Owner of Eco Earth Sciences says new devices ‘act as the room’s lungs’ to help protect against COVID-19 and ‘should be in schools and they should be in offices’

The owner of a local company says two new devices will help create “the best possible indoor air quality” and aid in the fight against COVID-19.

Orillia resident Patrick Kehoe is CEO of Eco Earth Sciences, which worked with production partner Reversomatic Manufacturing Ltd. to create Auroris and PlasmaSphere — two devices that work together to “dramatically improve indoor air quality while significantly lowering the risk of COVID-19 spread.”

“We were guided by nature, and we essentially turned the inside out,” Kehoe said. “While the preoccupation has been on attempting to purify or resuscitate stale, contaminated indoor air, we turned our attention to creating the best possible indoor air quality experience while continuously targeting and removing the threat.”

While many pathogens require a pathway to filters and other devices, the two new ones from Eco Earth Sciences “target viruses and other airborne contaminants at their source.”

“It’s the most effective way to address it,” Kehoe said.

Auroris “effectively acts as the room’s lungs,” he said, “allowing indoor spaces to breathe, continuously delivering fresh air directly into a room while continuously removing stale, contaminated air.

“To further improve the quality of the air, advanced three-stage purification ensures the freshest indoor air experience possible.”

PlasmaSphere then purifies incoming air, before “enriching the plasma energy levels of the fresh incoming air.”

In 2020, Eco Earth Sciences modified a weed-killing device to sterilize surfaces as a way to prevent COVID-19 spread.

Auroris and PlasmaSphere are also targeting the virus, Kehoe said, adding it is a timely development.

“We’re going to be dealing with this virus for a while. The business community needs assurances that they can continue to operate. Customers want assurances that they’re not going to be at risk in those venues,” he said.

The devices “should be in schools and they should be in offices,” he added.

In a news release, the company stated the two devices can “also operate independently, complementing and enhancing the performance of all existing systems and can be used regardless of HVAC system type or age.”

More information about the devices can be found here.

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Originally Appeared Here

Y

ou don’t have to be an interiors geek to notice a sea change at IKEA. The Swedish brand, best known for its affordable flat pack furniture, has been teaming up with other brands for sell-out collaborations: think Byredo candles in late 2020, integrated Sonos speakers masquereding in picture frames, and a limited-edition Zandra Rhodes collection.

It’s also launching more Smart furniture options to make the most of your space – a welcome thing for the capital’s space-squeezed residents.

One of the latest products to join the IKEA catalogue is the STARKVIND side table which combines a handy place to set your cuppa with an air purifier underneath that will scrub pollutants clean from your personal space.

IKEA

It’s a timely launch: London’s air quality is notoriously bad. You may not notice it day in day out, but one trip beyond the M25 is all it takes to sniff out and confirm this fact. It’s even worse news if you live or work in Zone 1: central London is one of the most polluted places in the entire country.

While steps are being made to cut the city’s pollution, getting a personal air purifier is a great way to eliminate any nasties wafting in at home. Not to mention damp from drying wet clothes over radiator, cooking smells and extinguished candle smoke.

READ MORE

The STARKVIND comes in dark brown and light oak veneer options – great neutrals that are bound to integrate into any interiors scheme.

IKEA

Setting up the STARKVIND air purifier

First impressions upon opening the box are undeniably daunting and IKEA’s infamous instructions never really help, but after a short study, I was able to get the table up on its feet. Keen DIYers will find it a breeze. The trickiest part is working out how the filters fit (don’t throw anything out until you’re sure you’ve nailed it) but once done, it’s simply a matter of switching it on for the purifier to get to work.

IKEA

STARKVIND modes

There are five fan speeds, but save yourself a lot of head-scratching and set the unit to auto mode. The STARKVIND will seek out particles and adjust the fan speed accordingly – see, told you it was smart. It works most efficiently in closed rooms that measure 20sqm or smaller, so one for bedrooms and lounges. The filter is made to get rid of around 99.5 per cent of smaller airborne particles such as PM2.5 particle pollutants as well as dust and pollen, a lifesaver come hayfever season.

IKEA

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A considerate machine

It’s not noisy either. The lowest fan speed is 24/24 dB (barely audible), while the highest reaches 51/53 dB, around the same as the hum of a fridge, so you can easily sleep with it running in the background. The LED light shuts off too so as not to disturb your shuteye.

Design-wise we appreciated the groove inside one of the legs to hold the purifier’s cable and reduce unsightly clutter. But the really clever design element are the grooves on underside lip of the table top that directs accidentally spilled liquid onto drop on the floor, away from the unit’s fan.

IKEA

Make it Smarter

It’s best used paired with the TRÅDFRI gateway, £25, which connects with the IKEA Home smart app so you can watch your home pollution levels plummet on your phone. There is a certain pleasure to be derived from watching those numbers fall; your sigh of happiness will be all the cleaner for it. The app also allows you to set timers and sends filter check alerts: IKEA recommends they are replaced every six months.

IKEA

Verdict

At £165, the STARKVIND certainly doesn’t come cheap, but as a multifunctional, genuinely useful piece of Smart furniture, we’re all for it. It’s your white knight to keeping the room feeling fresh over the winter months, and to clean the air when summer breezes bring in all sorts of nasties, making it a sound investment in your indoor air quality.

You can get the STARKVIND without the table frame (£129, it comes propped up on legs) but when a piece of furniture fits in this seamlessly, why bother with anything else?

