  This contribution exploits the duality between a viral infection process and
macroscopic air-based molecular communication. Airborne aerosol and droplet
transmission through human respiratory processes is modeled as an instance of a
multiuser molecular communication scenario employing respiratory-event-driven
molecular variable-concentration shift keying. Modeling is aided by experiments
that are motivated by a macroscopic air-based molecular communication testbed.
In artificially induced coughs, a saturated aqueous solution containing a
fluorescent dye mixed with saliva is released by an adult test person. The
emitted particles are made visible by means of optical detection exploiting the
fluorescent dye. The number of particles recorded is significantly higher in
test series without mouth and nose protection than in those with a wellfitting
medical mask. A simulation tool for macroscopic molecular communication
processes is extended and used for estimating the transmission of infectious
aerosols in different environments. Towards this goal, parameters obtained
through self experiments are taken. The work is inspired by the recent outbreak
of the coronavirus pandemic.
