Reducing Transmission of Airborne Respiratory Pathogens: A New Beginning as the COVID-19 Emergency Ends.
Linsey C MarrJonathan M SametPublished in: Environmental health perspectives (2024)
Proven strategies include assuring sufficient ventilation, air cleaning by filtration, and air disinfection by germicidal ultraviolet (UV) light. Layered intervention strategies are needed to maximize risk reduction. Case studies demonstrate how to implement these tools while also revealing barriers to implementation. Future needs include standards designed with infection resilience and equity in mind, buildings optimized for infection resilience among other drivers, new approaches and technologies to improve ventilation, scientific consensus on the amount of ventilation needed to achieve a desired level of risk, methods for evaluating new air-cleaning technologies, studies of their long-term health effects, workforce training on ventilation systems, easier access to federal funds, demonstration projects in schools, and communication with the public about the importance of indoor air quality and actions people can take to improve it. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP13878.
Keyphrases
- respiratory failure
- mechanical ventilation
- healthcare
- public health
- particulate matter
- climate change
- sars cov
- coronavirus disease
- randomized controlled trial
- primary care
- quality improvement
- emergency department
- social support
- air pollution
- mental health
- drinking water
- current status
- intensive care unit
- clinical practice
- antimicrobial resistance
- depressive symptoms
- reduced graphene oxide
- heavy metals
- multidrug resistant
- aqueous solution