£165 | IKEA

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Axios on facebookAxios on twitterAxios on linkedinAxios on emailIllustration: Eniola Odetunde/Axios

The Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport has been trying to step it up lately, with rebranding, new construction, and adding a slew of new direct flights over the past few years.

Details: XNA’s Operations Committee met Wednesday and gave updates on several of the airport’s projects:

• Work on a new $2.1 million maintenance building started this month and is expected to be completed in May.
• A taxiway renovation is set to start in March and be completed in December. Federal Aviation Administration grants will fund the $10 million project.
• Gate projects, such as adding a gate and buying a passenger boarding bridge, are on deck for April through December. The cost is $5.2 million.
• Indoor air quality improvements are expected to cost $745,000. They are set for April through August.

What’s next: XNA has other projects up its sleeve for this year, including:

• Pavement maintenance. $1 million
• Entrance monument signs. $400,000
• Airfield pavement repairs. $300,000
• Runway shoulder reseal. $$350,000
• Electric vehicle charging stations. $78,000
• Vestibule door replacement at the east and west entrances. $75,000
• Adding Einstein’s Bagels inside the airport. $20,000
• Traffic control signage. $20,000
• New air traffic control tower. Cost estimates should come in in April.

Of note: The new skybridge that will connect the parking deck to the second floor of the terminal is on hold for now. It will be bid out in conjunction with the lobby renovation, which includes baggage claim improvements.

What to watch: The airport is also a step closer to purchasing land for future expansion.

• The Operations Committee voted to recommend that the full board approve the purchase of 83 acres off of Northeast Pinalto Road, bordering existing airport property to the northwest, for $1.4 million.
• The committee also gave its blessing to purchase about 21 acres that border existing airport property to the southwest. The exact price is TBD.

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Originally Appeared Here

“Most people believe that all HVAC units function the same way, and that isn’t the case,” said Cody Dampf, service manager and comfort consultant at Innovative Air Pros. “Technology has evolved, and there are several options that provide additional benefits for homeowners. We keep an eye on the latest air quality solutions to stay in front of the everchanging industry. We invest in the latest technology to improve IAQ and increase savings for our customers.”

To improve a home’s defense against biological pollutants, UV germicidal lights and UV air sanitizers are an excellent and reliable choice for homeowners. Germicidal lights are designed to eliminate biological pollutants before they have a chance to enter a home by damaging the cell structure of the bacteria. These easy to install lights disinfect your home’s air to create a healthier indoor environment.

For an extra layer of IAQ protection, homeowners can also install air sanitizers. These can help sterilize air by removing up to 99.9% of harmful pathogens in a home. For those that suffer from chronic respiratory conditions, this can be helpful by creating a better breathing environment.

“While the work environment is returning to normal for many, there are still some people who have to work from home,” Dampf said. “These individuals are beginning to realize the air inside their home isn’t as comfortable as they thought. Because they are spending more time indoors, clean air has become an area of focus for homeowners. The germicidal lights and air sanitizers eliminate many of the harmful contaminants that cause air to feel uncomfortable.”

For an opportunity to improve air quality and create instant savings, the home air conditioner is the best place to start. Inverter technology is an innovation that many residents haven’t heard about but should consider for increased savings.

In air conditioners with inverter technology, the temperature is adjusted by changing motor speed without turning the motor on and off. This helps eliminate wasted operation and reduces the amount of energy used to help save money.

“At Innovative Air Pros, we embraced the technology revolution by offering advanced solutions that create a better overall experience for the homeowner,” Dampf said. “We know that our customers expect space age comfort, and we provide that by emphasizing solutions that others in the industry don’t provide.”

For more information on Innovative Air Pros or their products, visit https://innovativeairpros.com/.

About Innovative Air Pros
Open since 2016, Innovative Air Pros specializes in heating, cooling and indoor air quality services while serving the residents of Tulsa, Oklahoma. The team of expert technicians is dedicated to providing the highest quality services while installing, repairing and servicing the most energy-efficient state-of-the-art systems. With trained and certified pros, Innovative Air Pros will always recommend the best solutions for home HVAC needs. For more information, visit https://innovativeairpros.com/.

MEDIA CONTACT: 
Heather Ripley
Ripley PR
865-977-1973
[email protected]

SOURCE Innovative Air Pros

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Originally Appeared Here

Lawrenceville, GA – Vanguard is pleased to announce that we have received the UL Greenguard Gold certification for our SVR5D, VK300D, and VKM600 UV LED inkjet ink sets.

Products that have achieved GREENGUARD Certification are scientifically proven to meet some of the world’s most rigorous third-party chemical emissions standards, helping to reduce indoor air pollution and the risk of chemical exposure.

Detailed information on the certification can be found here: https://www.ul.com/resources/ul-greenguard-certification-program 

By choosing our ink sets that are GREENGUARD certified, you are creating a healthier indoor environment for your office and reducing chemical exposure. GREENGUARD Certification Standards are among the most rigorous in the world, so you can be confident that these certified products live up to their claims.

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Originally Appeared Here

Small coronavirus respiratory particles can remain moist and airborne for a longer time and at greater distance than scientists have thought so far.

Scientists at the US Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory estimates that droplets encased in mucus could remain moist for up to 30 minutes and travel up to about 200 feet.

“There are reports of people becoming infected with a coronavirus downwind of an infected person or in a room several minutes after an infected person has exited that room,” said Leonard Pease, the corresponding author of the study.

