TORONTO A new study has found that air purifiers used in elevators and other confined spaces may actually do more harm than good in limiting the spread of COVID-19. While air purifiers could be expected to help reduce transmission, researchers from the University of Nicosia in Cyprus report that air purifiers in compact areas actually increase saliva droplet dispersal of airborne viruses.
According to the study, air quality in small spaces can quickly degrade without proper ventilation. However, researchers found that adding ventilation increased the rate at which potentially infected air can circulate in the small space. Manufacturers have added air purifiers in elevators to help take care of this problem, but researchers say the systems are not designed to account for their effect on overall air circulation.
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VIDEO: The video shows the velocity contour isosurfaces and droplet spread inside an elevator when using an air purifier. The air purifier increases the droplet spread because the air intake integrated. view more
Credit: Talib Dbouk and Dimitris Drikakis
WASHINGTON, January 26, 2021 The positions of air inlets and outlets in confined spaces, such as elevators, greatly affect airborne virus transmission. In
Physics of Fluids, by AIP Publishing, researchers from University of Nicosia in Cyprus show while air purifiers would be expected to help, they may actually increase the spread.
Air quality in small spaces can quickly degrade without ventilation. However, adding ventilation will increase the rate at which air, possibly laden with viruses, can circulate in the small space. Elevator manufacturers have added air purifiers to take care of this problem, but the systems have not been designed to account for their effect on overall air circulation.
In confined spaces, air purifiers may actually aid the spread of COVID-19
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New research suggests that in some environs such as elevators letting air remain somewhat stagnant, rather than adding purifiers or other air circulation systems. Photo by nakataza02/Pixabay
Jan. 26 (UPI) In especially confined spaces, like an elevator, air purifiers may actually do more harm than good in the fight against airborne viral transmission.
Since the beginning of the global pandemic, health officials have warned of the dangers of viral transmission in confined spaces where air circulation is limited.
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In hospitals, powerful ventilation and air purification systems ensure air a regularly cleaned and recycled to prevent the accumulation and spread of viral aerosols. Similarly, in airplanes, air is constantly recycled to minimize the viral transmission.