# Effects of speech duration and voice volume on the respiratory aerosol particle concentration

## TL;DR

This study shows that speaking longer increases aerosol particles in the air, and some people release more particles than others.

## Contribution

The study introduces new insights on how speech duration and volume affect aerosol particle concentration and identifies potential 'super-emitters'.

## Key findings

- Speech duration positively correlates with aerosol number concentration.
- Two participants were identified as potential super-emitters based on aerosol and mass concentration.
- Voice volume and speech duration are significant factors in respiratory particle emission.

## Abstract

SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) is transmitted via infectious respiratory particles. Infectious respiratory particles are released when an infected person breathes, coughs, or speaks. Several studies have measured respiratory particle concentrations through focusing on activities such as breathing, coughing, and short speech. However, few studies have investigated the effect of speech duration.

This study aimed to clarify the effects of speech duration and volume on the respiratory particle concentration. Study participants were requested to speak at three voice volumes across five speech durations, generating 15 speech patterns. Participants spoke inside a clean booth where particle concentrations and voice volumes were measured and analyzed during speech.

Our findings suggest that as speech duration increased, the aerosol number concentration also increased. Through focusing on individual differences, we considered there might be super-emitters who emit more aerosol particles than the average human. Two participants were identified as statistical outliers (aerosol number concentration, n = 1; mass concentration, n = 1).

Considering speech duration may improve our understanding of respiratory particle concentration dynamics. Two participants were identified as potential super-emitters.

The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1265/ehpm.24-00251.