Reduction of exposure to simulated respiratory aerosols using ventilation, physical distancing, and universal masking
| Autor: | Theresa Boots, Angela R. Lemons, Erik W. Sinsel, William G. Lindsley, Raymond C. Derk, Donald H. Beezhold, Walter McKinney, Jeffrey S. Reynolds, Francoise M. Blachere, Jayme P. Coyle, John D. Noti |
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| Rok vydání: | 2021 |
| Předmět: |
Masking (art)
Inhalation exposure Environmental Engineering SARS-CoV-2 Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Physical Distancing Public Health Environmental and Occupational Health Masks COVID-19 Respiratory Aerosols and Droplets Building and Construction complex mixtures Ventilation Aerosol law.invention law Air Pollution Indoor Environmental chemistry Ventilation (architecture) Breathing Humans Environmental science Exposure chamber Respiratory system |
| DOI: | 10.1101/2021.09.16.21263702 |
| Popis: | To limit community spread of SARS-CoV-2, CDC recommends universal masking indoors, maintaining 1.8 m of physical distancing, adequate ventilation, and avoiding crowded indoor spaces. Several studies have examined the independent influence of each control strategy in mitigating transmission in isolation, yet controls are often implemented concomitantly within an indoor environment. To address the influence of physical distancing, universal masking, and ventilation on very fine respiratory droplets and aerosol particle exposure, a simulator that coughed and exhaled aerosols (the source) and a second breathing simulator (the recipient) were placed in an exposure chamber. When controlling for the other two mitigation strategies, universal masking with 3-ply cotton masks reduced exposure to 0.3–3 µm coughed and exhaled aerosol particles by > 77% compared to unmasked tests, whereas physical distancing (0.9 or 1.8 m) significantly changed exposure to cough but not exhaled aerosols. The effectiveness of ventilation depended upon the respiratory activity, i.e., coughing or breathing, as well as the duration of exposure time. Our results demonstrate that a combination of administrative and engineering controls can reduce personal inhalation exposure to potentially infectious very fine respiratory droplets and aerosol particles within an indoor environment.PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONSUniversal masking provided the most effective strategy in reducing inhalational exposure to simulated aerosols.Physical distancing provided limited reductions in exposure to small aerosol particles.Ventilation promotes air mixing in addition to aerosol removal, thus altering the exposure profile to individuals.A combination of mitigation strategies can effectively reduce exposure to potentially infectious aerosols. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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