Study: Men spread more COVID particles than women or children

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A recent study shows that men more frequently spread coronavirus particles than women or children, and the reason is basic science.

The study was carried out by a team of researchers at Colorado State University who wanted to identify strategies for reducing the spread of COVID-19 during performing arts events and rehearsals, where individuals are more likely to display forced-air breathing (like singing, dancing and playing instruments) which emits more airborne particles than during regular breathing.

The team focused on measuring aerosol particles because the coronavirus is spread from person to person when an infected individual emits particles while talking or breathing.

Researchers measured respiratory aerosol particles from a panel of 63 healthy volunteers between the ages of 12 and 61 in a controlled laboratory setting. Participants were asked to sing "Happy Birthday" and read a passage from "The Caterpillar." Each exercise was repeated continuously over a period of 4 minutes.

The study found that on average, singing produced 77% more particles than talking, adults produced 62% more particles than minors, and males produced 34% more particles than females.

The differences in particle emissions between men and women, and minors and adults, are explained by two factors: voice volume and lung capacity

"The reason men tend to emit more particles is because we have bigger lungs," study author John Volckens told CBS Denver. He added that "adults tend to emit more particles than children" because their lungs are larger in size.

The study also found that those who speak at louder volumes produce more particles.

"The volume of your voice is an indicator of how much energy you're putting into your voice box. That energy translates to more particles coming out of your body. These are particles that carry the COVID-19 virus and infect other people," Volckens said.

The study supports the theory, according to the researchers, that some individuals within a population may be "superspreaders" of infectious respiratory diseases due to their physiological differences. However, the team notes that more research is needed to determine whether those individuals who emit more airborne particles are also capable of spreading higher levels of the virus.

The study "Reducing Bioaerosol Emission and Exposures in the Performing Arts: A Scientific Roadmap for a Safe Return from COVID-19" was published in Environmental Science and Technology Letters.

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