“The idea that enveloped virions may remain well hydrated and thus fully infective at substantial distances is consistent with real-world observations. Perhaps infectious respiratory droplets persist longer than we have realised,” Pease added.

The findings were published in the journal International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer.

The team analysed the mucus that coats the respiratory droplets that people spew from their lungs. Scientists know that mucus allows many viruses to travel further than they otherwise would, enabling them to journey from one person to another.

Conventional wisdom has been that very small, aerosolised droplets of just a few microns, like those produced in the lungs, dry out in air almost instantly, becoming harmless. But the team found that mucus changes the equation.

The team found that the mucus shell that surrounds respiratory droplets likely reduces the evaporation rate, increasing the time that viral particles within the droplets are kept moist.

Since enveloped viruses like SARS-CoV-2 have a fatty coating that must be kept moist for the virus to be infectious, the slower evaporation allows viral particles to be infectious longer.

“While there have been many factors proposed as variables in how Covid spreads,” said Pease, “mucus remains largely overlooked.”

The focus on mucus also helped the team, in a separate study published in the journal Indoor Air, to address how the virus moves in a multiroom office building.

In the study, Chemist Carolyn Burns created artificial, respiratory-like droplets to study how the particles moved from room to room.

The scientists found that both low and high levels of filtering were effective at reducing levels of respiratory droplets in all rooms.

The team also found that increasing ventilation rapidly reduced particle levels in the source room.

But particle levels in the other connected rooms jumped immediately; levels spiked 20 to 45 minutes later with vigorous air changes increasing the spike.

Ultimately, after the initial spike, levels of droplets in all the rooms gradually dropped after three hours with filtration and after five hours without it.

The scientists noted that increased air exchange for crowded spaces may be beneficial in certain situations, like large conferences or school assemblies, but in normal work and school conditions, it may actually increase transmission rates throughout all rooms of a building.

“If you’re in a downstream room and you’re not the source of the virus, you probably are not better off with more ventilation,” said Pease.

–IANS

rvt/dpb

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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Originally Appeared Here

Thursday, 17 February 2022, 4:12 pm
Press Release: Big Blue

With
COVID-19 impacting at least 250 schools and early childhood
centres, the Ministry of Education needs to take urgent
action to protect children and teachers, says indoor air
safety technology expert Big Blue.

“Now, more than
ever, the Ministry of Education should be installing world
leading air safety technology to ensure classrooms are as
safe as possible for our children,” said Big Blue Managing
Director Paul Wiggans.

“These numbers are alarming
and are bound to increase rapidly from here if today’s
record overall case numbers are anything to go
by.

“The more children who have to go home to
isolate, the more parents will have to juggle family and
work – that has real social and economic impacts in our
communities and workplaces.

“In our view, the
Ministry’s response to date to supply only 500 air filter
units to some schools in March and more apparently arriving
in June this year just isn’t good enough. These units
aren’t even that effective when it comes to combating
airborne viral transmission – CDC infection control
guidelines show that even at eight air changes an hour it
would take an air filter 35 minutes to reduce contaminants
by 99%. ActivePure Technology is different because it
operates in the air around you so is not reliant on air
filtration.

“It’s clear the Ministry needs to take
urgent action, reset and invest now to protect our kids,
teachers, and wider communities. We had raised this with the
Ministry back in July last year. It’s clear we need to do
a far better job when the technology is readily
available.”

Big Blue is the exclusive New Zealand
supplier of ActivePure indoor air safety units, technology
originally developed by NASA and proven to actively combat
pathogens in the air and on surfaces, including specific
testing against the virus that causes COVID-19, rather than
relying on passive air filtration, providing greater
protection in indoor spaces.

“We could supply 1,500
ActivePure units today to the Ministry of Education if we
got the green light, and enough for every classroom in New
Zealand by mid-April.

“These are already used widely
in New Zealand by other government agencies, public and
private hospitals, and a wide range of businesses and
organisations. Right now ActivePure units are protecting one
of our Super Rugby teams in Queenstown and our Olympic
athletes in Beijing.

“If it’s good enough for
professional athletes, hospitals, offices, hotels, and many
others, why are we not using this proven world leading
technology to protect our most precious asset, our
tamariki?

“New Zealand children deserve better, and
we stand ready to support the Ministry of Education to give
our schools and our children the protection they need at
this critical time,” said Paul
Wiggans.

© Scoop Media

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Originally Appeared Here

1 INTRODUCTION

Hypoxemia and cough are the main symptoms among patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19), and hypoxemia is the primary reason for hospital admission. Oxygen therapy is the mainstay therapy for treating hypoxemia. Although our research group previously designed and reported an oxygen mask aimed at isolating infected patients,1 that kind of mask must be tightly fitted to the patient’s face, is limited to short-term use, and is not suitable for long-term use.

