In dentistry, fallow time is a period which allows for airborne pathogens to settle out of the air and mitigate the risk of airborne infection transmission to dental professionals and staff. The current recommendation is a one hour period.Aims and Objectives We aim to show that air purification devices are an undervalued adjunctive measure to mitigate the risk of airborne transmission of pathogens, and so reduce fallow time.Methods Using a computational fluid dynamics software, we created a virtual dental surgery, and simulated a ten-minute aerosol generating procedure. We then modelled air flow in the room with no ventilation, and then the same room with an air purifier at a throughput of 430m3 h-1, and subsequently the room with one open window providing 6 ACH and no purifier. The particles released were monitored and their behaviour and airborne time measured and collated.Results and conclusions The room with no ventilation had a total particle number at 600s of 4.5million, which required 8400s to reduce by 99%. With an open window providing 6 ACH, we obtained a value of 2500s for a 99% reduction in airborne particles, and a similar peak particle volume. Conversely, when using an air purifier throughout the procedure, the peak particle number was ten times lower than the peak number without ventilation, or with an open window, and after the particle injection 99% airborne particle reduction was achieved 60s. Our findings suggest that the use of an air purifier greatly reduces the total particle volume in the air during the aerosol generating procedure, and the fallow period needed. The values found with 6 ACH and an open window are corroborated in other literature. The use of air purification could greatly reduce the risk of infection transmission in a dental surgery.
In light of the novel coronavirus and transmission in schools, increased scrutiny has been placed on airborne viral and particulate contamination, and efforts to mitigate this have been suggested, including the use of air purification. The importance of this is increased given the relationship between increased airborne particulates and increased coronavirus transmission, as well as the significance of removing particulates in the size range of bacteria and viruses from the air. Ambient levels of pm2.5 and pm1 in the absence of purification were recorded in two classrooms of similar size using medical grade data loggers, which then measured the change in these levels with use MedicAir air purifiers. It was found that baseline levels at times doubled the WHO limits for safe IAQ- MedicAir units were able to rapidly reduce levels of particulates to significantly below guidelines. We propose that the use of these units is an effective and rapid solution for the mitigation of coronavirus transmission, as well as the improvement of IAQ in schools.
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