Efficacy of Portable Air Cleaners and Masking for Reducing Indoor Exposure to Simulated Exhaled SARS-CoV-2 Aerosols – United States, 2021 (Dataset)

Details

• Personal Author:
  Beezhold, Donald H. ; Blanchere, Francoise M. ; Boots T ; Brooks JT ; Coyle J ; Derk RC ; Lindsley, William G. ; Martin SB Jr. ; Mead, Kenneth R. ; Noti JD
• Description:
  SARS-CoV-2 can be spread by droplets and aerosols expelled by infected people when they cough, talk, sing, or exhale. To reduce exposure to these droplets and aerosols while indoors, CDC recommends measures including physical distancing, universal mask wearing, and room ventilation. Ventilation systems can be supplemented with portable air cleaners to remove infectious material from the air more quickly and provide greater protection. We conducted a case study using respiratory simulators to examine the efficacy of portable High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) air cleaners and universal masking at reducing exposure to simulated exhaled aerosol particles from an infected meeting participant in a conference room. We found that, in a room with good air mixing, the use of two HEPA air cleaners meeting the EPA recommended Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) reduced the overall exposure by up to 65%, and that the combination of the HEPA air cleaners and universal masking reduced exposure by up to 90%. The air cleaners were most effective when they were close to the aerosol source. Our results demonstrate that portable HEPA cleaners can be an effective method to reduce exposure to airborne particles while meeting indoors, especially in combination with universal masking. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Aerosols Communicable Diseases Occupational Health Safety Viral Diseases
• Keywords:
  Aerosol Particles Coronavirus COVID-19 Disease Transmission HEPA Filters High-efficiency Particulate Air Filters Indoor Environments Infectious Diseases SARS-CoV-2 Viral Diseases
• DOI:
  https://doi.org/10.26616/NIOSHRD-1031-2022-0
• Publisher:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Document Type:
  Dataset
• Genre:
  Research Dataset
• Place as Subject:
  Ohio ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 5 ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  HELD - Health Effects Laboratory Division ; RHD - Respiratory Health Division ; DFSE - Division of Field Studies and Engineering
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20064474
• Citation:
  Morgantown, WV: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Research Dataset RD-1031-2022-0, 2022 Feb; :dataset
• Contact Point Address:
  Allergy and Clinical Immunology Branch, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), 1000 Frederick Lane, M/S 4020, Morgantown, WV 26508-5402, Phone: 304-285-6285
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2022
• NORA Priority Area:
  Healthcare and Social Assistance ; Construction
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Source Full Name:
  Efficacy of portable air cleaners and masking for reducing indoor exposure to simulated exhaled SARS-CoV-2 aerosols - United States, 2021
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:addd6e0d1fcae97beb461b5682e0dc3f1b399335f8af4b93f883615717cfc880030e0bdda1190cfb323582e701c5a2cb294146f9927f0daf187d18ebb8ed5a7a
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/222927/cdc_222927_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 631.50 KB ]