A study to visualize the generation of droplets and aerosols during singing in Japanese

Expansion of droplets during speaking and singing in Japanese

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A study to visualize the generation of droplets and aerosols during singing in Japanese

Date: 31 Aug 2022

A research group led by Lecturer Hideaki Kato of the Yokohama City University Hospital Infection Prevention and Control Department observed the distance of droplets dispersed and the amount of aerosols generated during singing and vocalization in Japanese. It was observed that droplets expanded about 60 to 70 cm anteriorly and laterally during singing in Japanese, with fine aerosols produced in greater amount in the pronunciation of the vowel /u/ and syllables beginning with the consonants “k”, “t”, “h”, and “p”. The results of the study were published in PLOS ONE. (August 25, Japan time)

Key points in the findings

The flight distance of droplets during singing in Japanese was 60 to 70 cm anteriorly and laterally.
More fine aerosols are generated at the mouth of female singers than of male singers, and when pronouncing the /u/ vowel.