Source avec lien : Building and Environment, 229. 10.1016/j.buildenv.2022.109920
De nombreuses maladies respiratoires, dont le COVID-19, peuvent être transmises par les aérosols expulsés par les personnes infectées lorsqu’elles toussent, parlent, chantent ou expirent. L’exposition à ces aérosols à l’intérieur peut être réduite par des unités de filtration d’air portables (purificateurs d’air). Les unités de filtration d’air faites maison ou par les bricoleurs sont une alternative populaire aux appareils commerciaux, mais les données sur les performances sont limitées. Notre étude a utilisé un modèle de haut-parleur-audience pour examiner l’efficacité de deux types populaires d’unités de filtration d’air DIY, le cube Corsi-Rosenthal et une unité de filtration d’air Ford modifiée, pour réduire l’exposition aux aérosols respiratoires simulés dans une salle de classe fictive.
Many respiratory diseases, including COVID-19, can be spread by aerosols expelled by infected people when they cough, talk, sing, or exhale. Exposure to these aerosols indoors can be reduced by portable air filtration units (air cleaners). Homemade or Do-It-Yourself (DIY) air filtration units are a popular alternative to commercially produced devices, but performance data is limited. Our study used a speaker-audience model to examine the efficacy of two popular types of DIY air filtration units, the Corsi-Rosenthal cube and a modified Ford air filtration unit, in reducing exposure to simulated respiratory aerosols within a mock classroom. Experiments were conducted using four breathing simulators at different locations in the room, one acting as the respiratory aerosol source and three as recipients. Optical particle spectrometers monitored simulated respiratory aerosol particles (0.3 μm) as they dispersed throughout the room. Using two DIY cubes (in the front and back of the room) increased the air change rate as much as 12.4 over room ventilation, depending on filter thickness and fan airflow. Using multiple linear regression, each unit increase of air change reduced exposure by 10%. Increasing the number of filters, filter thickness, and fan airflow significantly enhanced the air change rate, which resulted in exposure reductions of up to 73%. Our results show DIY air filtration units can be an effective means of reducing aerosol exposure. However, they also show performance of DIY units can vary considerably depending upon their design, construction, and positioning, and users should be mindful of these limitations.