Estimation of air change rate by CO2 sensor network in workplace with COVID-19 outbreak
Objectives: This study aimed to measure the air change per hour (ACH) in a workplace that spanned 880 m2 and had a ceiling height of 3 m. This workplace experienced clusters of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases, and the study measured ACH before and after remediation. The objective was to provide...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Japan Society for Occupational Health
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Environmental and Occupational Health Practice |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/eohp/5/1/5_2023-0007-OA/_html/-char/en |
| _version_ | 1797376652630556672 |
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| author | Shinji Yokogawa Yo Ishigaki Hiroko Kitamura Akira Saito Yuto Kawauchi Taisei Hiraide |
| author_facet | Shinji Yokogawa Yo Ishigaki Hiroko Kitamura Akira Saito Yuto Kawauchi Taisei Hiraide |
| author_sort | Shinji Yokogawa |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objectives: This study aimed to measure the air change per hour (ACH) in a workplace that spanned 880 m2 and had a ceiling height of 3 m. This workplace experienced clusters of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases, and the study measured ACH before and after remediation. The objective was to provide a quantitative estimate of ACH in various compartments. Methods: A network of CO2 sensors was set up in the workplace. The data from the sensors were analyzed using a generalized linear mixed model and dynamic time distortion to estimate the ACH in each area. Results: During the cluster outbreak, the ACH was in the range of 0.408 to 1.178/hour (p<.001), which was relatively low and likely contributed to the outbreak. Additionally, the room’s ventilation was imbalanced due to partitioning. However, the ACH improved significantly from 1.835 to 2.551/hour (p<.001) by simply opening the windows and allowing natural ventilation. Conclusions: Based on the evidence that the transmission of COVID-19 was contained following the enhancement of ventilation, an ACH rate of below 2/hour was the primary factor in developing COVID-19 clusters within the facility under investigation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T19:41:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9f6da862a8a9403bb970c1d36adab425 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2434-4931 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T19:41:43Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | Japan Society for Occupational Health |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Environmental and Occupational Health Practice |
| spelling | doaj.art-9f6da862a8a9403bb970c1d36adab4252023-12-24T23:14:43ZengJapan Society for Occupational HealthEnvironmental and Occupational Health Practice2434-49312023-12-015110.1539/eohp.2023-0007-OAeohpEstimation of air change rate by CO2 sensor network in workplace with COVID-19 outbreakShinji Yokogawa0Yo Ishigaki1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7284-0381Hiroko Kitamura2https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5106-7094Akira Saito3Yuto Kawauchi4Taisei Hiraide5Info-Powered Energy System Research Center (i-PERC), University of Electro-communications, JapanResearch Center for Realizing Sustainable Societies, University of Electro-communications, JapanOccupational Health Training Center, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan, JapanMiyagi Anti-Tuberculosis Association, JapanGraduate School of Informatics and Engineering, University of Electro-communications, JapanSchool of Informatics and Engineering, University of Electro-communications, JapanObjectives: This study aimed to measure the air change per hour (ACH) in a workplace that spanned 880 m2 and had a ceiling height of 3 m. This workplace experienced clusters of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases, and the study measured ACH before and after remediation. The objective was to provide a quantitative estimate of ACH in various compartments. Methods: A network of CO2 sensors was set up in the workplace. The data from the sensors were analyzed using a generalized linear mixed model and dynamic time distortion to estimate the ACH in each area. Results: During the cluster outbreak, the ACH was in the range of 0.408 to 1.178/hour (p<.001), which was relatively low and likely contributed to the outbreak. Additionally, the room’s ventilation was imbalanced due to partitioning. However, the ACH improved significantly from 1.835 to 2.551/hour (p<.001) by simply opening the windows and allowing natural ventilation. Conclusions: Based on the evidence that the transmission of COVID-19 was contained following the enhancement of ventilation, an ACH rate of below 2/hour was the primary factor in developing COVID-19 clusters within the facility under investigation.https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/eohp/5/1/5_2023-0007-OA/_html/-char/enaerosolized particles and dropletsbuilt environmentsars-cov-2 |
| spellingShingle | Shinji Yokogawa Yo Ishigaki Hiroko Kitamura Akira Saito Yuto Kawauchi Taisei Hiraide Estimation of air change rate by CO2 sensor network in workplace with COVID-19 outbreak Environmental and Occupational Health Practice aerosolized particles and droplets built environment sars-cov-2 |
| title | Estimation of air change rate by CO2 sensor network in workplace with COVID-19 outbreak |
| title_full | Estimation of air change rate by CO2 sensor network in workplace with COVID-19 outbreak |
| title_fullStr | Estimation of air change rate by CO2 sensor network in workplace with COVID-19 outbreak |
| title_full_unstemmed | Estimation of air change rate by CO2 sensor network in workplace with COVID-19 outbreak |
| title_short | Estimation of air change rate by CO2 sensor network in workplace with COVID-19 outbreak |
| title_sort | estimation of air change rate by co2 sensor network in workplace with covid 19 outbreak |
| topic | aerosolized particles and droplets built environment sars-cov-2 |
| url | https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/eohp/5/1/5_2023-0007-OA/_html/-char/en |
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