High-flow oxygen through nasal cannula therapy (HFNC) is widely used and has become a vital treatment for bridging low-flow oxygen therapy with tracheal intubation therapy among hospitalized patients with deteriorating respiratory function.2, 3 HFNC uses a nasal cannula without a tightly fitted mask and is associated with increased patient-reported comfort and a reduction in the severity of dyspnea;this treatment is suitable for long-term use.4 HFNC is recommended for use in well-ventilated negative pressure rooms with attending healthcare professionals equipped with complete personal protective equipment. Furthermore, many researchers have recommended that surgical masks (SMs) be placed over the nasal cannula to reduce aerosol dispersion.5

However, aerosol infection control within HFNC, which even recent reports have pointed out is not an aerosol-generating procedure but is rather an aerosol dispersion procedure,6, 7 has not yet been established.8, 9

Patients often cough (thereby producing aerosols) during HFNC, and dispersion during HFNC could increase the risk of aerosolization of additional viral droplets; this poses a danger to all who are present during the procedure, even when adhering to current recommendations,10, 11 Adding protective isolation measures may reduce aerosol exposure, thereby enhancing the protection of healthcare professionals directly and patients indirectly, and likely reducing the risk of nosocomial infections.12

Although many barrier devices (including devices both without and with negative pressure in the barrier) have been reported in the literature, few barrier devices are suitable for HFNC, and aerosol infection control procedures during HFNC have not yet been established.13

In this study, we hypothesized that a novel combination of semi-closed barrier devices (SBs) with a personalized exhaust (PE) can provide additional protection for healthcare professionals without negative pressure inside. We examined the function of three protective isolation measures (an SB, a PE, and an SM) as well as a combination of the three measures in a single cough simulator model applied to HFNC; the effectiveness of each modality and combination was quantified using particle counters and laser airflow visualization.

2 MATERIALS AND METHODS

2.1 Study design

High-flow oxygen through nasal cannula with an airflow of 60 L/m administered through a nasal prong was performed on a single cough simulator manikin to investigate aerosol leakage to the surroundings. Using this aerosol-generating simulator, we examined the effects of three isolation measures implemented to prevent leakage (an SB, a PE, and an SM), measured via an isolation function based on measurement counts and visualization of aerosols.

We implemented a prospective, repeated-measures study design. This investigation was divided into two phases. In Phase 1, we tested the isolation function (ie, the effectiveness of the isolation measures for containing aerosols generated inside the device and in preventing leakage to the bedside space) for three protective isolation measures (an SB, a PE, and an SM) individually and in combination, as well as with and without HFNC. Sixteen different combinations of the three measures under HFNC or non-HFNC conditions were selected randomly. In Phase 2, we tested the isolation function by visualizing aerosols using a red laser sheet under 12 different combinations of the three protective isolation measures under HFNC conditions with a 1 or 2 L simulated cough.

2.2 Setting

The tests were conducted in a simulation center room (floor area: 11.1 m2, height: 2.4 m, volume: 26.5 m3) at a university teaching hospital; the door to the simulation room was closed.

To avoid the effect of airflow produced by sources other than HFNC, the air conditioner, which does not have ventilation function, was turned off during the test (during breaks within the test, the air conditioner for temperature control and PE [described later in Methods] with the air purifier for active room air change were, however, turned on).

We conducted the test in a room with a temperature set to 24.3–25°C and a humidity of 55–59%.

2.3 Cough simulation

A simulator manikin (ALS simulator; Laerdal Medical) lay supine at a 10° inclination on a hospital bed, with its head tilted slightly to the right. The manikin mimicked single cough-emitted aerosols; a 1 L capacity aerosol stored in a 2 L volume calibration syringe (Minato Medical Science) was discharged with free fall of the cylinder from the oral cavity through a 7.5 mm tracheal intubation tube reversely intubated from the front neck of the simulator manikin (Figure 1C). Aerosol generators (Laskin Nozzle Generator 6D, Air Techniques International) were used to generate 0.3–10 µm of oil-based hydrogenated 1-decene homopolymer (PAO-4) test aerosol. We measured the resulting distribution of aerosols via a six-channel particle counter (Airborne Particle Counter PP8306, Particles Plus, Tokyo, Japan) (Figure 1D). The distribution of aerosols is similar to an active cough as described in the literature.14

(A) Air purifier and a home drying rack. (B) A ventilator for high-flow oxygen through nasal cannula therapy (HFNC), three particle counters (0.4, 0.6, and 1.5 m away from the manikin’s mouth), a rack, and a soft screen sheet. (C) Schematic of a single cough simulator manikin mimicking single cough-emitted aerosols. We trapped aerosols in 2 L volume calibration syringes, then discharged them from the oral cavity through a 7.5 mm tracheal intubation tube reversely intubated from the front of the neck of the simulator manikin with free fall of the piston. (D) Size distribution of aerosols at the manikin’s mouth

The generator was active for approximately 2 s at the priming 2 L cylinder. We trapped aerosols in the syringes and made a reproducible flow via a naturally vertically falling piston (1.2 s at 1 L, 2.4 s at 2 L) to simulate single cough-emitted aerosols; 1 L is the middle range for cough expiratory volume in healthy volunteers.15

2.4 High-flow oxygen through nasal cannula

We conducted HFNC with a Hamilton 6C (Hamilton Medical AG) nasal cannula (Fisher & Paykel, size M, Figure 1C). We did not operate a humidifier to prevent aerosols from being added to the environment of the study setting.

2.5 Semi-closed barrier device

The SB was provided along with mobile telescopic home drying racks (DCM, TM H18-MH1417; width 860–1420 mm, height 1150–1780 mm, depth 460–815 mm), which are reusable after wiping for sterilization, as well as soft translucent polyethylene sheets (2.5 m × 3 m) fixed with clips. We installed the sheet such that its edges were lower than the bed floor (Figure 1C), allowing medical professionals to approach patients easily by inserting their forearms for care or treatment (such as providing dietary assistance to patients and collecting blood samples). The volume of the SB over the bed surface was 0.8 m3.

