidity Helps in Fight Against COVID-19
Why has the novel coronavirus COVID-19 had only a minimal impact in tropical countries while temperate zone countries such as China, Italy, Iran and the United States have suffered outbreaks? Humidity, and especially indoor humidity, seems to hold the key.
According to world-leading virologists, the best defence against COVID-19 is to ramp up humidification at home and in the workplace, if humidity levels are low. Hospitals treating cases of viral respiratory infection have also advised the same.
Dr Nancy Gough of the John Hopkins University weighed in on the study by Dr Akiko Iwasaki, saying: “When the temperature drops, the heat comes on. This reduces the amount of humidity in the air. It turns out this isn’t just uncomfortable; it also impairs the innate immune system in the respiratory tract”.
What Can the Public Do?
Aside from wearing masks, social distancing, washing hands frequently, and avoiding non-essential travels, we can control the humidity in our air. And yes, thankfully some devices do this. One example is Google Nest, an electronic, programmable, and self-learning Wi-Fi-enabled thermostat that optimizes humidity and cooling of homes to conserve energy.
And… THIS Is How PiCO Home Helps!
PiCO Home is our flagship smart home device that measures the air quality around you to keep you safe. In addition to PM 2.5, PM 10, VOCs, carbon dioxide, and the temperature, it also measures the humidity. The mobile app informs you when humidity levels are too dry, thus playing a crucial role in our fight against COVID-19 in keeping your environment optimum so that the virus cannot fester!
PiCO Home is available now on Amazon.
To inquire more about Brilliant & Company, please do not hesitate to drop us a line:
- CEO / Ryan Yun / ryan.yun@brilcom.com
- Global Marketing Manager / Steve Tan / steve.tan@brilcom.com
