• Particle and aerosol research
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.81-90
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• 2010

Several studies have suggested the possibility of airborne transmission of infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, pandemic influenza. because the number of patients increases explosively, if infectious disease had a high basic reproduction number, pharmaceutical interventions such as vaccination, chemoprophylaxis in the early stage of epidemic. Thus, non-pharmaceutical interventions such as mask-wearing, installing air cleaners, school closure are important to control and prevent the infectious diseases. However, the current technology on the mask, air cleaning, ventilation, and etc., seems to be not originated from the understanding of infection via airborne transmission. It is important to estimate the aerodynamic behavior of saliva droplets by coughing or speaking in order to understand the phenomena of airborne infection. In addition, the prediction of transmission of infectious diseases through the air is critical to prevent or minimize the damage of infection. In this review, we reviewed the recent studies on the airborne infection by focusing on the aerodynamic characteristics of saliva droplets and modeling of airborne transmission.

• Particle and aerosol research
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.133-138
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• 2009

Airborne microorganisms, termed bioaerosols, are etiological agents of many respiratory and skin diseases. There are high demands of controlling the concentration of bioaerosols, specifically in indoor environments. Here, a new system for controlling indoor bioaerosols is designed and evaluated. An idea of a short time exposure to a thermal energy is used in the design of the equipment. The system was tested in laboratory environments. The experimental results show that the new system can reduce the concentration of viable bioaerosols of indoor laboratory environments.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.41-49
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• 2014

Pig chronic wasting disease, including porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) and postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS), have made a continuous economic damage in pig farms. Airborne spread of livestock viruses are an important spread factor which is difficult to analyze due to invisible airflow and limitation of measurement. The objective of this study is to analyze airborne disease spread between buildings in the experimental pig farm by means of field experiment and computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The field experiments were conducted to capture airborne virus using air sampler and teflon filter along multi points in the experimental pig farm. The samples were tested in terms of virus detection resulting in positive reaction for PRRS and PCV-2 viruses, which can be a firm evidence of airborne virus spread. The CFD simulation model was developed by considering complex topography, wind conditions, building arrangement, and ventilation systems and was used to analyze airborne virus spread according to different wind conditions. The CFD computed result showed a possibility of airborne virus spread via livestock aerosol from infected pig house to neighboring pig houses according to wind directions. The CFD simulation technique is expected to provide significant data for estimating and making a counterplan against airborne disease spread.

• Particle and aerosol research
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.73-94
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• 2020

Particulate infectious sources, including infectious viruses, can float in the air, causing airborne infections. To prevent indoor airborne infection, dilution control by ventilation and indoor air cleaners are frequently used. In this study, the risk of airborne infection by the operation of these two techniques was evaluated. In case of dilution control by ventilation, a high efficiency air filter was embedded at the inlet of supply air. In this study, infectious source reduction devices such as indoor air cleaner include all kinds of mechanical-filters, UV-photo catalysts and air ionizers through which air flow is forced by fans. Two mathematical models for influenza virus were applied in an infant care room where infants and young children are active, and the risk reduction efficiency was compared. As a result, in the case of individually operating the ventilator or the infectious source reduction device, the airborne infection risk reduction efficiencies were 55.2~61.2% and 53.8~59.9%, respectively. When both facilities were operated, it was found that the risk of airborne infection was reduced about 72.2~76.8%. Therefore, simultaneous operation of ventilation equipment and infectious source reduction device is the most effective method for safe environment that minimizes the risk of airborne infection of respiratory infectious diseases. In the case of a space where sufficient ventilation operation is difficult, it was found that the operation of an infectious source reduction device is important to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. This study is meaningful in that it provides an academic basis for strategies for preventing airborne infection of respiratory infectious diseases.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.600-607
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• 2010

In 2008, multiple episodes of large-scale transport of natural airborne particles and anthropogenically affected particles from different sources in the East Asian continent were identified in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) satellite RGB-composite images and the mass concentrations of ground level particulate matters. To analyze the aerosol size distribution during the large-scale transport of atmospheric aerosols, both aerosol optical depth (AOD; proportional to the aerosol total loading in the vertical column) and fine aerosol weighting (FW; fractional contribution of fine aerosol to the total AOD) of Moderate resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aerosol products were used over the East Asian region. The six episodes of massive natural airborne particles were observed at Cheongwon, originating from sandstorms in northern China, Mongolia and the loess plateau of China. The $PM_{10}$ and $PM_{2.5}$ stood at 70% and 16% of the total mass concentration of TSP, respectively. However, the mass concentration of $PM_{2.5}$ among TSP increased as high as 23% in the episode in which they were flowing in by way f the industrial area in east China. In the other five episodes of anthropogenically affected particles that flowed into the Korean Peninsula from east China, the mass concentrations of $PM_{10}$ and $PM_{2.5}$ among TSP reached 82% and 65%, respectively. The average AOD for the large-scale transport of anthropogenically affected particle episodes in the East Asian region was measured at $0.42{\pm}0.17$ compared with AOD ($0.36{\pm}0.13$) for the natural airborne particle episodes. Particularly, the regions covering east China, the Yellow Sea, the Korean Peninsula, and the east Korean sea were characterized by high levels of AOD. The average FW values observed during the event of anthropogenically affected aerosols ($0.63{\pm}0.16$) were moderately higher than those of natural airborne particles ($0.52{\pm}0.13$). This observation suggests that anthropogenically affected particles contribute greatly to the atmospheric aerosols in East Asia.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.123-130
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• 2021

Objectives: Control methods against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) aerosols have been introduced. Airborne spreading theories for SARS-CoV-2 were analyzed in this study. Methods: Control methods for airborne microorganisms were discussed. Studies on theoretical estimations for airborne spreading of SARS-CoV-2 were presented and analyzed. Analytic calculations were conducted for explaining control techniques for airborne microorganisms. Results: Control methods for SARS-CoV-2 aerosols can include physical or biological procedures. Characterization of SARS-CoV-2 aerosols and massive clustering infection cases of COVID-19 support the airborne spreading theories of SARS-CoV-2. It is necessary to consider the disadvantages of control methods for airborne microorganisms. Conclusions: A study on control methods against bioaerosols is necessary to prevent the spreading of viruses. Airborne spreading theories of SARS-CoV-2 were supported by the current evidence, but further studies are needed to confirm these theories.