Although many types of barrier devices have been reported on in the literature,13 we chose to investigate the SB that has been used in the emergency room of our hospital since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. To prevent aerosol dispersion, many barrier devices, including closed, semi-closed, and semi-open devices mainly designed for short-term use (eg, tracheal intubation, endoscopy, and tracheostomy), are necessary to create a tight seal and suction to increase the isolation effect through negative pressure.16-18 However, a tight seal may increase the risk of hypercarbia as well as cause difficulties for healthcare professionals in terms of treating and caring for patients.19 Fidler et al.17 found increased aerosol leakage through arm apertures with a tighter seal on the opposite side of the barrier device. In contrast, our SB allows leakage from the bottle edge of the transparent soft area around the bed edge, avoiding aggregating leakage through the space opened by inserting forearms under a soft transparent barrier sheet.

2.6 Personalized exhaust

Yang et al. reported on a PE as an air distribution method targeting the microenvironment around the human body; this method is used to prevent cross-infection in open areas without producing negative pressure (that is, preventing the transmission of exhaled contaminated air via suction at 10–20 L/s, which is equivalent to 600–1200 L/min).20, 21 A PE works by extracting air locally and does not cause negative pressure if the contaminated air is expelled from the room and balanced with supply airflow. 20, 21 In this study, we used an air purifier with a HEPA filter (Niti-on, Figure 1A) for a PE. Exhausted air was expelled outside the room to change room air and to avoid air turbulence inside the room. The air purifier was evacuated at an air volume of 33.3 L/s (2000 L/min) and an air speed of 4.3 m/s from a 10-cm diameter suction hole installed 0.5 m above the head for gas exhaust around the upper body of the manikin. This exhaust (air change) volume is equivalent to 4.53 air changes per hour (ACH) of the room (26.5 m3 volume) and 150 ACH of SB volume (0.8 m3). We set a larger exhaust volume compared with that reported by Yang et al.,20 as the semi-closed structure allows extensive volume work without producing negative pressure by extracting air locally, balanced with airflow supply outside the SB and accelerating air change inside.

2.7 Phase 1: Isolation function test

2.7.1 Measurement of aerosols with particle counters

We set a particle counter (PP8303; Particles Plus) at 0.4 m, with two other identical particle counters placed 0.6 m and 1.5 m away from manikin’s mouth at a 0.8 m height from the floor (Figure 1C). We recorded particle concentrations for 30 s periods at three points (0.4 m, 0.6 m, and 1.5 m). The second location simulates the location of a healthcare professional’s face while attending a patient. We also recorded the temperature and barometric pressure at each of the three points. Airborne particle counters, typically used for indoor air quality testing in semiconductor clean rooms, laboratories, and operating rooms, use laser diodes and photodetectors to count particles by collecting scattered light from particles as they pass through sample inlets. To investigate the dispersal of cough-emitted aerosols during HFNC, we recorded concentrations of 0.3, 1, and 5 μm particles per cubic foot continuously with synchronized data loggers. The measured particle size was ≤5 μm; envelopes <5–10 µm in diameter are not called droplets but are rather called airborne particles or infectious droplet nuclei. Airborne particles remain suspended in the environment for a period of time, depending on a number of factors, including air circulation, humidity, and atmospheric pressure (which is a possible route of virus transmission).22 The particle counter sample time was set to 10 s for smoothing and sweep ambient air continuously; 10 s was selected for smoothing and eliminating the high-frequency components of particle count signals. The flow rate was set to 2.83 L min−1.

2.8 Phase 2: Isolation function test

2.8.1 Visualization of aerosols

A red laser sheet (KLD-VN; Katokoken) was irradiated vertically from 1.5 m to the right side of the manikin’s mouth (Figure 1B, at 1.5 m). The red laser, with a wavelength of 638 nm and a laser head output of 5 W, was converted to a light sheet of approximately 1 mm thickness. Light scattered from the aerosol was captured using a video camera (HC-WX970 M Panasonic) set at 60 fps. To improve aerosol visibility, a non-light transmission sheet was installed in front of the ventilator for HFNC. To investigate the dispersal of cough-emitted aerosols during HFNC, 1 or 2 L of gas-containing aerosol generated by the aerosol generator were discharged.

2.9 Interventions

For Phase 1, eight different conditions were repeated five times in combination with three measures (an SB, a PE, and an SM), with and without HFNC. All the experiments were video-recorded. For Phase 2, eight different conditions were conducted for combinations of an SB, a PE, and an SM (with and without HFNC). Before starting each condition, we confirmed that the 1 µm particles decreased and reached the plateau level on the monitor of the particle counter outside (at 0.6 m) in Phase 1 of the study; aerosols were discharged as a cough. In Phase 2 of the study, we confirmed a decrease in aerosols by visual inspection.

2.10 Data collection and processing

During the Phase 1 test, discrete measurements were recorded automatically for each 10 s sampling period. The isolation function of each measure (an SB, a PE, and an SM) or a combination of these measures was quantified as leakage by measuring aerosol concentrations after aerosol discharge from the manikin’s mouth; each discrete measurement was measured as the percentage of change from the average background concentrations measured for a 30 s period before the aerosol discharge. The percentage of change was averaged over the course of 120 s. The quantification procedure was adopted from a previous report published by two of the study authors.1 The average post-aerosol discharge period of 120 s (for quantification) was determined as the change in concentration at three points peaked within 2 min in the pilot experiment as well as based on the results of the Phase 2 study. The results of eight conditions repeated five times with and without HFNC were statistically analyzed.

