3 ms·

After you read about the Amoy Gardens and SARS1, you will no longer think of it as hyperbolic. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16696450/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nl

After you read about the Amoy Gardens and SARS1, you will no longer think of it as hyperbolic. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16696450/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16696450/ >Abstract >Recent investigations into the March 2003 outbreak of SARS in Hong Kong have concluded that environmental factors played an important role in the transmission of the disease. These studies have focused on a particular outbreak event, the rapid spread of SARS throughout Amoy Gardens, a large, private apartment complex. They have demonstrated that, unlike a typical viral outbreak that is spread through person-to-person contact, the SARS virus in this case was spread primarily through the air. High concentrations of viral aerosols in building plumbing were drawn into apartment bathrooms through floor drains. The initial exposures occurred in these bathrooms. The virus-laden air was then transported by prevailing winds to adjacent buildings at Amoy Gardens, where additional exposures occurred. This article reviews the results of the investigations and provides recommendations for maintenance and other measures that building owners can take to help prevent environmental transmission of SARS and other flulike viruses in their buildings.

Pxtl 5y ago
I assume those floor drains lacked a functional p-trap because I've read with covid that disease would spread through drains without a proper p-trap, but otherwise the p-trap prevents drains like toilets and sinks from stinking and allowing contaminated air through. P-traps can dry out though, but they stink if they do. Maybe that's what happened there? Edit: yes, that's the theory - floor drains with dry u-bends allowed the poop air out. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC539564/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC539564/
- loonster 5y ago
  It also had a cracked vent pipe. Sickness was correlated with floor level (the higher the floor level, the higher the infection rate). The important takeaway is SARS 1 had significant fecal-oral transmission and not just respiratory. And yet I'm supposed to believe that SARS 2 is respiratory only despite the fact that the government has detected SARS 2 in sewer systems, one of the early Covid symptoms is diarrhea, and SARS 1 had significant number of infections by fecal matter.
- netflixandkill 5y ago
  It seems to be a problem with older east Asian construction, I claim no specific expertise on the issue but I've observed poor p/u bend water barriers in even fairly nice buildings from the 70s and 80s in Taipei.
- bradknowles 5y ago
  They don’t allow s-traps or u-traps in new US construction, either. I believe that it’s p-traps only. Hopefully this will help.

Pxtl 5y ago

I assume those floor drains lacked a functional p-trap because I've read with covid that disease would spread through drains without a proper p-trap, but otherwise the p-trap prevents drains like toilets and sinks from stinking and allowing contaminated air through. P-traps can dry out though, but they stink if they do. Maybe that's what happened there? Edit: yes, that's the theory - floor drains with dry u-bends allowed the poop air out. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC539564/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC539564/

loonster 5y ago
It also had a cracked vent pipe. Sickness was correlated with floor level (the higher the floor level, the higher the infection rate). The important takeaway is SARS 1 had significant fecal-oral transmission and not just respiratory. And yet I'm supposed to believe that SARS 2 is respiratory only despite the fact that the government has detected SARS 2 in sewer systems, one of the early Covid symptoms is diarrhea, and SARS 1 had significant number of infections by fecal matter.
netflixandkill 5y ago
It seems to be a problem with older east Asian construction, I claim no specific expertise on the issue but I've observed poor p/u bend water barriers in even fairly nice buildings from the 70s and 80s in Taipei.
bradknowles 5y ago
They don’t allow s-traps or u-traps in new US construction, either. I believe that it’s p-traps only. Hopefully this will help.