The dispersion of small aerosols in a concert hall is experimentally studied for estimating the risk of infection with SARS-CoV-2 during a concert. A mannequin was modified to emit an air stream containing aerosols and CO2. The aerosols have a size distribution with a peak diameter (δ) close to 0.3 µm and a horizontal initial particle velocity (vp,x ) of 2.4 m/s. The CO2 -concentration (c) emitted simultaneously is 7500 ppm. It is investigated, if the spatial dissipation of aerosols and CO2 can be correlated. This would allow the use of technically easier CO2 measurements to monitor compliance with aerosol concentration limits. Both aerosol and CO2 concentrations are mapped by different sensors placed around the mannequin. As a result, no significant enrichment of aerosols and CO2 was obtained outside a radius of 1.5 m when the fresh air ventilation in the concert hall has a steady vertical flow with a velocity of vg,z= 0.05 m/s and the installed ventilation system was operating at an air change rate per hour (ACH) of 3, corresponding to an air exchange rate of 51,000 m3/h. A Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.77 was obtained for CO2 and aerosol concentrations measured simultaneously at different positions within the concert hall.
The dispersion of aerosols was studied experimentally in several concert halls to evaluate their airborne route and thus the risk of SARS-CoV-2 spreading. For this, a dummy is used that emits simulated human breath containing aerosols with a mean diameter of 0.3 µm, and horizontal exhalation velocity of v =2.4 m/s measured 10 cm in front of the mouth as well as CO
2
. Aerosol and CO
2
concentration profiles were mapped using sensors placed around the dummy. No substantial enrichment of aerosols and CO
2
was found at adjacent seats, provided that: (1) there are floor displacement outlets under each seat enabling a minimum local fresh air vertical flow of v
v
=0.05 m/s, (2) the air exchange rate (ACH) constitutes more than 3 h
-1
, and (3) the dummy wears a surgical face mask. Knowledge of dispersion of viral droplets by airborne routes in real environment helps to establish risk assessment when re-opening concert halls and theaters after pandemic lock down.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.