• Particle and aerosol research
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.83-91
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• 2014

Since airborne bacteria have been known to aggravate indoor air quality, studies on reducing bacteria particles increase recently. In this study, a chamber(0.8m x 0.8m x 1.56m) system was built in order to simulate real conditions for reducing airborne bacteria, and evaluated by a simple aerosol reduction test. A method utilizing CFD(Computational Fluid Dynamics) simulation was used to detect the horizontal cross-sectional area which represents particle distribution in the chamber. Then an air-cleaner with HEPA filter and Carbon Fiber Ionizer was located on that area for aerosol reduction test. The CFD result found the area was located at 0.2m height from the bottom of the chamber, and the test showed aerosol reduction efficiencies using measurements of number concentration and CFU(colony forming unit) per each case. At the measurement of number concentration, the reduction efficiency of air-cleaner with filter and ionizer(Case 3) was about 90% after 4 minutes from the stop of the bacteria injection, and that with only filter(Case 2) was about 90% after 8 minutes from the beginning. Lastly, that without filter and ionizer(Case 1) was about 30% after 10 minutes. At the measurement of CFU, it shows similar results but it is related to viability of bio-aerosol.

• Particle and aerosol research
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.87-95
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• 2022

Currently, droplet protective screens (DPSs) are used to prevent the spread of respiratory diseases. As virus particles can maintain their infective in indoor environments, recent studies have investigated the risk of airborne transmission. However, the ability of DPSs to block airborne transmission has not been verified yet. In this study, the preventive ability of DPSs against droplet and airborne transmission was evaluated. Moreover, the effectiveness of a Portable air purifier (PAP) was investigated. According to results, in a simulated room where an infectious person spoke, the DPS blocked more than 90% of the micron-sized droplets (with a diameter larger than 1 ㎛) transmitted to the front of the infectious person. However, sub-micron droplets (with a diameter smaller than 1 ㎛) passed through the DPS and spread in a room. However, the PAP reduced the amount of both micron and sub-micron droplets transmitted to the front of the infectious person. When the PAP airflow direction was set from the DPS surface to the free space near the infectious person, improved prevention against droplet and airborne transmission was recorded. However, airborne transmission was accelerated when the PAP airflow direction was set from the free space to the DPS surface.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.25-33
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• 1987

This study was carried out to evaluate student exposures to dust in classroom of middle schools. A total of four schools, such as two in an urban and two in a rural area, were selected for this study. In this study, airborne dust concentrations were measured during a period from July 8 to July 18, 1986. Additional measurements of dust concentrations were conducted from November 4 to 7, 1986 to compare the results by seasonal variation. The results of this study were as follows. 1. Respirable dust concentrations were measured by both filtration method (C mg/m$^3$) and Digital Aerosol Monitor (cpm) to calculate anexchange factor K. K- value was 0.159 as follows. $K=\frac{c}{cpm} = \frac{2.71}{17.09} = 0.159$ 2. In summer when windows were opened, the concentrations of airborne respirable dusts measured by filter sampling method were 0.54-1.37 mg/m$^3$ in the morning and 0.79-1.75 mg/m$^3$ in the afternoon. Thus, higher levels were indicated in the afternoon. Meanwhile, the concentrations of airborne respirable dusts measured in winter were approximately twice as high as those in summer. 3. The highest dust concentrations were determined in School D which is a coeducational school with classroom of concrete floor. Walking roads in School D were not paved and students did not wear indoor-shoes. Dust levels in School D were approximately twice as high as levels in School B. All of the measured dust levels in four schools exceeded Korean Standard for outdoor air, 0.3 mg/m$^3$ for 24 hours. Results by Digital Aerosol Monitor indicated that there was no significant difference in dust levels among grades. The concentration of airborne dusts in the classroom was 1.5-3.0 times higher than that in the hall way. The concentration of airborne dusts during recess was 1.3-1.6 times higher than that during class. In winter, the dust concentrations during clean-up exceeded the permissible exposure limit, 10 mg/m$^3$ (as total dusts), for occupational exposures. 4. The concentrations of total dusts measured in winter were 1.5-2.4 times higher than those of respirable dusts measured simultaneously.

• Particle and aerosol research
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.37-42
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• 2021

Although the installation of droplet protection screen (DPS) is known to prevent droplet transmission, there is still a lack of knowledge in effectiveness of DPS installation to block the airborne transmission. In this study, the prevention ability of DPS against airborne transmission was evaluated according to the DPS height. When the DPS was not installed, the maximum concentration of PM1.0 at the location opposite to infected person was 35% of that at the infected person location. When the DPS was installed, the DPS effectively prevented the airborne transmission, consequently approximately 7% of generated particles were measured at the opposite location from particle generation position (infected person location). The prevention ability of DPS increased with DPS height, the maximum prevention efficiency of 95.1% was obtained when the DPS height was 900mm. Moreover, the speed of airborne transmission was delayed by installation of DPS, and the delay time increased with DPS height.