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In Situ Measurement of Airborne Particle Concentration in a Real Dental Office: Implications for Disease Transmission

Author

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  • Maryam Razavi

    (Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada)

  • Zahid Ahmad Butt

    (School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada)

  • Helen Chen

    (School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada)

  • Zhongchao Tan

    (Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada)

Abstract

Aerosols generated during dental procedures are one of the most significant routes for infection transmission and are particularly relevant now in the context of COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of an indoor air purifier on dental aerosol dispersion in dental offices. The spread and removal of aerosol particles generated from a specific dental operation in a dental office are quantified for a single dental activity in the area near the generation and corner of the office. The effects of the air purifier, door condition, and particle sizes on the spread and removal of particles were investigated. The results show that, in the worst-case scenario, it takes 95 min for 0.5-μm particles to settle and that it takes a shorter time for the larger particles. The air purifier expedited the removal time at least 6.3 times faster than the case with no air purifier in the generation zone. Our results also indicate that particles may be transported from the source to the rest of the room even when the particle concentrations in the generation zone dropped back to the background. Therefore, it is inaccurate to conclude that indoor purifiers help reduce the transmission of COVID-19. Dental offices still need other methods to reduce the transmission of viruses.

Suggested Citation

  • Maryam Razavi & Zahid Ahmad Butt & Helen Chen & Zhongchao Tan, 2021. "In Situ Measurement of Airborne Particle Concentration in a Real Dental Office: Implications for Disease Transmission," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-18, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:17:p:8955-:d:621746
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. J. Lelieveld & J. S. Evans & M. Fnais & D. Giannadaki & A. Pozzer, 2015. "The contribution of outdoor air pollution sources to premature mortality on a global scale," Nature, Nature, vol. 525(7569), pages 367-371, September.
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    1. Catalina Iulia Saveanu & Irina Nicoleta Zetu & Alexandra Scheuleac & Alexandra Ecaterina Saveanu & Cristian Liviu Romanec, 2022. "A Cross-Sectional, Questionnaire-Based Survey on Air Infection Control among Romanian People," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-14, September.

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