2.11 Statistical analyses

After repeating the study procedures five times under eight different combinations of the three measures (an SB, a PE, and an SM) with or without HFNC, we analyzed the quantification of isolation (ie, the average percentage of change for 120 s from the average background concentrations measured for 30 s) to analyze the statistical effects of the three measures on leakage within the eight examined conditions. The Kruskal-Wallis one-way analysis of variance on ranks and Tukey tests were performed using SigmaPlot software ver.14.5 (Systat Software). Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. In addition, using multiple linear regression analysis, the effects of an SB, a PE, and an SM on leakage at the 0.6 m and 1.5 m points in three-size aerosols were examined to analyze the effects of each protective measure on leakage.

3 RESULTS

3.1 Phase 1

In the case of cough models with HFNC, the leakage of the 0.3 μm aerosol at the 0.6 m point decreased when SB + PE isolation measures were added to non-SM (p < 0.034) or SM alone conditions (p < 0.036). In addition, the leakage of 1 μm of aerosol at the 0.6 m point decreased when the SB + PE isolation measure was added to the non-treated group (p < 0.040) or to the group treated with SM alone (p < 0.021); leakage also decreased at the 1.5 m point when the SB + PE isolation measure was added to the non-treated group (p < 0.006). In addition, leakage of the 1-μm aerosols at the 0.4 m point increased within the SB + SM treatment as compared with treatment with PE alone (p < 0.039) or PE + SM (p < 0.024). On the other hand, the leakage of 5-μm aerosols did not decrease due to the three isolation measures (Figure 2).

Isolation functions of each device or a combination of devices were quantified as leakage at each measurement point, expressing discrete aerosol concentration measures as the percentage of change from background concentrations measured before aerosol discharge for an average of 30 s. The quantifications were averaged for 120 s after aerosol discharge. This figure depicts box plots of the medians and interquartile ranges of the quantification (for 0.3, 1, and 5 µm particles at 1.5, 0.6, and 0.4 m, respectively) with and without an SB, a PE, and an SM. PE, personalized exhaust; SB, semi-closed barrier device; SM, surgical mask

Multiple linear regression analysis showed the following trends (see Appendix S1). The SB reduced 0.3 μm and 1 μm particle counts at 0.6 m and 0.3 μm and 1 μm particle counts at 1.5 m, although 5 μm particle counts were not reduced at the level of statistical significance. The PE reduced 0.3 μm and 1 μm particle counts at 0.6 m and reduced 1 μm particle counts at 1.5 m but did not reduce 5 μm particle counts at the level of statistical significance. The SM reduced 0.3 μm and 1 μm particle counts but did not reduce 5 μm particle counts at 0.6 m. All three measures did not reduce 5 μm particle counts at both 0.6 m and 1.5 m. Finally, we found that the barometric pressure inside the SB with a PE was comparable to that outside the SB.

3.2 Phase 2

The leakage of aerosols was scattered on the red laser sheet. Figure 3 shows an example of exhaled flow from a simulated manikin visualized using the laser sheet imaging technique for each condition. The spread of aerosols was confirmed on a laser sheet from a light source placed at the 1.5 m point. In the SM condition, the lateral spread was conspicuous. In the PE condition, the upward spread of the suction direction was conspicuous. In the SB condition, the aerosols were observed inside, and delayed leakage was observed outside. No aerosol leakage was observed in the SB + PE group. These 1 L cough results are consistent with the qualitative evaluation conducted in Phase 1 of the current study. Even with the 2 L cough result, there was no aerosol leakage with SB + PE.

The exhaled flow from a single cough manikin was visualized using a laser sheet imaging technique with high-flow oxygen through nasal cannula therapy (HFNC; upper: 1 L, bottom: 2 L). In both the 1 and 2 L results, compared with a non-personalized exhaust (PE) conditions, a PE produced upper flow. Surgical masks (SMs) produced lateral flow, and a semi-closed barrier device (SB) with a PE as well as an SB with an SM + PE did not produce leakage and upper flow. An SB alone produced leakage at 110 s with 2 L and produced leakage at 60 s with 1 L (video data are available in Video S1).

Interestingly, the aerosol spread looked different under the same conditions and appeared to reflect different spatial spread patterns. This difference may explain the variation in the observed quantitative differences in Phase 1, even under the same conditions (see Appendix S1).

4 DISCUSSION

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report to evaluate isolation measures quantitatively and qualitatively in terms of SB leakage. The results of this study, if confirmed, could be used to inform long-term patient management of HFNC. Although an SB alone did not prevent the leakage of aerosols, the novel combination of a semi-closed barrier device with a PE prevented aerosol leaks of 0.3 and 1 µm particles in the HFNC single cough model. This result is partially consistent with previous reports showing that the effectiveness of barrier devices depends on the use of suction devices that induce negative pressure inside, although the novel combination evaluated in our study reduced aerosol leakage without negative pressure inside.13, 16, 23, 24

There are two differences between our study, which examined the effects of a PE during HFNC, and previously reported studies. First, the flow volume of the PE was higher than the suction flow volume in our study. Second, the presented barrier device has a semi-closed structure.

