Feasibility of using mobile air cleaners in school classrooms to remove respiratory aerosols

Abstract

To investigate the feasibility of using mobile air cleaners (MACs) in school classrooms for reducing respiratory aerosols, a test on aerosol removal of seven different types of MACs was conducted in a university classroom, for the optimal condition determined by a prior experimental study. Most of the MACs achieved a good level of clean air delivery rate (CADR) (900-1000 m3/h), and the CADR increased with the number of devices used. Based on the results, three MACs were further selected for conducting an ongoing field study in 45 classrooms at five Dutch primary schools. Each classroom was assigned one type of MAC with two devices, and was monitored for a period of six weeks with three weeks the devices turned on and three weeks off. The assessments of feasibility are based on measurements of indoor air quality, information on absenteeism of the pupils, and interviews with the occupants. The results are yet to be collected to draw further conclusions. However, problems were already encountered during the installation process of the devices which hindered the realization of the pre-determined strategies.