Indoor air hygiene and building engineering controls will be key to limiting the spread of airborne and highly contagious COVID-19 variants, along with vaccinations, masks and testing. Researchers from the Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) provided an in-depth state-of-the-science review for several key strategies to reduce the risk of airborne infection using building controls , including ventilation, filtration, airflow management, and germicidal ultraviolet (UV) light disinfection, in a recent review published in the journal Indoor Air.
“We have uncovered strong evidence that indoor environmental controls can be successful in preventing transmission. For our schools, offices and other types of indoor gathering spaces to support in-person activities, building controls must be implemented effectively and large-scale while considering operational issues and considering energy costs, according to Berkeley Lab researcher Rengie Chan.Chan and colleagues showed how different building control adjustments affected transmission risk at levels near , room-scale, and building-scale using a computer simulation spread viruses, can be largely removed from the space through ventilation or air filtration, which reduces exposure. However, respiratory aerosols can quickly mix in a space. Maintaining even 2 to 3 feet of personal space reduces considerably reduces the possibility of direct transfers from one person to another in addition to technical controls.
Many types of building controls are effective. By opening windows and improving outdoor circulation with an HVAC system, ventilation can be achieved. Using stand-alone or portable air purifiers or replacing HVAC filters to have a higher efficiency rating are two filtration options. Germicidal UV light, which is currently underutilized but has proven effective in the past in stopping the spread of measles during school outbreaks, provides inexpensive whole-room disinfection. Environmental Health Epidemiologist for the study Jacob Bueno de Mesquita said: “These viruses are carried in respiratory fluid particles undetectable to the human eye, which can remain airborne for minutes at hours and can be inhaled by those sharing the air in an indoor location.” “Reducing viral exposure through respiration is crucial. The risk of infection or the severity of any potential disease can be reduced even when viral exposure cannot be completely eradicated.
The Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy provided the majority of the funding for the study. (ANI)
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