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Can COVID-19 be measured in the air?
At present, it is impossible to measure COVID-19 easily and accurately in the air, but it is possible to analyze CO2 and aerosols in the air. These two factors are important in estimating the presence of COVID-19 in the air. Aerosols are the means by which viruses travel. The higher the aerosol level, the more ways the virus can circulate… CO2 measurement offers a cost-effective solution for classifying the current risk of potentially infectious aerosols. If we’re in a room with several people, measuring CO2 concentration gives a measure of the percentage of the air we’re inhaling that consists of air that has already been exhaled by other people. The mass balance shows that a measured CO2 concentration of around 1,200 ppm (parts per million) means that almost 2% of the air in the room has already been in contact with the lungs at least once.
CO2 measurements are a good indicator for opening windows and ventilating rooms.
What air quality parameters can reduce the risk of COVID-19 contamination?
As explained above, CO2 plays an important role in reducing the risk of COVID-19 contamination. Indeed, the higher the CO2 level, the more droplets are present in the air that can carry the virus and contaminate people in the room. When CO2 levels are high, it’s very important to ventilate via windows to reduce CO2 levels and, by the same token, the number of droplets.
To find out more: How can measuring CO2 from a sensor effectively combat virus transmission?
Is there a link between air quality, pollution and transmission of COVID-19?
In the spring of 2020, a team of Italian scientists and a person from Grenoble observed a higher number of infections in the Lombardy region than in the rest of Italy. They discovered a link between poor air quality and coronavirus circulation. In fact, the study showed that the virus settles on pollution particles because they are perfectly formed for the coronavirus to feel at home in and be transported by air. These particles are so well adapted that they also enable the coronavirus to be protected from UV rays, thereby staying alive longer.
Why is there less risk of contamination in open spaces than inside buildings?
The risk of contamination in enclosed spaces is higher simply because there is no air renewal or movement. Walls and ceilings “trap” air. As a result, the air becomes loaded with CO2 and thus with virus-carrying particles, which remain in the air. Outdoors, the air circulates and so do the particles, so they don’t have time to carry the virus. And if they were to carry a virus, they would immediately circulate upwards, especially in hot weather.
Go further: How can I purify the air in my business and commercial premises against viruses, bacteria and COVID?