Although Daniel et al.23 reported that the suction rate must exceed the oxygen flow rate and expiration rate of human breath in the case of an almost sealed barrier enclosure, we set the PE flow volume (which corresponds to the suction flow volume in their studies) at a higher flow rate than in their investigation.

In our study, we set the PE flow volume at a higher level to compensate for the inflow of outside air to the SB as well as for the large cough ventilation volume. PE flow volume is equivalent to a 120 ACH, considering air change inside the SB, which is ten times higher than what is generally recommended for negative pressure rooms.25

Although the US Food and Drug Administration alerted healthcare facilities of the potential increased health risk to patients and healthcare providers from barrier devices without negative pressure on August 21, 2020,26 an SB + PE can achieve isolation without negative pressure but with sufficient air flow by a PE (compensating for the high flow produced by HFNC and cough). On the other hand, the semi-closed structure of the SB has at least two advantages. First, the SB contributes to patient safety. A tightly sealed barrier device places patients at risk of hypercapnia, although the SB combined with a PE reduces this risk by promoting the inflow of outside air, and the high-flow gas of the HFNC further reduces the risk. Second, medical professionals can easily manage patients because they can contact the patient by thrusting their hand through the protective barrier during care and treatment.

There was a large variation in particle counts even within the same conditions in the quantitative study, which may be due to the spatial heterogeneity of aerosol distribution caused by a single cough. That is, a slight difference in the direction of the airflow of a cough, even under the same study conditions, could result in variations in aerosol concentrations at the measurement point. In the laser studies, we detected aerosols in laser sheets projected from a laser source placed at the 1.5 m measurement point that were not identical even under the same conditions; we believe this variation suggests spatial heterogeneity of aerosol distribution. Although the PE flow volume was effective in this cough model, further research is needed to generalize these results to clinical practice.

4.1 Limitations

Despite the substantial strengths of this study, we acknowledge some limitations. First, we conducted this study in a non-ventilated room, which differs substantially from a well-ventilated hospital room. For example, in a hospital room with air flow from the patient’s feet to their head, aerosol exposure to healthcare professionals due to coughing may be reduced as compared with that in a non-ventilated room, and research in real hospital rooms is necessary for future investigations. Another limitation of the current study is that the cough simulations did not accurately simulate coughing in patients. Specifically, the amount of cough ventilation volume in the study was appropriate, although the cough flow was less than previously reported,15 and aerosol dispersal may be lower than that in reality. In addition, the 5 μm particles were not influenced by PE + SB in this study. Therefore, we conclude that aerosols >5 μm in size could be easily blocked by the SB and may not require a PE or an SM to prevent leakage. However, these results should be extrapolated to larger aerosols and droplets with caution. The feasibility of an SB and a PE as well as adequate PE flow rates in clinical practice should be studied in the future.

5 CONCLUSION

We found that the novel combination of a PE and an SB reduced the leakage of 0.3–1 μm aerosols even with HFNC. This may reduce the exposure of infectious aerosols from patients and contribute to improving the safety of medical professionals as well as likely reducing the rate of nosocomial infections. It is crucial to implement these procedures as measures against the appearance of mutant strains of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 as well as within future emerging respiratory infectious diseases.27

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors would like to acknowledge Niti-on Co., Ltd for providing a prototype of the air purifiers used in this study.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

The authors have no actual or potential conflicts of interest to declare.

AUTHOR CONTRIBUTIONS

Ryohei Matsui involved in writing—original draft (lead), conceptualization (supporting), formal analysis (lead), methodology (lead), and investigation(lead). Hiroshi Sasano involved in conceptualization (lead), methodology (supporting), and writing—original draft (lead). Takafumi Azami involved in conceptualization (lead), methodology (supporting), and writing—review and editing (equal). Hisako Yano, Hiromi Yoshikawa, and Kazunori Imai involved in conceptualization (supporting), and writing—review and editing (equal). Yota Yamagishi and Yuka Miyazaki involved in investigation (supporting), and writing—review and editing (equal). Takahiro Goshima and Marechika Tsubouchi involved in writing—review and editing (equal). Yoichi Matsuo and Shuji Takiguchi involved in Validation (supporting) and Visualization (supporting). Tomonori Hattori involved in writing—review and editing (equal) and formal analysis (supporting).

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As the COVID-19 pandemic seems to be subsiding around the world, more and more companies are taking tentative steps toward normalcy. Some are dropping indoor mask requirements for vaccinated employees. Some, like Microsoft, are setting hard dates for when they expect most of their workers back in the office. But while for the past two years much of the debate surrounding the office sector centered around infection prevention and the merits of in-person vs. remote work, relatively little attention was being paid to what white collar employees want once they get back to the office. Much of the push on the corporate occupier side has been toward the same trends that dominated pre-pandemic set-ups, with emphasis on collaboration via “shared” spaces, shrinking office footprints to save money in the name of hybrid work schedules and flexibility in the form of features like desk booking. But is that what most employees want from the office? We looked at a few recent surveys to find out.

The office is still important

“The pandemic has created fundamental shifts, not only in how we work, but our expectations,” says Janet Pogue, a principal and global workplace research leader at global design firm Gensler. “Our priorities have shifted, and we have a new awareness and appreciation of how we spend our time, how we work best and what experiences we want to have.”

Related: Recent Leasing Activity Indicates Tenant Confidence in an Eventual Return to the Office

Gensler research indicates that working from home during the pandemic has increased the value and relevance of the office, with workers wanting to return to the office full-time or for part of the week. “Over the course of 11 different Gensler surveys of office workers, the primary purpose of the office has remained reasonably consistent: people want to come to the office to collaborate with their team or colleagues,” Pogue says.

