The infectious emission rate is a fundamental input parameter for airborne transmission risk assessment, but data are limited due to reliance on estimates from chance superspreading events. This study assesses the strength of a predictive estimation approach developed by the authors for SARS-CoV-2 and uses novel estimates to compare the contagiousness of respiratory pathogens. We applied the approach to SARS-CoV-1, SARS-CoV-2, MERS, measles virus, adenovirus, rhinovirus, coxsackievirus, seasonal influenza virus and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB) and compared quanta emission rate (ER_q) estimates to literature values. We calculated infection risk in a prototypical classroom and barracks to assess the relative ability of ventilation to mitigate airborne transmission. Our median standing and speaking ER_q estimate for SARS-CoV-2 (2.7 quanta h^–1) is similar to active, untreated TB (3.1 quanta h^–1), higher than seasonal influenza (0.17 quanta h^–1), and lower than measles virus (15 quanta h^–1). We calculated event reproduction numbers above 1 for SARS-CoV-2, measles virus, and untreated TB in both the classroom and barracks for an activity level of standing and speaking at low, medium and high ventilation rates of 2.3, 6.6 and 14 liters per second per person (L s^–1 p^–1), respectively. Our predictive ER_q estimates are consistent with the range of values reported over decades of research. In congregate settings, current ventilation standards are unlikely to control the spread of viruses with upper quartile ER_q values above 10 quanta h^–1, such as SARS-CoV-2, indicating the need for additional control measures.

传染性排放率是空气传播风险评估的基本输入参数，但由于依赖于偶然性超级传播事件的估计，因此数据有限。本研究评估了作者为 SARS-CoV-2 开发的预测估计方法的强度，并使用新的估计来比较呼吸道病原体的传染性。我们将该方法应用于 SARS-CoV-1、SARS-CoV-2、MERS、麻疹病毒、腺病毒、鼻病毒、柯萨奇病毒、季节性流感病毒和结核分枝杆菌(TB)，并比较了量子排放率 (ER _q) 对文献值的估计。我们计算了典型教室和军营中的感染风险，以评估通风减轻空气传播的相对能力。我们对 SARS-CoV-2 的站立和说话 ER _q估计值中位数（2.7 quanta h ^–1）与活动性、未经治疗的结核病（3.1 quanta h ^–1）相似，高于季节性流感（0.17 quanta h ^–1），并且低于比麻疹病毒 (15 quanta h ^–1 )。我们计算了教室和军营中 SARS-CoV-2、麻疹病毒和未经治疗的结核病的事件再现数高于 1，以 2.3、6.6 和 14 升/每升的低、中和高通风率站立和说话的活动水平每人秒 (L s ^–1 p^–1 )，分别。我们的预测 ER _q估计值与数十年研究报告的值范围一致。在聚集环境中，当前的通风标准不太可能控制上四分位数 ER _q值高于 10 quanta h ^–1的病毒（例如 SARS-CoV-2）的传播，这表明需要采取额外的控制措施。