Saliva spittle

A saliva droplet or speaking droplet is a particle of saliva Maton, Anthea 1993.. Human biology and health. Prentice Hall.  involuntarily expelled from the mouth during speech, especially during vigorous articulation or the pronunciation of explosive consonants (such as /p/, /b/, /t/). These droplets, distinct from respiratory droplets, are produced by fluid dynamics in the oral cavity rather than by pulmonary exhalation.

 Characteristics and Formation 
They form when tongue movements, lip bursts, or airflow turbulence disrupt the thin saliva film coating the mouth, ejecting droplets into the air. They are of visible size to the point that theirr impact is even noticeable on the face of the person who is listening and they normaly remain as marks on the mobile phone screen when speaking hands-free

Speach droplets are typically:

 Larger (100 µm to a few mm in diameter) than respiratory aerosols (<5 µm) and often completely visible and noticeable on the skin.
 Projected short distances (usually <1 meter) due to their mass, though forceful speech can extend their range.
 Composed of saliva , oral mucus, and potential oral microbiota (e.g., Streptococcus).

 Differences from respiratory droplets 
Modern studies (Anfinrud et al., 2020) have quantified their role in disease spread, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, where masks reduced their dispersion by 99 %.
FeatureSaliva dropletsRespiratory DropletsOriginOral cavity (saliva )Lungs, bronchial tractSize100 µm to some mm (often visible)0.1–10 µm (smaller, aerosolizable)Expulsion ForceModerate (speech-dependent)High (coughing/sneezing)Disease RelevanceLow transmission risk (e.g., colds)High (COVID-19, influenza, TB)DispersionFall quickly, limited airborne timeCan remain suspended for hours
 Historical context 
The term saliva droplet appeared in medicine in the 18th century to describe saliva  projections linked to the transmission of tuberculosis . In the 19th century, actors and orators avoided explosive consonants to reduce spit on stage.

Modern studies (Anfinrud et al., 2020) have quantified their role in disease spread, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, where masks reduced their dispersion by 99 % .

 Mitigation 

 Hygiene : Hydration and lip balms reduce their formation.
 Theater : Actors use speaking techniques to minimize them.
 Physical barriers : Plexiglass ceilings block spit, but they do not block aerosols.

 Scientific research 
 Pasteur Study (2021)
 Analysis of 800 French speakers
 The consonants /p/ and /t/ produce 35% more spit than other phonemes
 Speakers in the South of France produce 20% more than those in the North.
 Public Health France Data (2020-2023)
 Contribution of droplets to contamination:
 22% in choirs
 12% in classrooms
 7% in public transport

 Related pages

 Infection

 References 

Other websites



Category:Infectious diseases