How much natural ventilation rate can suppress COVID-19 transmission in occupancy zones?

IF 1.5 4区医学 Q2 MEDICINE, GENERAL & INTERNAL

Journal of Research in Medical Sciences Pub Date : 2024-02-23 eCollection Date: 2023-01-01 DOI:10.4103/jrms.jrms_796_22

Amir Nejatian, Faranak Ebrahimian Sadabad, Farshad M Shirazi, Seyed Faraz Nejati, Samaneh Nakhaee, Omid Mehrpour

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background: Previous research has emphasized the importance of efficient ventilation in suppressing COVID-19 transmission in indoor spaces, yet suitable ventilation rates have not been suggested.

Materials and methods: This study investigated the impacts of mechanical, natural, single-sided, cross-ventilation, and three mask types (homemade, surgical, N95) on COVID-19 spread across eight common indoor settings. Viral exposure was quantified using a mass balance calculation of inhaled viral particles, accounting for initial viral load, removal via ventilation, and mask filtration efficiency.

Results: Results demonstrated that natural cross-ventilation significantly reduced viral load, decreasing from 10,000 to 0 viruses over 15 minutes in a 100 m2 space by providing ~1325 m3/h of outdoor air via two 0.6 m2 openings at 1.5 m/s wind speed. In contrast, single-sided ventilation only halved viral load at best.

Conclusion: Natural cross-ventilation with masks effectively suppressed airborne viruses, lowering potential infections and disease transmission. The study recommends suitable ventilation rates to reduce COVID-19 infection risks in indoor spaces.

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多少自然通风率可以抑制 COVID-19 在居住区的传播？

背景：以往的研究强调了有效通风对抑制 COVID-19 在室内空间传播的重要性，但尚未提出合适的通风率：本研究调查了机械通风、自然通风、单侧通风、交叉通风以及三种口罩类型（自制口罩、外科口罩、N95口罩）对八种常见室内环境中 COVID-19 传播的影响。使用吸入病毒颗粒的质量平衡计算方法对病毒暴露进行量化，同时考虑初始病毒载量、通风清除量和口罩过滤效率：结果表明，在风速为 1.5 米/秒的条件下，通过两个 0.6 平方米的开口，每小时可提供约 1325 立方米的室外空气，自然交叉通风可显著降低病毒载量，在 100 平方米的空间内，15 分钟内病毒载量从 10,000 个降至 0 个。相比之下，单侧通风最多只能将病毒量减半：结论：戴口罩的自然交叉通风可有效抑制空气中的病毒，降低潜在的感染和疾病传播。研究建议采用合适的通风率来降低 COVID-19 在室内空间的感染风险。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Journal of Research in Medical Sciences MEDICINE, GENERAL & INTERNAL-

CiteScore

2.60

自引率

6.20%

发文量

审稿时长

3-6 weeks

期刊介绍： Journal of Research in Medical Sciences, a publication of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, is a peer-reviewed online continuous journal with print on demand compilation of issues published. The journal’s full text is available online at http://www.jmsjournal.net. The journal allows free access (Open Access) to its contents and permits authors to self-archive final accepted version of the articles on any OAI-compliant institutional / subject-based repository.