In addition, the office remains important to employees for accessing specific spaces, materials and resources. Even during this winter’s Omicron surge, Gensler’s survey registered an increase in the number of people wanting to return to the office, at 31 percent vs. 25 percent in the summer of 2021, during the early stages of the Delta variant.

Related: WMRE’s Common Area: An Update on Return to Office Trends

In fact, the results of Gensler’s Winter 2021 survey, which included 2,364 U.S. office workers, showed that 80 percent of respondents reported already visiting their company’s offices during the pandemic. When asked which features would make them feel comfortable going back to the office, 80 percent cited indoor air filtration systems, 74 percent cited access to more private spaces and 65 percent cited vaccination requirements. Sixty-five and 61 percent cited operable windows and outdoor workspaces, respectively. “More collaborative spaces” didn’t make the top features list of employee preferences.

Pogue notes that in pre-pandemic surveys, workers’ preference from more private space had already been growing, so now it is more important than ever to re-think the mix of spaces and different degrees of layout openness in the office.

A focus on health and hygiene

A Workforce Barometer Survey from commercial real estate services firm JLL, which included 3,368 participants from the U.S., Europe, Asia and Australia, found that health and quality of life are among the top priorities for office workers today.

These priorities might now be just as important to employees as the level of financial compensation the company offers them, according to Peter Miscovich, managing director, strategy + innovation at JLL. “A focus on wellness in the workplace has become not just a nice to have, but a necessity to keep employees safe and healthy and to enhance human performance,” he notes.

In the JLL survey, 75 percent of respondents expect a workplace that employs health and safety measures that include clean-air filtration systems, “contactless” technologies, operable windows that can be opened and LED lighting. “These are not new concepts, but workers are now demanding these health and wellness workplace considerations, and building landlords and tenants are having to look very seriously at making new workplace health and well-being investments in order to remain competitive,” Miscovich says.

In addition, JLL research shows that 37 percent of workers cited less dense work environments, 33 percent cited physical space separation in the office and 25 percent cited no desk sharing as being crucial to them in a post-pandemic environment.

Office workers want privacy

A survey by office furnishings giant Steelcase, which asked nearly 5,000 office workers about their preferences and concerns when returning to the office, also revealed a major push for more privacy in the office, with 55 percent of respondents saying they would trade remote workdays for an assigned workstation in the office. And 42 percent said that whether they have an assigned desk will strongly influence whether they choose to work in the office or remotely on any given day. (In fact, the survey found that people who said they preferred to work remotely more than three days a week were also significantly more likely to say they will leave the company in the next six month).

This suggests that while workers appreciate the autonomy and flexibility of hybrid work, they are also looking for choice and a sense of belonging, says Chris Congdon, director of global research communications at Steelcase. There is still a gap between what employers think office workers want and what they actually want, he notes.

In the midst of a trend called The Great Resignation, “The ability to work remotely and compensation are incredibly important, but our research shows employees also want to feel a sense of belonging, which has a big impact on culture, engagement, productivity and retention,” Congdon says, adding that this should be a key consideration for organizations re-designing their workplaces.

Employers shouldn’t assume people will only want to come into the office to collaborate, he cautions. “They will also need places where they can focus and get individual work done.” When assigned workstations are not offered, Congdon notes, moveable screens can be quickly and easily adapted to provide territorial and visual privacy.

As with the other sources, Steelcase research shows that office workers based in the U.S. point to air quality as their number one priority for in-office work. Adherence to safety protocols is second, facility cleanliness is third, physical boundaries are fourth and the density of workers within the office is fifth. Availability of informal gathering areas came in at a distant eighth place, behind safe access to food and beverages.

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We have a storm coming through.  At the time I am writing this blog, we are at 64 degrees.  According to the forecast tomorrow night, we could be down to a low of 4 degrees.  4!  That is a 60 degree chance in the span of a day and a half.  This rapid change in temperature can have affects on our health.

It can affect our bodies in many ways.  I have had surgery on both of my knees, as well as having my left foot and ankle operated on.  Such a drastic drop in temperature affects my joints and I tend to limp a little bit.  If the temperature had a more gradual drop, not as bad. Joint pain is just one of the ways this weather can affect us.

Anyone have blood pressure issues?  You may notice a change.  Low temps cause your blood vessels to narrow, meaning on the whole, blood pressure is lower in the summer.

How about asthma or allergies?  Changing seasons and hot weather can exacerbate asthma and allergy symptoms, with the growing season and air pollution paying a serious role. The fix? Be prepared with your allergy meds before spring weather arrives.

Headaches can be a concern too.  Barometric pressure can be a headache for some, though the reason is unclear. It might affect the pressure in the brain or the way the brain blocks pain, or it might be evolutionary, as it keeps humans in tune with their environment.

A cold or the flu:   Many people swear they contract the common cold when the weather changes. It’s not entirely clear why, experts believe it’s because rapid temperature swings weaken your immune system. The cold virus also transmits better in cold air.

Don’t be surprised if your sinuses are affected, too.  Hope you have a fair amount of tissues around.

This storm will pass and then Spring won’t be that far away.  Stay safe out there and now you can prepare yourself a bit more for this large swings in temperature and weather.

KEEP READING: See 25 natural ways to boost your immune system

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