2023-11-21 11:37:55
There is evidence that environmental and surface pollution can be reduced through various air treatment strategies, especially germicidal lights and high-efficiency air particle filtration, but these technologies have not been proven to stop infectious diseases.
Air filtration systems may not be effective in curbing the risk of contracting viral infections, according to new research from the University of East Anglia (UEA) in Australia. The team studied technologies including air filtration, germicidal lights and ionizers. They looked at all the available evidence, but didn’t find much evidence to support that these technologies can make the air safe from respiratory or gastrointestinal infections.
The research team studied the evidence on microbial infections or symptoms in people exposed or not exposed to air treatment technologies in 32 studies, all conducted in real-world settings such as schools or nursing homes.
Lead researcher Julii Brainard, also from UEA Norwich Medical School, explained that “the types of technologies we considered included filtration, germicidal lights, ionizers and any other way to safely or safely remove viruses.” deactivate them in breathing air. There is evidence that environmental and surface pollution can be reduced by various air treatment strategies, especially germicidal lights and high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration. But the combined evidence was that these technologies do not stop or reduce disease.”
“When the Covid pandemic hit, many large companies and governments, including the NHS, the British Army and New York City and German regional governments, investigated installing this type of technology in a bid to reduce particulate matter. airborne viruses in buildings and small spaces. However, air treatment technologies can be expensive. Therefore, it is reasonable to weigh the benefits and costs and understand the current capabilities of such technologies,” as suggested by prof. Paul Hunter, UEA Norwich Medical School.
“We believe that studies that were carried out during Covid will be published soon and we will be able to make a more informed judgment about what the value of air treatment may have been during the pandemic,” this expert concluded. RV: Ana Mera, pharmacist. Barcelona
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