Children Pose Lower COVID Spread Risk Than Adults... "Emit 4 Times Less Aerosol"

"Aerosol Emission Levels Vary Significantly Among Individuals"
"Does Not Mean Going to School or Participating in After-School Activities Is Not Risky"

A child is receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. The photo is not directly related to any specific expression in the article. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] A study has found that children emit fewer aerosols when breathing or speaking compared to adults, which means they are less likely to contract or spread COVID-19.

On the 23rd (local time), according to the British daily The Guardian, Dr. Mario Fleischer of Charit? ? Universit?tsmedizin Berlin in Germany revealed in the UK journal Royal Society Interface that experiments conducted on elementary school students showed that the amount of aerosols they exhaled was only about one-quarter that of adults.

Aerosols are particles small enough to remain suspended in the air for a considerable time, and they can contain viruses. Therefore, if an infected person is in a closed space, there is a high risk of virus spread through aerosols.

The research team measured the amount and size of aerosols exhaled by 16 children aged 8 to 10 and 15 adults while at rest during breathing, speaking, singing, and shouting, using a laser particle counter.

The results showed that aerosol emissions were highest when shouting, followed by singing, speaking, and breathing. It was found that children emitted about four times fewer aerosols than adults.

The researchers stated that these findings suggest that children have a lower transmission potential for COVID-19 compared to adults.

However, the researchers explained, "There was considerable individual variation in aerosol emissions. This study does not imply that attending school or participating in after-school activities is risk-free."

Dr. Fleischer said, "To be precise, the number of aerosol particles emitted by children when singing, speaking, or breathing was on average four times less than adults, but when shouting, they emitted aerosols at levels similar to adults." He added, "Factors such as the number of children and indoor ventilation are also important, and additional research is needed to officially recommend guidelines for schools."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.